GDT157: 9/23/13 - DET (91-65) AT MIN (65-90) - 8:10 p.m. ET

Tigers: RHP Justin Verlander (13-12, 3.66 ERA)

Verlander struggled with his command early in his last start on Wednesday, but he only allowed three runs on four hits in seven innings while walking three. The Tigers have lost in six of his last seven starts.



Twins: RHP Mike Pelfrey (5-13, 5.34 ERA)

Pelfrey, who is coming off Tommy John surgery, is set to make at least one more start this year, but he has struggled so far in September. He gave up three runs on nine hits over 4 1/3 innings in his last start against the White Sox.





Verlander aims to cut Tigers' magic number in half
Pelfrey starts series opener for Twins at Target Field

By Joey Nowak / MLB.com | 9/22/2013 8:41 PM ET

If the Tigers are to clinch the American League Central, they will have to wait at least two days. The Twins will be the next team trying to delay that celebration.

After failing to secure the division at home this weekend, the Tigers will hit the road on Monday to take on a team that they've battled plenty over the years.

One thing holding the Tigers back over the last few days has been the absence of a few lineup regulars, as third baseman Miguel Cabrera (groin) and shortstop Jose Iglesias (left hand) continue to nurse injuries. Cabrera went 4-for-9 in the Tigers' weekend series against the White Sox, but did not play on Sunday.

The Twins were 1-6 on their seven-game road trip that included stops in Chicago and Oakland.

"We have not played well," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We've been sloppy here [in Oakland]. It's been demoralizing sitting in the dugout and watching us keep getting pounded like that."

This homestand also gives Minnesota a chance to secure a milestone for Gardenhire, who entered Sunday's series finale just three wins away from becoming the eighth active manager to reach 1,000 wins and the 60th all-time.

Detroit needed a win against the White Sox on Sunday and an Astros win against the Indians, but neither happened. Their magic number remains at two, and they can clinch the division as soon as Tuesday, but can not do so on Monday since the Indians are off. The Tigers can clinch at least a Wild Card spot and a division tie Monday if they beat the Twins.

"We should be envious of the situation they're in," Gardenhire said of the Tigers and the other contenders Minnesota will see in its remaining games. "Hopefully, guys watching that can see where we need to get to. It should be making them hungry for it. We don't want to see all this, we want to play good baseball."

Monday will give Tigers ace Justin Verlander another chance to revert to that ace-like form that he's been searching to find consistently this year. He'll take on fellow righty Mike Pelfrey in the series opener at Target Field.

Verlander struggled again with command early in his last start, but only gave up three runs in seven innings. He walked three, and the Tigers have lost in six of his last seven starts.

"I think the stuff has been getting better just about every time out," Verlander said. "How I'm going to be in the postseason, we'll see. You never want to say anything is clinched or anything until it is."

Tigers: Prince on power surge
• Prince Fielder hit a long home run on Sunday afternoon and is hitting .346 with nine doubles, eight home runs and 25 RBIs over his last 40 games dating back to Aug. 12.

• The Tigers are 45-28 this year against the AL Central.

Twins: Bullpen getting work
• The Twins enter Monday's series opener with a Major League-leading 552 innings of relief work this year.

That total is the second-highest season total in franchise history. Only last year's club logged more innings of relief (558 2/3).

• The Twins have tied a club record (set five other times, most recently in both 2006 and 2007) by being shut out 14 times this year.

Worth noting
• The Tigers are 9-7 against the Twins this season.

• Minnesota closer Glen Perkins (54) needs one save to pass Mike Marshall for sole possession of eighth place on the club's all-time list.

Series probables
Monday: RHP Mike Pelfrey (5-13, 5.34 ERA) vs. RHP Justin Verlander (13-12, 3.66 ERA)

Tuesday: LHP Scott Diamond (6-11, 5.54 ERA) vs. RHP Doug Fister (13-9, 3.71 ERA)

Wednesday: RHP Kevin Correia (9-12, 4.29 ERA) vs. RHP Max Scherzer (20-3, 3.00 ERA)


Joey Nowak is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @joeynowak. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.



INJURY UPDATE:


• RHP Octavio Dotel (Right elbow inflammation, transferred from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list on June 8, 2013.)





