DETROIT TIGERS NOTES:

TIGERS SWEPT BY BRAVES IN WEDNESDAY TWIN BILL: The Tigers lost both ends of Wednesday’s doubleheader to Atlanta, falling in the first game 10-7 and dropping the second contest, 6-5. In the first game, Miguel Cabrera went 3×5 with a double, a homer and two RBI, while Eric Haase also added three hits, including a two-run homer. Andy Ibáñez finished the game with three hits, and Javier Báez and Zach McKinstry each had two knocks. Reese Olson started and took the loss, giving up seven runs, six earned, on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts in 3.1 innings. In the second game, Jake Rogers hit a three-run homer, while Ibáñez and Matt Vierling each belted solo shots. Michael Lorenzen started and was saddled with the loss after giving up six runs on nine hits with two walks and three strikeouts in 6.0 innings.

ROSTER MOVE: The Tigers have announced the following roster move:
*Returned RHP Braden Bristo to Triple A Toledo after he served as the 27th man in yesterday’s doubleheader

MIGGY MAGIC: Miguel Cabrera went 3×5 with a double, a homer and two RBI in the first game of yesterday’s doubleheader. Cabrera’s homer was his first of the season and the 508th of his career, bringing him one shy of tying Gary Sheffield (509) for 26th in MLB history. He also became the fifth player age 40-or-older to homer in franchise history, joining Norm Cash, Doc Cramer, Darrell Evans and Bobby Lowe. With three hits yesterday, Cabrera now has 3,114 hits in his big league career, one hit away from tying Alex Rodriguez (3,115) for 21st on the MLB all-time hits list.

RAKE ROGERS: Jake Rogers hit his team-leading ninth home run of the season in the second game of yesterday’s doubleheader, launching a three-run shot in the fourth inning. His nine homers rank second among American League catchers and tied for fourth among all catchers in baseball.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW: Brendan White made his Major League debut in the first game of yesterday’s doubleheader, throwing 2.0 innings and allowing a run on two hits with three strikeouts. White became the third Tigers player to make his debut, joining Mason Englert and Reese Olson.

TIGERS AND TWINS: The Tigers and Twins begin their 13-game season series tonight. Detroit went 8-11 against Minnesota last season, including a 2-7 record at Target Field. The Tigers have lost the season series to the Twins each year dating back to 2017.

AGAINST THE AL CENTRAL: The Tigers continue divisional play tonight against the Twins. Detroit is 9-7 against American League Central teams so far this season. The Tigers have finished below .500 against AL Central foes in each of the last five 162-game seasons, including a 34-42 record last season.

ON THE ROAD: The Tigers tonight begin a four-game road trip. Detroit is 12-21 on the road this season. As a team, the Tigers are hitting .209/.284/.321 away from Comerica Park, while the pitching staff has a 4.28 ERA (285.2IP/136ER).

TIGERS ON THE IL:

• OF Akil Baddoo (right quad strain, 10-day IL on June 10)
• RHP Beau Brieske (right upper arm discomfort, 60-day IL on March 30, retroactive to March 27)
• RHP Alex Faedo (right middle finger discomfort, 15-day IL on June 3, retroactive to May 31)
• OF Riley Greene (left fibula stress reaction, 10-day IL on May 31)
• RHP Matt Manning (right foot fracture, 60-day IL on April 12)
• OF Austin Meadows (anxiety, 60-day IL on April 8, retroactive to April 7)
• RHP Casey Mize (right elbow sprain, 60-day IL on February 17)
• RHP Freddy Pacheco (right elbow sprain, 60-day IL on March 27)
• LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (left index finger pulley rupture, 15-day IL on May 30, retroactive to May 29)
• LHP Tarik Skubal (left elbow strain, 60-day IL on March 14)
• RHP Spencer Turnbull (neck discomfort, 60-day IL on May 12, retroactive to May 7)
• RHP Trey Wingenter (right biceps tendinitis, 60-day IL on April 22, retroactive to April 19)

