GDT159: 9/25/13 - DET (92-66) AT MIN (66-91) - 8:10 p.m. ET

Tigers: RHP Max Scherzer (20-3, 3.00 ERA)

No Major League pitcher has recorded a 20-win season with as few as three losses since Cliff Lee in 2008. A win or a no-decision from Scherzer against a Twins team he has beaten twice in as many tries this year would put him there.



Twins: RHP Kevin Correia (9-12, 4.29 ERA)

Correia issued a season-high-tying five walks his last time out and is 1-2 with a 3.19 ERA over his past five starts. The veteran right-hander is seeking his 10th win, which would mark his fifth straight season with double-digit victories.





Scherzer eyes Tigers' division clincher in final start
Postseason berth secured, club seeking third straight AL Central title

By Bobby Nightengale / MLB.com | 9/25/2013 12:13 AM ET

The Tigers locked up a spot in the postseason with their 4-2 win on Tuesday, the first time they're headed for the playoffs in three straight years since 1907-1909. However, their magic number for clinching a third consecutive American League Central title is at one, and they will need another win, or an Indians loss, to seal their spot atop the division.

Max Scherzer, who leads the Majors with 20 wins, is 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA in two starts against Minnesota this season, striking out 16 in 13 1/3 innings. He will be making his final regular-season start as he puts the finishing touches on his case as the favorite to win the AL Cy Young Award.

"You relish these moments," Scherzer said. "You play the game to win. You play the game to be on top. And tomorrow we have a chance to be on top of the American League Central. That's always a special moment because it's never easy to get to the playoffs. For me, I'm going to treat it like Game 7 of the World Series, get ready for the playoffs. That's the type of mentality it's going to be in the playoffs. Might as well do it in my last start of the season."

Meanwhile, Twins right-hander Kevin Correia will also make his final start of the season. He's been one of Minnesota's most consistent pitchers, posting a 4.29 ERA in 30 starts, though he's just looking to finish on a strong note.

"Another win isn't really going to change our season that much," Correia said. "I'm just going to go out there and throw a good game. Wins and losses are kind of out of our hand but at this point in my career, I'm trying to win games. I'd rather give up a few runs and get the win than throw a good game and not get the win."

The Twins are looking to play spoiler, as Detroit can become the first team to win three straight division crowns since Minnesota from 2002-2004.

"If our starter gives us a chance, we have to hang in there, because we're facing good pitchers," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "It all gets down to if your guy gives you a chance because these guys are good. They're pitching well and have a great offense. So we just want to hang in there and then have fun at the end of the game."



Tigers: Coke headed for MRI
• Reliever Phil Coke will have an MRI on Wednesday in Detroit on his left elbow, which tightened up on him overnight after throwing a bullpen session on Monday at Target Field.

"[Tuesday] it was tight and sore," Coke said. "And before I threw [Monday], I didn't feel anything."

While the best-case scenario may be treatment and rest rather than surgery, it seemingly leaves little to no time for him to get ready for the postseason.

"I'm incredibly disappointed right now just because the way it's been going," Coke said. "I feel like I'm letting everybody down. I don't deal well with being in this current position."

• Jose Iglesias took more grounders at shortstop before Tuesday's game, but manager Jim Leyland said Iglesias is still struggling to grip a bat with his bruised left hand.

Twins: Pelfrey wants to return in 2014
• Mike Pelfrey made his last start of the season on Monday night, holding the Tigers to one run over six innings, and the upcoming free agent hopes to return to Minnesota next year.

"I want to come back," Pelfrey said. "Ultimately, it's in their hands what direction they want to go. But I told them I'd love to come back."

Pelfrey, who had a $4 million base salary and received a $100,000 bonus for pitching more than 150 innings, posted a 5.19 ERA in 29 starts over 152 2/3 innings.

"I'm not going to sugarcoat it and say I had a good year," Pelfrey said. "It didn't work out the way I wanted for me or the team."

• Oswaldo Arcia missed his second straight game on Tuesday night because of a bruised right knee, which he sustained when he ran into the outfield wall during batting practice on Monday.

"He jumped up at the wall while shagging some balls out there," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "So he has a bruise or a contusion. But he's not moving well. Hopefully, he'll get better. They told me to give him a day or two."

Worth noting
• Miguel Cabrera is batting .440 with one home run and eight RBIs against Correia in 25 career at-bats.

• Ryan Doumit needs just one home run to reach 100 for his career.

Bobby Nightengale is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.



INJURY UPDATE:


• RHP Octavio Dotel (Right elbow inflammation, transferred from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list on June 8, 2013.) Shut down for season






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• THU, Sep 26:
OFF DAY


• FRI, Sep 27:
TIGERS: (RHP Rick Porcello (13-8, 4.38 ERA)) AT
MARLINS (RHP Tom Koehler (4-10, 4.45 ERA))
7:10  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)


• SAT, Sep 28:
TIGERS: (RHP Anibal Sanchez (14-8, 2.64 ERA)) AT
MARLINS (RHP Nathan Eovaldi (4-6, 3.50 ERA))
7:10  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)


• SUN, Sep 29:
TIGERS: (RHP Justin Verlander (13-12, 3.56 ERA)) AT
MARLINS (RHP Henderson Alvarez (4-6, 3.94 ERA))
1:10  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)

STARTING LINEUPS:

Detroit
Jackson, A, CF
Hunter, To, RF
Cabrera, M, 3B
Fielder, 1B
Martinez, V, DH
Dirks, LF
Infante, 2B
Avila, C
Santiago, R, SS-3B


Minnesota
Presley, CF
Dozier, 2B
Plouffe, 3B
Doumit, DH
Pinto, C
Parmelee, 1B
Herrmann, C, RF
Mastroianni, LF
Florimon, SS

Detroit - Top of 1st
Kevin Correia pitching for Minnesota
A Jackson tripled to deep right center.
T Hunter singled to center, A Jackson scored.
DET 1 - 0
M Cabrera grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, T Hunter out at second.
P Fielder lined out to second.