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• TUE, Sep 24:
TIGERS: (RHP Doug Fister (13-9, 3.71 ERA)) AT
TWINS (LHP Scott Diamond (6-11, 5.54 ERA))
8:10  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)


• WED, Sep 25:
TIGERS: (RHP Max Scherzer (20-3, 3.00 ERA)) AT
TWINS (RHP Kevin Correia (9-12, 4.29 ERA))
8:10  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)


• THU, Sep 26:
OFF DAY

STARTING LINEUPS:

TIGERS (career numbers off Mike Pelfrey)

   Austin Jackson, CF (4-for-10, 2 walks, 2 K’s)
   Torii Hunter, RF (4-for-15, HR, K)
   Miguel Cabrera, 3B (4-for-17, 7 walks)
   Prince Fielder, 1B (8-for-23, 3 HR, 2 walks, K)
   Victor Martinez, DH (5-for-14, walk, 2 K’s)
   Andy Dirks, LF (4-for-11, 2 HR, walk, K)
   Omar Infante, 2B (15-for-37, 2 walks, K)
   Alex Avila, C (3-for-8, walk, 3 K’s)
   Ramon Santiago, SS (1-for-3, walk, K)

P: Justin Verlander

TWINS (career numbers off Verlander)

   Alex Presley, CF (1-for-3, walk)
   Chris Herrmann, RF (2-for-4)
   Brian Dozier, 2B (2-for-6, K)
   Josh Willingham, DH (2-for-17, 2 walks, 9 K’s)
   Josmil Pinto, C
   Chris Parmelee, 1B (3-for-10, HR, walk, 3 K’s)
   Clete Thomas, LF (1-for-4, K)
   Eduardo Escobar, 3B (1-for-5)
   Pedro Florimon, SS (1-for-7, walk, 3 K’s)

P: Mike Pelfrey

Detroit - Top of 1st
Mike Pelfrey pitching for Minnesota
A Jackson struck out swinging.
T Hunter reached on infield single to shortstop.
M Cabrera grounded out to third, T Hunter to second.
P Fielder walked.
V Martinez popped out to shortstop.


Minnesota - Bottom of 1st
Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit
A Presley popped out to shortstop.
C Herrmann walked.
B Dozier struck out looking.
J Willingham struck out looking.

0 - 0 AFTER 1 INNING

Detroit - Top of 2nd
Mike Pelfrey pitching for Minnesota
A Dirks flied out to right.
O Infante singled to right.
A Avila grounded into fielder's choice to second, O Infante out at second.
R Santiago flied out to left.


Minnesota - Bottom of 2nd
Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit
J Pinto singled to left.
C Parmelee singled to right, J Pinto to second.
C Thomas struck out looking.
E Escobar struck out swinging.
P Florimon walked, J Pinto to third, C Parmelee to second.
A Presley struck out swinging.

0 - 0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 3rd
Mike Pelfrey pitching for Minnesota
A Jackson grounded out to second.
T Hunter struck out looking.
M Cabrera singled to center.
P Fielder grounded out to second.




Minnesota - Bottom of 3rd
Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit
C Herrmann struck out swinging.
B Dozier struck out looking.
J Willingham struck out swinging.

0 - 0 AFTER 3 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 4th
Mike Pelfrey pitching for Minnesota
V Martinez popped out to second.
A Dirks struck out looking.
O Infante lined out to shortstop.


Minnesota - Bottom of 4th
Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit
J Pinto struck out swinging.
C Parmelee struck out looking.
C Thomas walked.
E Escobar singled to left, C Thomas to second.
P Florimon popped out to third.

0 - 0 AFTER 4 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 5th
Mike Pelfrey pitching for Minnesota
A Avila struck out looking.
R Santiago singled to right center.
A Jackson singled to left, R Santiago to second.
T Hunter hit a ground rule double to deep left center, R Santiago scored, A Jackson to third.
DET 1 - 0
M Cabrera struck out swinging.
P Fielder grounded out to pitcher.


Minnesota - Bottom of 5th
Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit
A Presley doubled to center.
C Herrmann struck out swinging.
B Dozier grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, A Presley out at third.
J Willingham singled to right, B Dozier to second.
J Pinto popped out to second.

DET 1 - 0 AFTER 5 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 6th
Mike Pelfrey pitching for Minnesota
V Martinez lined out to second.
A Dirks grounded out to first.
O Infante walked.
O Infante stole second.
A Avila walked.
R Santiago flied out to left.


Minnesota - Bottom of 6th
Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit
C Parmelee flied out to left.
C Thomas hit a ground rule double to left.
E Escobar lined out to first.
P Florimon struck out swinging.

DET 1 - 0 AFTER 6 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 7th
Casey Fien pitching for Minnesota
C Fien relieved M Pelfrey.
A Jackson struck out swinging.
T Hunter doubled to deep right center.
M Cabrera singled to center, T Hunter scored.
DET 2 - 0
P Fielder singled to right center, M Cabrera to second.
V Martinez doubled to right, M Cabrera scored, P Fielder to third.
DET 3 - 0
A Dirks intentionally walked.
R Pressly relieved C Fien.
O Infante grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, A Dirks out at second.