TONIGHT’S TIGERS STARTING PITCHER

48 Matthew Boyd • 3-5, 5.55 ERA (58.1IP/36ER)

• Boyd will make his 13th start of the season tonight in the series opener at Minnesota.
• Took the loss in his last start on Saturday vs. Arizona, allowing five runs on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts in 5.0 innings.
• Has made 22 starts in his career against the Twins, posting an 8-8 record with a 4.56 ERA (126.1IP/64ER) and 126 strikeouts…in 10 career starts at Target Field, he has a 3-6 record with a 5.69 ERA (55.1IP/35ER) and 55 strikeouts.
• Struck out a season-high nine batters and allowed one run on three hits with no walks in 5.0 innings on June 4 at Chicago (AL).
• Missed most of the 2022 season while rehabbing from an injury, but returned in September to pitch in 10 games and help Seattle to the playoffs…went 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA (13.1IP/2ER) and 13 strikeouts in his 10 outings with the Mariners.
• Is in his second stint with the Tigers…was with the organization from 2015-21, appearing in 147 games, including 143 starts, and compiling a 37-60 record with a 4.87 ERA (777.2IP/421ER) and 752 strikeouts.

MINNESOTA TWINS NOTES:

THE TWINS: Began their 10-game homestand with a two-game series sweep over the Brewers with wins on Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon…tonight, they will continue the home- stand with the first of four games against the Tigers through the weekend…after this series, the Twins will welcome the Red Sox to Target Field for four games from Monday-Thursday… the Twins have gone 20-14 at home and 15-19 on the road.

The Twins are on game three of a 16 games in 16 days stretch, their next off-day being in Baltimore two weeks from today on June 29…the Twins have 23 games in 25 days leading up to the All-Star Break (July 10-13).

BREWS GET THE BROOMS: The Twins beat the Brewers yesterday afternoon at Target Field by a score of 4-2, sweeping Milwaukee, their second sweep this season and first over the Brewers since 2017 (also 2 games)…Bailey Ober (4-3) was the starter and winner, allowing two runs on six hits in 6.0 innings pitched, with one walk and seven strikeouts…Brock Stewart (1.0 IP) and Jhoan Duran (1.0 IP) each earned a hold while Griffin Jax pitched a scoreless ninth inning to record his second career save…the offense recorded just five hits, but walked seven times and only struck out seven times…Carlos Correa highlighted the offense, going 1-for-3 with a two-run triple in the third inning.

WELCOME BACK BUCK: The Twins have reinstated outfielder Byron Buxton from the 10-day Injured List…Buxton has missed the Twins’ last 10 games after being placed on the Injured List on June 6 with a left rib contusion…he sustained the injury after being hit by a pitch by Cleveland’s Tanner Bibee on June 1 at Target Field…in 50 games for the Twins this season, Buxton has hit .220 (40-for-182) with nine doubles, one triple, 10 home runs, 23 RBI, 26 walks and 31 runs scored…to make room for Buxton on the 26-man roster, the Twins have optioned outfielder Trevor Larnach to Triple-A St. Paul…Larnach went 4-for-22 with one double, one home run, four RBI, three runs scored and three walks in eight games during his most recent stint with the Twins from June 6-14.

TWINS AND TIGERS: The Twins and Tigers are playing the first of 13 meetings in 2023…Twins went 11-8 against Detroit last season, going 7-2 at Target Field and 4-6 at Comerica Park.

Seven of the Twins next 11 games will be against Detroit as they will travel to Michigan for a three-game series next weekend to kick-off a nine-game roadtrip.

Twins pitchers struck out 171 Tigers last season, their most vs. any opponent in 2022…also the second-most they’ve ever recorded in a season vs. Detroit (191 in 2019).

Twins pitchers posted a 2.69 ERA (167.0 IP, 50 ER) against Detroit last season with Tiger batters hitting .206 (127-for-616) with a .574 OPS.

Carlos Correa is hitting .347 (17-for-49) with four doubles, two home runs, nine RBI and a .969 OPS in his last 12 games vs. the Tigers.

Michael A. Taylor is hitting .342 (13-for-38) with a .931 OPS in his last 11 games vs. Detroit.

