MLB Preview: Minnesota Twins (38-38) at Detroit Tigers (32-41)

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MINNESOTA TWINS NOTES:

No team release available.

DETROIT TIGERS NOTES:

TIGERS DOWN ROYALS 9-4 TO CLINCH SERIES: The Tigers defeated the Royals, 9-4, on Wednesday to win the series. Zack Short had three hits, including a home run, and drove in three, while Eric Haase went 2×4 with a double and three RBI. Javier Báez added a pair of hits and two RBI. Matthew Boyd earned his fifth win of the season, giving up two runs on six hits with no walks and seven strikeouts in 6.0 innings. Will Vest pitched a scoreless inning in relief with one punchout.

JAVY REACHES 1,000 HITS: Javier Báez had a pair of hits in Wednesday’s win, including recording the 1,000th hit of his Major League career with a RBI single in the third inning off Brady Singer. Báez has hit safely in 12 of his last 14 games, over which he is hitting .310/.317/.517 with two doubles, two triples, two home runs and 10 RBI.

GETTING OFFENSIVE: The Tigers scored nine runs on Wednesday, marking the ninth time in the last 11 games Detroit has scored five-or-more runs. After hitting .157/.229/.264 with 14 runs scored in the first eight games of the month, Detroit has slashed .272/.328/.475 with 59 runs scored in its last 11 contests.

PILING UP THE PUNCHOUTS: The Tigers pitching staff combined for 11 strikeouts on Wednesday, marking their seventh straight game with 10-ormore punchouts. That streak is tied for the longest in franchise history, matching the 2013 team, which also had at least 10 strikeouts in seven consecutive games from April 26-May 2.

TIGERS AND TWINS: The Tigers and Twins continue their season series tonight. The two teams met last weekend in Minneapolis with Detroit winning three-of-four games. The Tigers went 8-11 against the Twins last season, including a 6-4 record at Comerica Park.

AGAINST THE AL CENTRAL: The Tigers continue divisional play tonight against the Twins. Detroit is 14-9 against American League Central teams so far this season, winning six of the seven series they have played against divisional foes.

AT COMERICA PARK: The Tigers are 2-1 on their current six-game homestand, which includes three games vs. Kansas City (2-1) and three games vs. Minnesota (June 23-25). Detroit is 17-19 at Comerica Park this season. As a team, the Tigers are hitting .244/.318/.392 at home, while the pitching staff has a 4.66 ERA (330.0IP/171ER).

INJURY REHAB UPDATES: Tarik Skubal made an injury rehab start for Triple A Toledo on Wednesday, allowing two runs on two hits with a walk and four strikeouts in 2.2 innings…Matt Manning made an injury rehab start for the Mud Hens last night, tossing 4.0 shutout innings with one hit allowed, five walks and six strikeouts.

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

43 Joey Wentz • 1-7, 6.82 ERA (62.0IP/47ER)

  • Wentz will make his 15th appearance overall and his 14th start of the season tonight in the series opener vs. Minnesota.
  • Turned in a quality start in his last outing on Saturday against the Twins, allowing two runs on two hits with a walk and a career-high nine strikeouts in 6.0 innings.
  • Has faced the Twins three times in his career, and has a 0-1 record with a 1.23 ERA (14.2IP/2ER) and 17 strikeouts…in 13 career outings, including 12 starts, at Comerica Park, Wentz has a 0-4 record with a 5.76 ERA (54.2IP/35ER) and 49 strikeouts.
  • Saw his first Major League action in 2022, starting seven games and posting a 2-2 record with a 3.03 ERA (32.2IP/11ER) and 27 strikeouts… also appeared in 12 games, including 11 starts, with Triple A Toledo and went 2-2 with a 3.17 ERA (48.1IP/17ER) and 53 strikeouts.