Minnesota - Bottom of 7th
Drew Smyly pitching for Detroit
D Smyly relieved J Verlander.
A Presley reached on infield single to third.
C Herrmann singled to center, A Presley to second.
A Alburquerque relieved D Smyly.
B Dozier struck out looking.
J Willingham flied out to center.
J Pinto struck out swinging.

DET 3 - 0 AFTER 7 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 8th
Jared Burton pitching for Minnesota
J Burton relieved R Pressly.
A Avila grounded out to second.
R Santiago popped out to shortstop.
A Jackson struck out swinging.


Minnesota - Bottom of 8th
Jose Veras pitching for Detroit
J Veras relieved A Alburquerque.
C Parmelee struck out looking.
C Thomas walked.
E Escobar doubled to deep left center, C Thomas scored.
DET 3 - 1
R Doumit hit for P Florimon.
R Doumit doubled to deep right, E Escobar scored.
DET 3 - 2

D Bernier ran for R Doumit.
J Benoit relieved J Veras.
A Presley grounded out to first, D Bernier to third.
C Herrmann flied out to right.

DET 3 - 2 AFTER 8 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 9th
Glen Perkins pitching for Minnesota
D Bernier at shortstop.
G Perkins relieved J Burton.
T Hunter popped out to second.
M Cabrera walked.
D Kelly ran for M Cabrera.
P Fielder grounded into double play, shortstop to first, D Kelly out at second.


Minnesota - Bottom of 9th
Joaquin Benoit pitching for Detroit
D Kelly at third base.
B Dozier homered to center.
TIED 3 - 3
J Willingham lined out to center.
J Pinto struck out swinging.
C Parmelee grounded out to third.

TIED 3 - 3 AFTER 9 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 10th
Glen Perkins pitching for Minnesota
V Martinez struck out swinging.
M Tuiasosopo hit for A Dirks.
M Tuiasosopo walked.
O Infante grounded into fielder's choice to third, M Tuiasosopo out at second.
B Pena hit for A Avila.
B Pena flied out to right.


Minnesota - Bottom of 10th
Jose Alvarez pitching for Detroit
M Tuiasosopo in left field.
B Pena catching.
J Alvarez relieved J Benoit.
D Mastroianni hit for C Thomas.
D Mastroianni singled to left center.
E Escobar sacrificed to catcher, D Mastroianni to second.
T Plouffe hit for D Bernier.
T Plouffe intentionally walked.
A Presley flied out to left.
C Herrmann grounded out to first.

TIED 3 - 3 AFTER 10 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 11th
Anthony Swarzak pitching for Minnesota
D Mastroianni in left field.
E Escobar at shortstop.
T Plouffe at third base.
A Swarzak relieved G Perkins.
R Santiago bunt grounded out to pitcher.
A Jackson flied out to center.
T Hunter grounded out to shortstop.


Minnesota - Bottom of 11th
Luke Putkonen pitching for Detroit
L Putkonen relieved J Alvarez.
B Dozier singled to left.
J Willingham struck out swinging, B Dozier to second on wild pitch by L Putkonen.
J Pinto singled to right, B Dozier scored.


TIGERS LOSE 3 - 4 F/11 INNINGS

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE


W: A. Swarzak (3-2)
L: L. Putkonen (1-2)


GAME INFO:

Smyly pitched to 2 batters in the 7th.

WP: Putkonen.
IBB: Dirks (by Fien), Plouffe (by Alvarez, Jo).
Pitches-strikes: Verlander 107-71, Smyly 7-4, Alburquerque 10-7, Veras 13-7, Benoit 21-14, Alvarez, Jo 19-9, Putkonen 9-7, Pelfrey 102-59, Fien 21-12, Pressly 2-1, Burton 10-6, Perkins 27-15, Swarzak 11-6.
Groundouts-flyouts: Verlander 1-1, Smyly 0-0, Alburquerque 0-1, Veras 0-0, Benoit 2-1, Alvarez, Jo 2-1, Putkonen 0-0, Pelfrey 6-3, Fien 0-0, Pressly 1-0, Burton 1-0, Perkins 2-1, Swarzak 2-1.
Batters faced: Verlander 27, Smyly 2, Alburquerque 3, Veras 4, Benoit 6, Alvarez, Jo 5, Putkonen 3, Pelfrey 27, Fien 6, Pressly 1, Burton 3, Perkins 7, Swarzak 3.
Inherited runners-scored: Alburquerque 2-0, Benoit 1-0, Pressly 3-0.
Umpires: HP: Bill Welke. 1B: Brian O'Nora. 2B: Fieldin Culbreth. 3B: Adrian Johnson.
Weather: 72 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 15 mph, L to R.
T: 3:58.
Att: 24,647.
Venue: Target Field.
September 23, 2013