Somehow, I have a nagging feeling that Torii Hunter is due for a big weekend here at Target Field.
Call it a hunch. But after watching Denard Span go 4-for-6 last weekend against the Twins, and Ben Revere drive them nuts with an 8-for-14 series, it just seems like Shark Week, with ex-Twins centerfielders as the sharks.
If Rich Becker shows up with the White Sox next week, I'll know for sure.
Hunter is a career .296 hitter against the Twins, with seven home runs. He's only got two homers this year, though.
Anyway, the beat-up Twins are feeling OK about themselves, and now they have a chance to keep the A.L. Central race close. The Tigers are 6 1/2 games ahead, but have a 14-18 record on the road. And Minnesota misses both 8-4 Justin Verlander and 9-0 Max Scherzer in this series.
Reminder: Tonight's game is a late start (7:35 p.m.) because of the Twins Hall of Fame ceremony honoring Eddie Guardado and Tom Mee.
Here are tonight's lineups, with Josh Willingham serving as the designated hitter once more:
TIGERS