SHADES OF GRAY: Below are Sonny Gray’s ranks among AL starters in a few notable categories:
ERA ER (50.0 IP) SLG HR (50.0 IP) FIP WAR
Rodriguez – 2.13 Rodriguez – 16 Rodriguez – .311 Gray – 1 Gray – 2.39 Eovaldi – 3.1
McClanahan – 2.18 Ober – 17 Ryan – .313 Eovaldi – 4 Gausman – 2.54 Gausman – 3.0
Gray – 2.25 Gray – 18 Gray – .316 Allen – 5 Eovaldi – 2.58 Valdez – 2.9
Valdez – 2.27 Allen – 19 Ohtani – .321 M. Gonzalez – 5 Ryan – 2.74 Gray – 2.7
J. Gray – 2.32 J. Gray – 19 Valdez – .327 Sandoval – 5 Valdez – 2.80 Ryan – 2.5

CHECK YOUR WATCH, C4 ABOUT TO IGNITE: Carlos Correa hit a go-ahead grand slam on Saturday at Toronto, a walk-off home run Tuesday night against Milwaukee and the game-tying triple yesterday afternoon vs. Milwaukee…he has hit safely in each of his last six games, hitting .333 (8-for-24) with two doubles, one triple, three home runs, 10 RBI, a .407 on-base percentage, an .875 slugging percentage and a 1.282 OPS in hat span…since May 10, he has raised his batting average 33 points, from .185 to .218 in 26 games…below are his first 32 games and last 26 games (since May 10) by comparison:

AVG H 2B HR RBI BB K OBP SLG OPS OPS w/ RISP
FIRST 32 .185 23 5 5 15 13 30 .261 .363 .624 .499
LAST 26 .260 25 9 4 19 15 31 .360 .500 .860 .811

FOR THE RECORD: The Twins are 12-15 in their last 27 games since May 15 after starting 23- 18 through games of May 14…below are their records when scoring a certain amount of runs:
1+ 2+ 3+ 4+ 5+ 6+ 7+
35-28 34-20 31-12 27-8 23-4 21-3 18-1

PITCHING-IN IN 2023: Twins starters have averaged 5.7 innings-per-outing, up from 4.8 in 2022…they have pitched 6.0-plus innings 39 times this season, which matches their total from last season…by June 15, 2022, they had reached 6.0-plus just 16 times.

Additionally, they have struck out 407 hitters and are on-pace to fan 969 batters, which would shatter the club record of 870, done in 1967.

THE LEFTORIUM: Tonight marks the 13th time this season Minnesota has faced a lefty starter…Twins are 6-6 when a left-hander is the opposing starter…the last lefty starter to face the Twins was Yusei Kikuchi on June 9 at Toronto as the Twins won 3-2 in 10 innings.

The Twins have the fourth-fewest at-bats in baseball vs. left-handed pitching at just 472…also the second-fewest hits with 105.

Twins are slashing .222/.299/.377 with 16 homers vs. lefties, compared to .235/.317/.410 with 72 homers vs. righties.

RUN THE JULS: Since being recalled from Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday, Edouard Julien is hitting .429 (6-for-14) with four doubles, four walks, a .556 on-base percentage and a 1.270 OPS in four games…in his last 11 major league games (which dates back to May 24), he is hitting .325 (13-for-40) with six doubles, two home runs, four RBI, nine walks, a .440 on-base percentage, a .625 slugging percentage and a 1.065 OPS.

Julien has recorded at least one double and one walk in each of his last four games, tying Joe Mauer (May 5-8, 2013) for the longest such streak in Twins history (since 1961)…also became the first Canadian-born Twins hitter with an extra-base hit in four-straight games since Justin Morneau from June 27-30, 2013.

SOLANO SMOKING: Donovan Solano has reached safely in each of his last five games, hitting .412 (7-for-17) with two doubles, one home run, three RBI, five walks, a .545 on-base percentage and a 1.251 OPS in that span.

He is hitting .321 (17-for-53) with eight doubles and an .829 OPS against lefties this season.

T-PAIN, T-NIGHT: GRAMMY Award-winning international music icon T-Pain will perform a postgame concert following tonight’s game… the concert will begin approximately 15 minutes after the conclusion of the night’s game and feature a full, 75-minute set.

ICYMI: The Twins acquired Milwaukee minor league right-handed pitcher Taylor Floyd as the player to be named later, to complete the Trevor Megill trade from April 30…Floyd has pitched in 15 games for High-A Wisconsin this season, going 1-2, 3.04 ERA (23.2 IP, 8 ER) with seven walks, 32 strikeouts and a 0.97 WHIP.

