Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Game 1: Friday, July 3rd, 8:10 PM ET.
Lucas French, LHP (0-0, 0.00) Vs. Kevin Slowey, RHP (10-3, 4.41)
Tigers: The Tigers called up the 23-year-old from Triple-A Toledo Sunday to work out of the bullpen before he makes his first Major League start Friday at Minnesota, replacing fellow Tigers prospect Alfredo Figaro. There's more a little bit of strategy involved in putting the left-hander up against a Twins lineup centered around left-handed hitters Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau, but French also has a very good case that he's been the best pitcher in the Tigers farm system over the last month. He has given up four earned runs on 16 hits with 26 strikeouts over 23 innings in his last three starts, though he hasn't won any of them. Further back he has lasted at least 6 2/3 innings with two earned runs or less in five of his last six starts.
Twins: The heat and humidity in St. Louis seemed to take a toll on Slowey as he lasted just three innings and allowed five runs on six hits in a start against the Cardinals. The right-hander struggled to find a way to get Albert Pujols out and that was what cost him a chance at picking up a Major League leading 11th win in the contest. The right-hander will get another chance at that number when he faces the Tigers at home in the series opener. Slowey is 3-0 with a 4.57 ERA in four career starts vs. Detroit.
Game 2: July 4th, Saturday, 4:10 PM ET.
Edwin Jackson, RHP (6-4, 2.49) Vs. Francisco Liriano, LHP (4-8, 5.62)
Tigers: Jackson hasn't won in his last four starts, including a no-decision for his seven innings of three-run ball in the Tigers' comeback win Sunday at Houston, but his stinginess is all over the American League leaderboards. He's second in the AL to Zack Greinke in ERA, second in hits per nine innings, and third in WHIP ratio. Yet his 5.15 runs of support per nine innings as the pitcher of record ranks lowest on the Tigers staff and near the low among AL starters. His last outing with more than three earned runs allowed came against the Twins, who put up four seventh-inning runs on him in defeat May 4 at Comerica Park.
Twins: Liriano delivered his best start of the season in St. Louis when he held the Cardinals to two runs on four hits over seven innings. The left-hander was finally able to get ground balls in the contest, with 12 of his outs coming on groundouts. Liriano has been struggling to deliver longer outings and his rotation spot was in jeopardy before the start. But now he'll see if he can continue the success when he faces the Tigers in the holiday contest. Liriano is 3-1 with a 4.50 ERA in eight career appearances (six starts) vs. Detroit.
Game 3: Sunday, July 5th, 2:10 PM ET.
Rick Porcello, RHP (8-5, 3.90) Vs. Nick Blackburn, RHP (6-4, 3.10)
Tigers: Porcello surrendered five runs on nine hits in 4 1/3 innings against the A's on Monday. He pitched his way into trouble in the fourth, but was able to limit the damage to two runs, inducing a double play ball to strand a runner at third. Porcello didn't have the same luck in the fifth. Mark Ellis hit a two-run shot to left, then Matt Holliday pushed the lead to 5-0 with a RBI groundout to knock Porcello out of the game. He'll look to rebound against a Minnesota lineup he held scoreless over seven innings on May 5.
Twins: Blackburn delivered his eighth straight quality start for the Twins in his last outing but had to work his way out of trouble a few times in his six innings vs. the Royals. Blackburn allowed three runs (two earned) on 10 hits -- only the second time he's given up 10 or more hits in a start this season. The right-hander said he gave up too many two-out hits but was pleased by his ability to work out of trouble. He'll next face the Tigers, a team he's 1-3 against in five career appearances (four starts) while posting a 5.76 ERA over 25 innings.
