TWINS VS. DETROIT SERIES PREVIEW
THREE-GAME SERIES AT TARGET FIELD
Friday, 7:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM: LHP Hector Santiago (1-1, 1.47) vs. RHP Justin Verlander (1-1, 5.71)
Saturday, 1:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM: LHP Adalberto Mejia (0-1, 4.05) vs. LHP Matthew Boyd (2-1, 3.77)
Sunday, 1:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM: RHP Kyle Gibson (0-2, 6.91) vs. RHP Michael Fulmer (1-1, 3.00)
TWINS UPDATE
The Twins' four-game losing streak is their longest since they lost seven straight last September. ... Despite the number of lefthanded and switch hitters they have, the Twins are 2-7 against righthanded starting pitchers. ... Max Kepler enters the series on an eight-game hitting streak. He was 3-for-8 with a homer and a double during the series in Detroit last week. ... Joe Mauer is a career .333 hitter against Verlander with four home runs and 13 RBI. ... Eddie Rosario was 1-for-4 on Thursday but is batting .308 over his past seven games. ... Torii Hunter is in town this weekend to serve as an analyst for Fox Sports North.
TIGERS UPDATE
Verlander was rocked for nine runs over four innings against Cleveland in his last outing, then endured whispers about him tipping his pitches. He responded by having a picture taken of him sitting in a pool, tipping a beer. ... Shortstop Jose Iglesias was evaluated for a concussion after taking a knee to the jaw on Wednesday. He could land on the seven-day concussion DL. ... Outfielder Justin Upton is treating a right forearm contusion. ... J.D. Martinez remains sidelined with a Lisfranc sprain in his right foot. ... The Tigers are coming off an 8-1 loss to Tampa Bay on Thursday during which they played some of their worst defense of the season.
La Velle E. Neal III
