FOUR-GAME SERIES AT TARGET FIELD

 

Thursday, 7:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM

RHP Mike Pelfrey (5-5, 3.94 ERA) vs. LHP David Price (8-2, 2.54)

Friday, 7:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM

RHP Ervin Santana (0-0, 2.25) vs. RHP Justin Verlander (0-2, 6.75)

Saturday, 3:05 p.m. • FS1, 96.3-FM

RHP Phil Hughes (7-6, 4.19) vs. RHP Alfredo Simon (8-5, 4.18)

Sunday, 1:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM

RHP Kyle Gibson (7-6, 3.04) vs. TBA

 

TWINS UPDATE

They are 28-15 at Target Field, best home record in the AL. … They are 2-7 against the Tigers this season (1-2 at home) and have been outscored 56-23 and outhomered 14-3. Miguel Cabrera, out because of a calf injury, had four homers and 11 RBI in those games. … For the first time since 2009, the Twins won the season series with the Tigers last season, 10-9. … The Twins have not swept a four-game series with Detroit since 2004, and never in Minnesota. The Tigers’ last four-game sweep of the Twins was in 1983. … Santana will pitch in Target Field for the first time as a Twin on Friday. He’s 2-0 with a 3.10 ERA in three career starts in his new home ballpark. … The Twins are 19-11 against lefthanded starters this year but 0-2 against Price. … 1B Joe Mauer is 5-for-30 (.167) against Price and 1-for-9 (.111) against Simon, but he’s 24-for-65 (.369) with three homers against Verlander.

 

TIGERS UPDATE

They are 3-2 since Miguel Cabrera went on the disabled list Saturday. Alex Avila, Kevin Romine and Marc Krauss have filled in for Cabrera, who was leading the AL with a .350 average and ranked sixth with 54 RBI when he was injured. … After opening the season 11-2, Detroit has had back-to-back losing months in May and June to fall to third in the AL Central. They had been outscored 387-382 this season. … Verlander has made four starts since returning from a triceps injury that kept him out until mid-June. The 2011 MVP and Cy Young winner has recorded only 12 strikeouts in 22 innings and given up six home runs. … RHP Joba Chamberlain and LHP Tom Gorzelanny were designated for assignment last week as Detroit retools its bullpen.

PHIL MILLER