STARTING PITCHER – SONNY GRAY 54
2023: 4-1, 2.25 ERA CAREER: 94-78, 3.50 ERA

Owns the lowest FIP (2.39) among all qualified American League pitchers…also ranks third in ERA (2.25) and fourth in WAR (2.7).

Making his 261st career appearance and 252nd career start…also his 14th start/appearance this season.

Facing Detroit for the first time this season and ninth in his career (including seven starts); is 4-1, 2.47 ERA (43.2 IP, 12 ER) with 12 walks and 45 strikeouts in his eight previous appearances…currently owns a three-game win streak against the Tigers, dating back to July 24, 2020.

Making his eighth start at home this season; is 7-3, 2.30 ERA (109.2 IP, 28 ER) with 34 walks and 128 strikeouts in 20 home games since joining the Twins.

Acquired by the Twins on March 13, 2022 in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds, along with right-handed pitcher Francis Peguero, in exchange for right-handed pitcher Chase Petty.

LAST TIME OUT: Did not factor into the decision in his last start on June 9 at Toronto, opposite Yusei Kikuchi…pitched 5.0 innings and allowed one run on five hits, with two walks and five strikeouts in the 10-inning 3-2 Twins victory…tossed only 76 pitches, marked a season low…retired nine of the first 11 batters he faced…yielded his only run in the fifth inning via an RBI single to shortstop Bo Bichette…relieved in the sixth inning by Jovani Moran who was replaced by Brock Stewart after allowing a single to Santiago Espinal…Stewart allowed an RBI double to outfielder George Springer to tie the game… Griffin Jax (1.0 IP) and Jhoan Duran (2.0 IP) combined to pitch 3.0 scoreless innings to close the game… the Twins took the lead in the 10th inning with a sacrifice fly by Michael A. Taylor.

Marked his 13th consecutive game of allowing three-or-fewer earned runs…tied the longest streak of his career (also, August 4, 2019-August 3, 2020 and August 7, 2018-April 17, 2019).

TWO STARTS AGO: Took his first loss of the season on June 3 vs. Cleveland and was handed his first decision since April 30 vs. Kansas City…pitched 6.2 innings and allowed three runs on 10 hits, with no walks and two strikeouts…outfielder Will Brennan drove in all three runs against Gray, on an RBI fielder’s choice in the second inning and a two-run home run in the seventh…marked his first home run allowed this season and snapped the longest homerless start streak in Twins’ history (since 1961, 11 starts)…marked the fourth time in his career allowing 10-or-more hits (10 on August 6, 2014 vs. Tampa Bay, 11 on April 17, 2015 at Kansas City and 11 on May 3, 2016 vs. Seattle)…relieved by Jovani Moran in the seventh inning after Gray allowed two consecutive single to Steven Kwan and Tyler Freeman; Moran pitched 1.0 scoreless inning…Jorge López entered in the eighth inning and allowed a home run to Steven Kwan in the ninth.

Marked the first time a Twin allowed 10-or-more hits and three-or-fewer earned runs since José Berríos on July 1, 2021 at Chicago-AL.

AGAINST DETROIT: Gray is facing the Tigers for the ninth time in his career, going 4-1, 2.47 ERA (43.2 IP, 12 ER) with 12 walks and 45 strikeouts in his eight previous appearances (7 starts)…last faced Detroit on July 24, 2022 at Comerica Park, earned the 9-1 Twins win after pitching 6.0 innings and allowing one run on two hits, issuing one walk and striking out seven…faced the minimum through the first three innings…allowed his lone blemish on an RBI single to leftfield by Eric Haase in the fourth inning… relieved by Griffin Jax in the seventh inning as the bullpen combined to pitch 3.0 scoreless innings.

Currently owns a three-game win streak against the Tigers, dating back to July 24, 2020; is 3-0, 0.95 ERA (19.0 IP, 2 ER) with four walks and 26 strikeouts in the three-game span…has not taken a lost against the Tigers since April 27, 2016 as a member of the Oakland Athletics.

Owns the second-lowest ERA against the Tigers since 2020 (min. 15.0 IP), trailing Triston McKenzie (0.93)…also tied for the least earned runs allowed, alongside Emmanuel Clase and Cristian Javier.