MLB Series to Watch this Weekend: Detroit at Minnesota
1-liner, Baseball September 18th. 2009, 1:15pmWeekend Baseball: Your weekend is likely to be consumed by mediocre college football games and Sunday’s sick NFL slate. The only baseball series worth keeping an eye on is Detroit at Minnesota. The Twins trail the Tigers by four in the AL Central, and lead the season series 7-4. (The Twins end the month with three at the Tigers, but Detroit has the third best home record in baseball.) The Tigers are susceptible on the road – they are the only division leader with a losing record (30-42) away from Comerica Park. The pitching matchups, however, favor the Tigers. Minnesota sends rookie Brian Duensing to the mound tonight (only six starts this season) and Carl Pavano pitches Saturday. Sunday’s starter, Scott Baker, offers Minny fans a glimmer of hope. Also, Justin Morneau, who leads the Twins’ in HR and RBI, is out for the season. We think the Tigers will take two of three, leaving the NL Wild Card spot as the only compelling storyline for the final two weeks of the season. [Star Trib]
14 Responses to “MLB Series to Watch this Weekend: Detroit at Minnesota”
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September 18th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Detroit sends a rookie out tonight, too – Rick Porcello.
Carl Pavano has OWNED the Tigers this season, a big reason why they traded for him.
Detroit’s No. 4 and No. 5 spots in the rotation are in flux. Armando Galarraga hasn’t been right for a month (really most of the season), Nate Robertson is dinged up, and Jarrod Washburn has been a POS and now his knee is really dinged up. The Tigers don’t have that much of an advantage. Best chance to win is tonight.
September 18th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Hate to break it to you, TBL, but Pavano is a Tiger killer. From Bleacherreport:
Despite mediocre numbers overall, Pavano has managed to tame the Tigers to the tune of a 4-0 record with a 1.48 ERA and 18 strikeouts in just over 30 innings.
September 18th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Well, shit as soon as I say they’re in trouble I see Justin Verlander is starting on Saturday. Thank god.
September 18th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Thanks TBL and Imma let you finish, but this weekend has the best medicore college football slate ever. THE BEST EVER.
/the games aren’t really that bad
//didn’t want to use WHOSE RESPONSIBLE THIS!??!? twice today
September 18th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Anything less than a sweep this weekend for the Twins pretty much ends this race.
/season ticket holder
//if I ever see Nick Punto in person, I’m going to punch him in the back of the head. Stop diving into first base you moron!
September 18th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
As mentioned above, Pavano is a Tiger killer. The Tigers radio announcers sit and constantly marvel at how the Tigers cannot hit him, yet everyone else in baseball turns his outings into batting practice.
With Lil’ Ricky going tonight and Verlander tomorrow, the Tigers conceivably could win 2 of 3.
Added to the above is the fact that the other noted Tiger killer, Joe Crede, is out, and the Tigers chances are even better. Crede has made a career of killing Tiger pitching. Dude is good for a homer or two in every series vs. the Tigers.
September 18th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Tigers sweep. Book it.
September 18th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Fetch – are you trying to jinx the Tigers? Our are you getting your hopes down so when the Twins take 2 of 3 or sweep you’ll feel better?
September 18th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Not sure if anyone mentioned this, but Pavano kills the Tigers.
September 18th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
not at all, NDub.
First off, Rick Porcello has 13 wins. That’s clearly a loss tonight. His sinker is devastating.
Regardless of me making fun of him, Magglio is still hitting .291. Fearsome hitter.
Obviously Verlander will win on Saturday.
Sunday, Nate Robertson. Only 1-2 but he’ll be fresh after being in the bullpen most of the year.
Speaking of bullpen, huge edge to the Tigers there. Fernando Rodney has 33 saves! clearly he knows how to pitch under pressure.
And yes, noted Tiger killer Joe Crede is out. I smell tons of trouble.
September 18th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
fetch – I’ll play devil’s advocate.
Lil Ricky has been pitching pretty well lately, but he’s only good for six innings. Maybe five and change. That means work for the bullpen, which has been used a lot lately because guys like Washburn and Jackson haven’t pulled their weight. Could be trouble.
Maggs is hitting better as of late, no doubt. But he’s only hitting for average. Not power. It’s a good thing he’s come around because Granderson has been turrible the last three weeks.
Verlander has never beat the Twins in his career. He had a 13K game earlier this year and was in line for the win but the ‘pen blew it.
Nate Robertson has been average since his return. His hamstring is feeling better but he’s not 100%.
Rodney’s 33 saves are deceptive. I’m telling you man. I can’t bust out stats to prove, but the guy is a roller coaster ready to come off the tracks.He walks guys, he gives up hits and your always on the edge of your seat, whether it’s one run or four run leads in the ninth.
That fucking dome will be a ravenous playoff atmosphere tonight. Scares the hell outta me.
September 18th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Really good read on Verlander in the NY Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/18/sports/baseball/18verlander.html?_r=1
September 18th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Also I should add, Justin Morneau is clearly our best player, him leading in HR and RBI is evidence of that.
September 18th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Now I know you’re being sarcastic.
Should’ve used the / thing so I wouldn’t have fallen for it.