Minneosta Twins vs Detroit Tigers Weekend Series Preview

Minnesota Twins Set Sights on Closest Team in AL Central Standings

Baby steps. That’s what this season needs to be broken down into. The Detroit Tigers sit 4.5 games above the Twins in the AL Central standings, the closest team to Minnesota. A well-played 3 game weekend series at Target Field against their closest rivals can help bring the Twins back to the pack, record-wise.

Former manager Tom Kelly was fond of breaking the season into quarters, telling his team not to get too up or down, just play hard this quarter. Within each quarter, he’d set goals for the next ten games.

He preached the “one game at a time” philosophy hard into the young Twins of the 1980’s. That even keel helped them to overcome slow starts (4-10 in 1991) and still play into the post-season.

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The 2016 version, now sitting at 7-15, needs to compartmentalize the season into smaller chunks, and they can start by winning series against division rivals, like this weekend’s tilt against Detroit.

Detroit (11-10) has had their struggles this season too, outside of games started by Jordan Zimmermann (4-0, 0.35 ERA). Starter Shane Greene hit the DL with a blister on his pitching hand, forcing Detroit to debut their top pitching prospect, Michael Fulmer.

The Twins will hope that Fulmer has a few butterflies in his stomach in his major league debut, like Jose Berrios did. Getting a win Friday will help bolster their confidence in facing the formidable Zimmermann on Saturday.

After a cold, rainy week that the Twins survived with just one weather delay, this weekend’s game will be cloudy, but at least into the 60’s. Miguel Sano said his bat heats up with the weather, hopefully 60 is warm enough. Sano returns to right field for tonight’s game, with Eduardo Nunez going back to third base.

Next: Series Breakdown

Friday Night Game

Michael Fulmer (ML debut) vs Phil Hughes (1-3, 3.91 ERA)

7:10 Target Field

TV: Fox Sports North

Saturday Day Game

Jordan Zimmermann (4-0, 0.35 ERA) vs Tyler Duffey (0-0, 2.25 ERA)

1:10 Target Field

TV: Fox Sports North

Sunday Day Game

Mike Pelfrey (0-4, 4.64 ERA) vs Tommy Milone (0-1, 5.40 ERA)

1:10 Target Field

TV: Fox Sports North

Detroit: It’s been a tale of two teams this year, when Zimmermann pitches, and when he doesn’t. Mike Pelfrey is second among Tiger starters with a 4.64 ERA. Luckily for starters Justin Verlander (5.46) and Anibal Sanchez (6.08), the Tigers have averaged 5.4 runs/game when they start, and 7.3 in games they’ve won when those two starters are pitching.

Contrast that to the Twins, who have scored more than 5 runs in a game just 4 times all year. Twins have scored 77 runs in 22 (3.5 avg) games, while Detroit has scored 96 runs in 21 (4.6). The Tigers are 3rd in the American League in hitting, and fourth in total home runs.

Offense: Ian Kinsler has gotten off to a terrific start. He’s second in the AL in average, hits, and runs through the first 3+ weeks of the season. Batting lead-off, he’s got great protection in the lineup, with J.D. Martinez coming off a monster 2015 (38 HR, 102 RBI) hitting 2nd, and 2-time MVP Miguel Cabrera hitting third. The Tigers have 5 regulars batting .284 or higher in their lineup.

Player to Watch: Miguel Cabrera. Hit absolutely loves hitting against the Twins. Against Friday’s starter, Phil Hughes, he’s other-worldly. Hughes is tied at the top of a list you don’t want to be leading – most total home runs Cabrera has hit off of. Cabrera is hitting lifetime .447 (17/38) with 5 home runs, 5 doubles, and 13 RBI against Phil Hughes.

Pitching: The old Boston Braves had two great pitchers back in the day, and not much else. The saying “Spahn, Sain, and pray for rain” was coined, describing the only two good chances the Braves had at winning. This year for the Tigers, it’s “Zimmermann or score! Score! Score!”

Their potent hitting lineup has covered a lot of the warts the rotation may have. But the Tigers’ bullpen has been stellar so far in 2016, outside of Francicso Rodriguez, who sports a 5.87 ERA despite racking up five saves.

Player to Watch: Jordan Zimmermann is pitching as well as he ever has to start off a season. But Mike Pelfrey has to get the bad luck award for 2016. While his ERA isn’t great (4.64), it’s still second on the team for starters. Through 4 starts, the Tigers have yet to score a run for Pelfrey in innings in which he is on the mound, including two shutouts versus the Tigers. Meanwhile, his teammate, Anibal Sanchez, receives 7.4 RS/G.

Next: Outlook for Minnesota