Twins-Tigers series preview
September 29, 2017 at 4:30AM
Plenty of Twins' arms are in play
THREE-GAME SERIES AT TARGET FIELD
Friday 7:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM: RHP Kyle Gibson (12-10, 5.02 ERA) vs. LHP Matthew Boyd (6-10, 5.12)
Saturday 6:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM: TBA vs. RHP Buck Farmer (4-5, 7.12)
Sunday 2:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM: TBA vs. RHP Anibal Sanchez (3-6, 6.46)
TWINS UPDATE
The Twins rotation is open-ended this weekend. Jose Berrios and Bartolo Colon should be in line to get starts, but the Twins might look to give some work to other pitchers as they set the staff for the wild-card game Tuesday. Berrios could be used out of the bullpen Tuesday, so the Twins might want to practice that this weekend. Gibson figures to be on a short leash Friday. He also could work in relief Tuesday, or lined up to start Thursday in Game 1 of the Division Series if the Twins make it that far … RF Max Kepler is batting .363 during his five-game hitting streak. … SS Jorge Polanco played in all 10 games of the road trip, batting .333. … The Twins lost six of their first nine games against the Tigers but are 6-1 over the past two series, including last weekend's four-game sweep at Detroit that put them in position to clinch a playoff spot.
TIGERS UPDATE
Miguel Cabrera is a fallen man. He left Saturday's game because of lower back problems and later was diagnosed with two herniated disks. He won't play these final three games and will see a specialist Monday. He said he will back off heavy weightlifting this offseason and focus more on core work. … The Tigers had lost nine in a row before winning at Kansas City on Thursday night and are contending for the majors' worst record. Brad Ausmus is managing his final games; he will not return next season. Ausmus has said Andrew Romine will play all nine positions Sunday. Romine will become the fifth MLB player to do that, the first since Detroit's Shane Halter did it at the Metrodome in 2000. … 2B Ian Kinsler on Tuesday hit his vesting option for an $11 million salary for 2018, but the Tigers could still deal the 35-year-old as they look to get younger.
La VELLE E. NEAL III
about the writer
Milwaukee’s Pat Murphy and Cleveland’s Stephen Vogt had the unenviable task of taking over for successful and well-liked predecessors when they were named managers of their respective teams during the offseason.
