Brian Dozier, in a 6-for-53 (.113) slide, is not in the starting lineup today. Dozier has been working on trying to keep the ball out of the air, but he also has 17 strikeouts in 15 games. That has to be a concern for a club that needs offense.

Wilkin Ramirez has a sore jaw this morning and is not in the starting lineup. Ramirez ran into Josh Willingham while making a catch on Saturday and definitely got the worst of it. Again, it is hazardous to your health to run into Willingham.

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera is today's version of the Iron Horse. Cabrera has played in 1,472 of a potential 1,505 games (97.8) percent. since 2003. And he's in the lineup today. It's more impressive now that he's playing third base.

Etc.

Twins are 11-9 in day games...Joe Mauer is batting .414 this month...he also is hitting .323 with 10 home runs and 40 RBI in 68 career games at Comerica. His 10 home runs here are the most at any road ballpark...Class AA New Britain lefthander Logan Darnell has been named Twins minor league player of the week. He was 1-1 last week with a 0.60 ERA. In 15 innings, he walked one and struck out 15.

Updates

Dozier needs to get it going. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire is going with the hot hand right now, and that means Jamey Carroll is going to start at second for awhile. Gardenhire did give Dozier credit for not allowing his offensive woes to leak over into his defense. But Dozier needs to solve his offensive problems.

Chris Colabello presented the ball from his first major league hit on Saturday to his parents after last night's game. His father is a schoolteacher and his mother works at the cafeteria of the high school he attended in Milford, Mass. They all have to head back home after the game because they've got to get back to work. Colabello will head to Milwaukee with the team.

Trevor Plouffe is going to take some batting practice today. All systems are go for him to be activated when the Twins return from their road trip. It will be interesting to see if they send Colabello back to Class AAA Rochester then or if they decide to let Dozier work on his swing there.

Righthander Kyle Gibson finally backed up a good start with another. On Saturday, he threw eight shutout innings in a victory over Charlotte. Gibson gave up two hits and walked three while striking out seven. He entered the start 3-1, 0.50 in odd-numbered starts but 0-4, 9.00 in even-numbered starts.

Twins (19-27)

1. Jamey Carroll, 2B
2. Joe Mauer, DH
3. Josh Willingham, LF
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Ryan Doumit, C
6. Chris Parmelee, RF
7. Eduardo Escobar, 3B
8. Aaron Hicks, CF
9. Pedro Florimon, SS

Pitching: Mike Pelfrey, RHP

Tigers (27-20)

1. Andy Dirks, LF
2. Torii Hunter, RF
3. Miguel Cabrera, 3B
4. Prince Fielder, DH
5. Victor Martinez, 1B
6. Alex Avila, C
7. Omar Infante, 2B
8. Don Kelly, CF
9. Ramon Santiago, SS

Pitching: Mike Pelfrey, RHP