GDT: 9/25/10 - DET (78-75) VS MIN (92-61) - 7:05 p.m. ET

Health comes first when Twins face Tigers

By Cash Kruth / MLB.com

The luxury of securing an early playoff berth comes with many positives, all of which Twins manager Ron Gardenhire is using to his full advantage.

After winning the American League Central crown on Tuesday, the Twins have nine games remaining to give players a breather. And when one of those players is 2009 AL MVP Joe Mauer, Gardenhire is going to take every opportunity he can to keep the team icon healthy and ready for the postseason.

Mauer injured his knee in the sixth inning of Sunday's game against the A's. Although an MRI revealed no structural damage, it did show some tissue inflammation. Because of that, Gardenhire will not pencil Mauer's name in the lineup for the rest of the Detroit series. Mauer also could be out even longer than this weekend. When asked if Mauer will play on Monday when the Twins open a series in Kansas City, Gardenhire said, "Possibly, but no guarantees."

"I want to make sure he gets healthy," Gardenhire said. "There's no sense in it. The big thing with Joe is to make sure we give him the time he needs to be healthy. Then we'll go from there. With his knee and the cortisone shot, if we give him plenty of time, we think it will clear."

After getting pummeled by the Tigers, 10-1, in Friday's series opener, the Twins will look to rebound on Saturday behind right-hander Carl Pavano. Pavano, who has been slightly bothered by a stiff neck in his past two outings, is one win away from tying his career high.

Opposing Pavano is fellow righty Jeremy Bonderman, who, on Saturday, could potentially be facing a surreal experience. Seven years ago, Bonderman broke into the Majors as a 20-year-old rookie and made his first career start at Comerica Park against the Twins. On Saturday, in the final year of his contract and with no inclination yet from the Tigers on bringing him back, Bonderman could possibly be making his last start at Comerica Park as a Tiger.

For his part, Bonderman said he isn't thinking about next year. Instead, he's focusing on finishing the season with a .500 record.

"I'm not that worried about it," Bonderman said. "I mean, they have to make their own decisions. It's a business. I've been here for a long time, and I have a lot of respect for them. They're going to do what's best for the club, and that's fine with me either way. It's part of the business."

Twins: Bullpen setup for playoffs in the works
Aside from resting Mauer, another thing clinching early does for Gardenhire is give him the chance to think about his postseason bullpen. The biggest decision Gardenhire will face is whether to keep Kevin Slowey or Scott Baker in the bullpen for long-relief situations. Gardenhire said Slowey has the ability to warm up more quickly in the bullpen and has better command of the strike zone. Baker, meanwhile, has a better chance of overpowering hitters. Both righties also have dealt with elbow injuries this season, however, something Gardenhire said he won't overlook.

Tigers: Valverde available on Saturday
After battling elbow tendinitis for the past week, Tigers closer Jose Valverde said he expected to be available on Saturday. The right-handed reliever hasn't thrown since Sept. 6. An MRI taken earlier this week showed no structural damage, but the Tigers were cautious with his return. Valverde threw a session on Friday and felt well enough to go.

Worth noting
MRI results on the shoulder of Twins outfielder Denard Span showed no damage. Span started on Friday, going 2-for-4.

... After striking out twice, Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge is one short of Lou Whitaker's franchise record of 1,099. Whitaker (2,390) played over 1,000 more games than Inge (1,288).



Pitching matchup

TIGERS: RHP Jeremy Bonderman (8-9, 4.92 ERA)
Bonderman could be making his final start at Comerica Park as a Tiger after eight seasons in Detroit. He has won three of his past four starts at home. He got a no-decision out of 121 pitches over 5 2/3 innings Sunday night at Chicago.

TWINS: RHP Carl Pavano (17-11, 3.60 ERA)
Despite being bothered slightly by a stiff neck in his last two starts, Pavano managed to pick up win No. 17 in his last start against Chicago. Pavano gave up five runs over five innings, but now sits one win away from his career high (18).




INJURY UPDATE:
• RHP Zach Miner (Partial tear in right elbow, 60-day DL on March 26, Had successful Tommy John surgery May 28, Out for Season),
• LHP Bobby Seay (Torn rotator cuff, 60-day DL on March 26, surgery on September 15, Out for Season),
• OF Magglio Ordonez (right ankle fracture, 15-day DL on July 25, Had surgery surgery Aug. 25, Out for Season),
• INF Danny Worth (bruised left heel, 15-day DL on August 4, Out for Season),
• RHP Joel Zumaya (non-displaced fracture of the olecranon, 60-day DL on June 29, Underwent elbow surgery July 12, Out for Season).
• Carlos Guillen (Bruised left knee, 15-day DL on August 23, Out for Season)


Out for Season



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Up next (Probable Pitchers)


• Sunday, September 26,
TIGERS (RHP Rick Porcello (9-11, 5.22 ERA)) VS TWINS (LHP Brian Duensing (10-2, 2.19 ERA)), 1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270)

• Monday, September 27,
TIGERS (RHP Armando Galarraga (4-7, 4.44 ERA)) AT INDIANS (RHP Carlos Carrasco (1-1, 3.03 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

• Tuesday, September 28,
TIGERS (RHP Max Scherzer (12-10, 3.40 ERA)) AT INDIANS (RHP Mitch Talbot (9-13, 4.61 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

• Wednesday, September 29,
TIGERS (RHP Justin Verlander (18-8, 3.31 ERA)) AT INDIANS (RHP Josh Tomlin (5-4, 4.50 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / AM 1270 & 97.1 FM)

STARTING LINEUPS:

Minnesota AVG
Span, CF .267
Hudson, O, 2B .271
Young, D, LF .296
Cuddyer, 1B .272
Kubel, DH .250
Valencia, 3B .328
Hardy, SS .274
Repko, RF .217
Butera, C .194
Totals .277

Detroit AVG
Jackson, A, CF .295
Kelly, LF .245
Damon, DH .269
Cabrera, M, 1B .329
Peralta, J, SS .251
Boesch, RF .265
Inge, 3B .249
Avila, C .225
Santiago, 2B .261
Totals .270

WEATHER:

CLOUDY, 55 DEGREES, WIND 9 MPH NW

Top of 12:
Twins twelfth.

Weinhardt pitching.

Valencia out. 1 OUT

Hardy singledto right. On error by right fielder Boesch, Hardy to second.

A.Casillapinch-running for Hardy.

Schlereth pitching.

Revere grounded out,shortstop Jh.Peralta to first baseman Mi.Cabrera, A.Casilla to third.2 OUTS

J.Morales pinch-hitting for Butera.

J.Morales out. 3 OUTS

Bottom of 12:
Tigers twelfth.

A.Casilla in as shortstop.

J.Morales in as catcher.

Neshek pitching.

S.Sizemore out.

A.Jackson out.

Laird out.


MIN 10, DET 10 AFTER 12 INNINGS