In what was billed as a four-game showdown series, the Twins are 0-2 and have been outscored 14-3 by the Tigers, as Scott Baker gets ready to pitch for the first time in 18 days.
Baker felt some elbow soreness on July 5 against Tampa Bay and left that start after allowing zero earned runs over five innings. He improved to 7-5 with a 3.01 ERA but was diagnosed with a strained right flexor muscle.
Baker said he let it go for about 11-12 pitches in his bullpen session the other day, just enough to prove to himself that the problem has subsided. (The bullpen session was longer than 12 pitches, but he that's how long he was max-effort.)
Today, the Twins will see if he can keep generating results. They need him. This is a big one.
Updates to come...
TIGERS (53-46)
1. Andy Dirks, CF
2. Brennan Boesch, LF
3. Magglio Ordonez, RF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Victor Martinez, DH
6. Jhonny Peralta, SS
7. Carlos Guillen, 2B
8. Alex Avila, C
9. Don Kelly, 3B
Starting pitcher: RH Brad Penny (7-6, 4.47 ERA)
