GDT32: 5/10/14 - DET (20-11) VS MIN (16-18) - 1:08 p.m. ET

Tigers: RHP Max Scherzer (4-1, 1.72 ERA)

After suffering two no-decisions and a loss to start his season, Scherzer has won his last four starts behind 27 innings of three-run ball with 35 strikeouts. He beat the Twins three times in three tries last year, with a 1.77 ERA.



Twins: RHP Kyle Gibson (3-2, 3.50 ERA)

Gibson may have pitched his best game of the season Monday against the Indians, but without run support, he didn't factor into the decision. Gibson threw seven innings, giving up just two hits and walking three. Gibson has never faced the Tigers.





Tigers seeking Max effort in rematch with Twins
Scherzer to match up against Gibson as Detroit aims to even series

By Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com | 5/10/2014 1:45 AM ET

After facing former American League Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander in the first game of the series on Friday night, it doesn't get any easier for the Twins on Saturday with another former Cy Young Award winner on the mound for the Tigers.

The Twins took the first game of the series with a 2-1 victory, but they are set to face right-hander Max Scherzer, who is the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner after going 21-3 with a 2.90 ERA last season.

Scherzer is off to another impressive start this year -- 4-1 with a 1.72 ERA in seven starts. He's also struck out 60 batters in 47 innings to lead the AL in strikeouts.

"The Tigers are the team to beat right now, and most of it starts with that starting pitching," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "They're pretty solid. You know just about every time you face them, you're going to see good pitching."

Right-hander Kyle Gibson gets the nod for the Twins and is also off to a good start with a 3.50 ERA in six outings, but he's never faced the Tigers in his career. He's coming off a solid outing against the Indians -- giving up just two hits over seven scoreless innings on Monday.

"It was probably the best I've felt all year," Gibson said. "I don't know if I did too much different out there, just one of those nights they were hitting balls at guys and they were hitting fly balls. Thankfully the wind was blowing in, otherwise I'd have given up a couple doubles."

The Twins could also get a boost on Saturday, as first baseman Joe Mauer could return to action. He left Sunday's game with lower back spasms and hasn't played since, but the Twins are hopeful he'll return this weekend.

"I would love to have him, but if he's not healthy, he's not going to help us," Gardenhire said. "We're trying to make a decision here and give him every bit of time we can because if he is healthy and can come back Saturday or Sunday, it's better than the DL because then he'd be out most of next week, too. So, we're trying to do that. We're getting by, but you can only do that so long."

Twins: Reinforcements arrive in Hicks and Parmelee
The Twins reinstated outfielder Aaron Hicks from the seven-day concussion disabled list and promoted first baseman/outfielder Chris Parmelee from Triple-A Rochester on Friday.

The moves came after the Twins optioned catcher/outfielder Chris Herrmann and shortstop Pedro Florimon to Rochester on Thursday.

"We were getting pretty thin," Gardenhire said. "We actually have a bench and three outfielders in the outfield, which is a good thing."

Tigers: Anibal eying return on May 18
Right-hander Anibal Sanchez, who continues to recover from a finger laceration, said that the target date for his return is the series finale against the Red Sox on May 18 at Fenway Park. Sanchez had been scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Thursday, but he ended up long tossing instead and expected to throw a side session on Friday.

"We talk about probably next Sunday, but I don't know yet," Sanchez said.

Worth noting
• The Tigers went 11-8 against the Twins in 2013, and split their two games in Minnesota earlier this season with the game slated for April 27 postponed due to rain. The Twins and Tigers are set to make up that game as part of a split-doubleheader on Aug. 23.

• Twins outfielder Josh Willingham is set to take batting practice on the field on Saturday to mark the first time he's been able to do that since going on the 15-day disabled list on April 7 with a small fracture in his left wrist. Willingham is expected to go out on a rehab assignment once he's cleared to play, as he hasn't played in a game for more than a month.

• Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez saw his 11-game hitting streak end on Friday with an 0-for-4 night.

• Twins catcher Kurt Suzuki picked up two more RBIs with a two-run single in the seventh against the Tigers in Friday's win. Suzuki now has 24 RBIs to lead all Major League catchers.

Rhett Bollinger is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Bollinger Beat, and follow him on Twitter @RhettBollinger. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.






