The Detroit Tigers, currently leading the American League, are set to face their division rivals, the Minnesota Twins, in a crucial three-game series starting Friday night in Detroit. This weekend marks the first meeting between the two teams since mid-April.
Earlier this season in Minneapolis, the Tigers secured two victories out of three games against the Twins. Most recently, Detroit replicated that success by taking two of three from the visiting Oakland Athletics, improving their record to 51-31.
Torkelson and Carpenter Break Through Slumps to Boost Detroit’s Offense
Key hitters Spencer Torkelson and Kerry Carpenter ended their offensive droughts with home runs during the series against the Athletics. Torkelson’s homer was pivotal in the Tigers’ commanding 8-0 win on Thursday.
Before his home run in Thursday’s game, Torkelson had endured a tough stretch, going 4-for-37 at the plate since June 10. His 17th home run of the season came during his first at-bat, snapping the slump, after which he also added a hit and scored later in the game.
It felt good,
Torkelson said.
It’s baseball. Just the battle of the season. Just riding the wave.
—Spencer Torkelson, Detroit Tigers hitter
Minnesota Twins Struggling to Regain Form Before Detroit Clash
The Twins have faced a steep decline in performance recently, dropping 15 of 18 games prior to back-to-back wins. Their latest victory was a dominant 10-1 performance against the Seattle Mariners on Thursday, halting a five-game slide in which they allowed 52 runs.
Despite their struggles, the Twins’ pitching staff showed resilience with a 2-0 shutout victory on Wednesday, signaling some potential momentum heading into the Detroit series.
When your starting pitcher cools the other team down, it just gives you every opportunity to win the game,
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said.
The way that I like to think about the game, when you can take the lead in the middle of the game, it tilts everything your way.
—Rocco Baldelli, Minnesota Twins manager
Sawyer Gipson-Long Expected to Get First Start in Series Opener
For the Tigers, right-handed pitcher Sawyer Gipson-Long is likely to handle most innings in Friday’s opener. Returning this season after missing last year due to elbow and hip injuries, Gipson-Long has made several appearances this month.
In his most recent outing against Tampa Bay, he pitched 6 1/3 innings—the longest of his season—allowing four runs, including three solo home runs. Detroit lost that game 8-3 while using an opener strategy.
Big for him, first off. We want to get him going,
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch remarked.
The word is out that we pound the zone early. He threw a ton of first-pitch strikes, and they were first-pitch swinging from 12:10 p.m. (game time) on. It was good that he could get us into seven innings and be able to hold his stuff.
—A.J. Hinch, Detroit Tigers manager
Despite surrendering home runs, Gipson-Long expressed confidence in his performance.
I thought I pitched my game pretty well,
he said.
Solo homers, they’re not something you want, but they’re not going to beat you in the long run. If I keep throwing strikes, everything evens out. I feel like staying in the zone, not walking people, throwing to contact, that’s a good approach against any team.
—Sawyer Gipson-Long, Detroit Tigers pitcher
Uncertainty Around Starting Roles as Teams Finalize Game Plans
This outing will mark Gipson-Long’s first start against the Twins, and he is expected to take the mound at the beginning of the game. Hinch indicated a leaning toward a traditional starting pitcher role but left room for adjustments if necessary.
I would say I’m leaning slightly toward a traditional start,
Hinch said.
But never doubt that we could make an adjustment.
—A.J. Hinch, Detroit Tigers manager
The Twins have yet to announce their starter for Friday’s game. Their travel to Detroit included a weather-related delay before they secured their recent decisive win over Seattle.
Series Outlook: Tigers Seek to Extend Lead, Twins Aim to Rebound
This series holds significant implications for both teams, as Detroit looks to maintain its division lead while Minnesota tries to arrest a slump and regain form. With Detroit’s offense fueled by Torkelson and Carpenter’s improved hitting and the return of Gipson-Long in the rotation, the Tigers appear ready to exert pressure on their struggling rivals.
For the Twins, building on their recent pitching successes and finding consistent offense will be key to challenging the Tigers in Detroit. The weekend’s showdown presents an important test for momentum and playoff aspirations within the division.