Twins-Detroit series preview

Three-game series at Comerica Park

RHP Mike Pelfrey (4-10, 5.26) vs. RHP Rick Porcello (9-6, 4.33)

RHP Kevin Correia (8-9, 4.61) vs. RHP Anibal Sanchez (11-7, 2.50)

LHP Andrew Albers (2-1, 1.85) vs. RHP Justin Verlander (12-9, 3.51)

They have lost four consecutive games, and six of their past seven. … They are 26-36 on the road, but went 4-3 on each of their past two trips. … They are 2-5 in Comerica Park this year, and 5-8 against the Tigers this season. They are 24-33 against the AL Central. … Former Tiger Casey Fien owns a 7.04 ERA against his old team. … At 54-69, they are in danger of falling farther below .500 than they have all year; their previous low-water mark was 16 games below .500 on July 13. … Mike Pelfrey is 1-2 with a 4.96 ERA in three starts vs. Detroit this season, and Kevin Correia is 0-0 with a 2.57 ERA in one start. Andrew Albers never has faced the Tigers. … Manager Ron Gardenhire needs 14 victories to become the eighth current manager with 1,000 wins; he'll face Jim Leyland, whose 1,749 wins are most among active managers and 15th career.

They entered Monday with a seven-game lead in the AL Central, the only AL team with a comfortable lead. … They are only 5-6 since Aug. 9, but won 12 consecutive immediately before that. They are 20-9 since the All-Star break. … They are 40-21 at home, best record in the American League, and have won 12 of their past 14 in Comerica Park. … They are second in the AL in runs scored and fewest runs allowed. They have the best batting average in the league (.280) and the best ERA (3.52). … Reigning MVP Miguel Cabrera leads the AL in batting average (.360) and RBI (120), and needs only two RBI to reach 100 for his career against the Twins. Only Cleveland (102) has given up more RBI to Cabrera. He has a career .322 average vs. Minnesota, with 27 home runs.

Phil Miller