A pair of AL Central rivals playing out the string kick off a weekend set on the diamond in the Motor City. The Minnesota Twins are on the road as they open up a three-game series with the Detroit Tigers Friday night. Minnesota closed a three-game series with the White Sox at home Thursday afternoon looking for a sweep. The Twins picked up an 8-4 victory in the middle game of the set Wednesday night. Detroit was looking for a sweep of the Royals Thursday afternoon as they closed a three-game series at home. The Tigers prevailed 2-1 in a low-scoring affair in the middle game of that series Wednesday night. In the season series, the Twins own a 10-6 advantage, including taking two of three at home in the most recent series August 1-3.
Minnesota won their second straight and third in the last four games as they took down the White Sox Wednesday night. The Twins entered Thursday tied for second in the AL Central, 11 games behind the Guardians for the top spot. They have been eliminated from playoff contention. On Wednesday, Minnesota got three hits each from Jake Cave (two runs, RBI) and Gio Urshela (three runs) while Luis Arraez (RBI), Jose Miranda (run, RBI) and Matt Wallner (three RBI) each added a pair in the win. Josh Winder didn’t factor in the decision as he threw 4.2 innings, allowing three runs on six hits with no walks and six strikeouts. Caleb Thielbar (4-2) earned the win with 1.1 scoreless innings of relief. He allowed no hits or walks while striking out one.
Joe Ryan is on the mound for his 27th start of the season for the Twins in this contest. He comes in 12-8 with a 3.70 ERA, a 1.106 WHIP, 46 walk s and 143 strikeouts over 141 innings of work this season. Ryan didn’t factor in the decision in his last start, which came Saturday at home against the Angels. He threw four innings, allowing three runs on four hits with three walks and five strikeouts in a game the Twins eventually won 8-4. In his last three starts, Ryan is 2-0 with a 1.45 ERA, a 0.75 WHIP, seven walks and 19 strikeouts over 18.2 innings of work. Ryan makes his fifth career start against the Tigers in this contest. He comes in 3-0 with a 3.22 ERA, a 0.806 WHIP, four walks and 30 strikeouts over 22.1 innings of work against them. Ryan beat the Tigers in his lone career start at Comerica Park, which came July 23. He threw 5.2 innings, allowing one run on four hits with one walk and seven strikeouts in a game the Twins won 8-4.