INJURY UPDATE:


• Dirks, Andy (LF) (Recovering from March 2014 back surgery, on the 60-day disabled list, Due Back: Possibly June)

• Hanrahan, Joel (P) (Recovery from 2013 Tommy John surgery, Placed on 15-day DL on May 2, Due Back: Possibly June)

• Iglesias, Jose (SS) (Stress fractures in both shins, 60-day disabled list, Due Back: Possibly late 2014)

• Putkonen, Luke (P) (Right elbow inflammation, Placed on 15-day DL on April 21, retroactive to April 19, Due Back: Possibly week of May 5)

• Rondon, Bruce (P) (Tommy John surgery-Right elbow, 60-day disabled list, Due Back: 2015)

• Sanchez, Anibal (P) (lacerated right middle finger, Placed on 15-day DL on April 26, Due Back: Possibly mid-May)



On the Internet

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•  SCOREBOARD
•  Official Press Pass game notes


On television

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On radio

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• XM Channel Schedule





• Sunday, May 11:
TIGERS: (LHP Robbie Ray (1-0, 1.69 ERA)) VS
TWINS: (RHP Samuel Deduno (0-2, 3.42 ERA))
1:08p  p.m. ET (FS-D, FM 97.1)


• Monday, May 12:
TIGERS: (RHP Rick Porcello (5-1, 3.49 ERA)) AT
ORIOLES: (?HP TBA (TBA ERA))
7:05p  p.m. ET (FS-D, FM 97.1)


• Tuesday, May 13:
TIGERS: (LHP Drew Smyly (2-2, 2.96 ERA)) AT
ORIOLES:[/b] (?HP TBA (TBA ERA))
7:05p  p.m. ET (FS-D, MLBN, FM 97.1)


• Wednesday, May 14:
TIGERS: (RHP Justin Verlander (4-2, 2.67 ERA)) AT
ORIOLES: (?HP TBA (TBA ERA))
12:35p  p.m. ET (FS-D, MLBN, FM 97.1)


Thu, 5/15 OFF DAY
Fri, 5/16 at Red Sox 7:10p FS-D, MLBN, FM 97.1
Sat, 5/17 at Red Sox 7:10p FS-D, MLBN, FM 97.1
Sun, 5/18 at Red Sox 8:05p ESPN, FM 97.1

Mon, 5/19 at Indians 7:05p FS-D, ESPN, FM 97.1
Tue, 5/20 at Indians 7:05p FS-D, FM 97.1
Wed, 5/21 at Indians 12:05p FS-D, FM 97.1

STARTING LINEUPS:

TIGERS

   Ian Kinsler, 2B
   Torii Hunter, RF
   Miguel Cabrera, 1B
   Victor Martinez, DH
   Austin Jackson, CF
   Don Kelly, LF
   Nick Castellanos, 3B
   Alex Avila, C
   Andrew Romine, SS

P: Max Scherzer


TWINS (career numbers against Scherzer)

   Brian Dozier, 2B (0-for-8, walk, 6 K’s)
   Kurt Suzuki, C (1-for-3, HR, K)
   Joe Mauer, DH (8-for-26, HR, walk, 2 K’s)
   Chris Colabello, 1B
   Chris Parmelee, RF (4-for-11, double, walk, 2 K’s)
   Eduardo Nunez, LF (1-for-2, triple)
   Eduardo Escobar, 3B (1-for-5, K)
   Aaron Hicks, CF (0-for-5, 3 K’s)
   Danny Santana, SS

P: Kyle Gibson

Top 9

• Pitching Change: Phil Coke replaces Joba Chamberlain.
  
• 1.Danny Santana singles on a ground ball to left fielder Don Kelly.
  
• 2.Brian Dozier grounds into a double play, first baseman Miguel Cabrera to shortstop Andrew Romine to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Danny Santana out at 2nd.
  
• 3.Kurt Suzuki flies out to right fielder Torii Hunter.
  

TIGERS WIN 9-3

BOX SCORE


W: Scherzer (5-1)
L:  Gibson (3-3)

WP: Scherzer.
HBP: Cabrera, M (by Tonkin).
Pitches-strikes: Gibson 48-26, Swarzak 50-35, Tonkin 12-9, Burton 12-10, Scherzer 116-73, Alburquerque 15-10, Chamberlain 17-11, Coke 8-6.
Groundouts-flyouts: Gibson 3-2, Swarzak 4-3, Tonkin 1-0, Burton 1-2, Scherzer 4-6, Alburquerque 0-1, Chamberlain 0-1, Coke 1-1.
Batters faced: Gibson 14, Swarzak 13, Tonkin 6, Burton 4, Scherzer 27, Alburquerque 4, Chamberlain 4, Coke 3.
Umpires: HP: Joe West. 1B: Clint Fagan. 2B: Marty Foster. 3B: Alan Porter.
Weather: 67 degrees, sunny.
Wind: 10 mph, Out to LF.
T: 2:50.
Att: 42,312.
Venue: Comerica Park.
May 10, 2014