VENUE: Target Field
The way the Minnesota Twins have played at Target Field lately, they may be hoping to seal the AL Central title for all practical purposes by the end of their nine-game homestand.
That stretch has begun with back-to-back victories over the Detroit Tigers, and the Twins will go for a three-game sweep Thursday night behind red-hot right-hander Scott Baker.
Minnesota (77-56) has built a four-game division lead over Chicago thanks in part to winning 13 of its last 15 at home.
The Tigers (65-68) have lost seven of eight at the Twins' new outdoor stadium, including a 2-1, 10-inning defeat Wednesday night that was capped by rookie third baseman Danny Valencia's walk-off RBI single.
Valencia is 5 for 9 in this series, raising his average to .332.
"I knew I'd be able to play up here obviously, but to do this well it's pretty surreal," Valencia said. "I'm just happy the way it's going right now."
While the Twins continue to operate without slugger Justin Morneau and deal with recent injuries to Orlando Hudson and Jim Thome, strong pitching has been the hallmark of their recent success.
Minnesota has held opponents to four runs or fewer in 10 consecutive games, posting a 2.28 ERA in that stretch. Since the All-Star break, the Twins' 3.36 staff ERA ranks second in the majors.
Baker (12-9, 4.55 ERA) has certainly done his part, helping Minnesota win each of the last seven times he has started. He's 5-0 with a 3.02 ERA in those outings.
Baker, whose improvement has coincided with a mechanical change, allowed two runs in 6 2-3 innings of a 6-3 victory over Seattle on Friday. He posted similar results when he faced Detroit at home May 3, yielding three runs in seven innings of a 10-4 win.
It may be difficult for the Twins to provide him with as much support against Justin Verlander (14-8, 3.58).
The Tigers' ace has completed eight innings in each of his last two outings, with three solo home runs accounting for all of the damage against him.
Two of those homers came in Detroit's 3-2, 11-inning loss to Toronto on Friday, but Tigers manager Jim Leyland still called Verlander's performance "tremendous."
"This was one of the best games he's pitched all year," Leyland said.
Verlander has a 1.64 ERA in two starts against the Twins this year, but has failed to make it through six innings in either of them, going 1-1. This will be his first appearance at Target Field - likely a welcome development for the right-hander, who went 1-2 with a 4.32 ERA in five starts at the Metrodome.
Detroit has struggled in virtually any road venue lately. Dating back to their last series at Minnesota from June 28-30, the Tigers have lost 20 of 26 away from home, falling to 22-43 on the season. Only Washington, Baltimore, Seattle and Pittsburgh have worse road records.
The Tigers' lineup, which included four rookies Wednesday, has been erratic in the second half, scoring three or fewer runs 25 times in 47 games.
"We've got (young players) throughout the lineup and that's going to happen, but we have to just keep grinding it," Leyland said. "They'll learn at some point in their careers."