Minnesota - Bottom of 1st
Max Scherzer pitching for Detroit
A Presley struck out swinging.
B Dozier walked.
T Plouffe flied out to right.
B Dozier to second on wild pitch by M Scherzer.
R Doumit walked.
B Dozier stole third.
J Pinto struck out swinging.

DET 1 - 0 AFTER 1 INNING

Detroit - Top of 2nd
Kevin Correia pitching for Minnesota
V Martinez flied out to left.
A Dirks grounded out to first.
O Infante singled to right.
A Avila grounded out to second.


Minnesota - Bottom of 2nd
Max Scherzer pitching for Detroit
C Parmelee struck out swinging.
C Herrmann struck out swinging.
D Mastroianni struck out looking.

DET 1 - 0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 3rd
Kevin Correia pitching for Minnesota
R Santiago singled to center.
A Jackson lined out to third.
T Hunter grounded into double play, shortstop to first, R Santiago out at second.


Minnesota - Bottom of 3rd
Max Scherzer pitching for Detroit
P Florimon flied out to left.
A Presley popped out to shortstop.
B Dozier struck out looking.

DET 1 - 0 AFTER 3 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 4th
Kevin Correia pitching for Minnesota
M Cabrera grounded out to second.
P Fielder struck out swinging.
V Martinez grounded out to shortstop.


Minnesota - Bottom of 4th
Max Scherzer pitching for Detroit
T Plouffe struck out swinging.
R Doumit grounded out to second.
J Pinto walked.
C Parmelee reached on infield single to pitcher, J Pinto to second.
C Herrmann popped out to third.

DET 1 - 0 AFTER 4 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 5th
Kevin Correia pitching for Minnesota
A Dirks popped out to shortstop.
O Infante popped out to third.
A Avila singled to right.
R Santiago grounded into fielder's choice to first, A Avila out at second.


Minnesota - Bottom of 5th
Max Scherzer pitching for Detroit
D Mastroianni struck out swinging.
P Florimon reached on infield single to second.
P Florimon stole second.
A Presley walked.
B Dozier struck out swinging. P Florimon caught stealing third, catcher to third.

DET 1 - 0 AFTER 5 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 6th
Kevin Correia pitching for Minnesota
A Jackson lined out to center.
T Hunter reached on infield single to third.
M Cabrera fouled out to first.
P Fielder lined out to left.


Minnesota - Bottom of 6th
Max Scherzer pitching for Detroit
T Plouffe grounded out to shortstop.
R Doumit walked.
J Pinto struck out swinging.
C Parmelee flied out to center.

DET 1 - 0 AFTER 6 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 7th
Kevin Correia pitching for Minnesota
V Martinez reached on infield single to shortstop.
V Martinez caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop.
A Dirks grounded out to second.
O Infante lined out to left.


Minnesota - Bottom of 7th
Max Scherzer pitching for Detroit
C Herrmann walked.
D Mastroianni sacrificed to first, C Herrmann to second.
P Florimon flied out to left.
A Presley flied out to left.

DET 1 - 0 AFTER 7 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 8th
Brian Duensing pitching for Minnesota
B Duensing relieved K Correia.
A Avila struck out swinging.
R Santiago flied out to center.
A Swarzak relieved B Duensing.
A Jackson doubled to deep right.
T Hunter grounded out to shortstop.


Minnesota - Bottom of 8th
Jose Veras pitching for Detroit
J Veras relieved M Scherzer.
B Dozier flied out to center.
T Plouffe reached on infield single to shortstop.
C Thomas ran for T Plouffe.
D Smyly relieved J Veras.
R Doumit popped out to second.
J Pinto struck out looking.

DET 1 - 0 AFTER 8 INNINGS

Detroit - Top of 9th
Anthony Swarzak pitching for Minnesota
D Bernier at third base.
M Cabrera flied out to right.
C Thielbar relieved A Swarzak.
P Fielder flied out to center.
V Martinez struck out swinging.


Minnesota - Bottom of 9th
Joaquin Benoit pitching for Detroit
J Iglesias at shortstop.
R Santiago at third base.
J Benoit relieved D Smyly.
C Parmelee flied out to center.
C Herrmann struck out swinging.
J Willingham hit for D Mastroianni.
J Willingham struck out swinging.


TIGERS WIN 1-0 AND WIN CENTRAL DIVISION

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE


W: M. Scherzer (21-3)
L: K. Correia (9-13)
S: J. Benoit (24)


GAME INFO:

WP: Scherzer.
Pitches-strikes: Scherzer 123-70, Veras 6-5, Smyly 10-7, Benoit 16-10, Correia 107-68, Duensing 9-6, Swarzak 15-9, Thielbar 6-4.
Groundouts-flyouts: Scherzer 3-5, Veras 0-1, Smyly 0-0, Benoit 0-1, Correia 8-1, Duensing 0-1, Swarzak 1-1, Thielbar 0-1.
Batters faced: Scherzer 28, Veras 2, Smyly 2, Benoit 3, Correia 25, Duensing 2, Swarzak 3, Thielbar 2.
Inherited runners-scored: Smyly 1-0.
Umpires: HP: Fieldin Culbreth. 1B: Adrian Johnson. 2B: Bill Welke. 3B: Brian O'Nora.
Weather: 70 degrees, clear.
Wind: 16 mph, In from RF.
T: 3:08.
Att: 26,517.
Venue: Target Field.
September 25, 2013

CENTRAL CHAMPS 3 YEARS IN A ROW!