GDT31: 5/9/14 - DET (20-10) VS MIN (15-18) - 7:08 p.m. ET

Tigers: RHP Justin Verlander (4-1, 2.68 ERA)

Verlander took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning Sunday in Kansas City before giving up a two-out single to old nemesis Billy Butler. He's 4-0 over his last five starts, including three straight seven-inning outings.



Twins: RHP Phil Hughes (3-1, 4.72 ERA)

Hughes was solid against the Orioles on Sunday, as he registered his third straight quality start and his third straight win. The right-hander went 6 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on six hits and no walks with three strikeouts.





Resourceful Verlander welcomes Twins to town
Making most of every pitch, Tigers' co-ace up against Hughes

By Matt Slovin / MLB.com | 5/8/2014 5:25 PM ET

The Tigers took advantage of a series with the Astros early this week by winning three of four, and they hope for similar success when they welcome another sub-.500 team, the Twins, for a weekend set at Comerica Park beginning on Friday night at 7:08 ET.

Minnesota has lost seven of its last 10, while Detroit saw its eight-game winning streak come to an end with Thursday's 6-2 loss to Houston.

Also in the Tigers' favor is that Justin Verlander will start the opener for Detroit. The right-hander is coming off a win over Kansas City in which he took a no-hitter into the sixth inning.

Though Verlander's fastball rarely tops out in the high 90s anymore, his ability to mix speeds is key. In fact, none of Verlander's seven strikeouts against the Royals came on his heater.

"[Against Kansas City], his fastball was anywhere from 89 to 96-97 [mph]," catcher Alex Avila said. "That's a lot to cover for a hitter, plus he has the offspeed stuff and he knows how to pitch."

Verlander will be opposed by right-hander Phil Hughes, who has won his last three outings. Hughes has lowered his ERA from 7.20 through his first three appearances to 4.72.

In his last start, against Baltimore, Hughes helped end the Twins' homestand on a positive note, though he wasn't nearly at his best.

"I was kind of wild, all over the place," the veteran right-hander said of his last start. "I didn't have good command of my cutter or my fastball, really, but I was able to have a good enough fastball to move around the zone and generate some outs."

Hughes likes where he is right now but knows that facing the surging Tigers and their productive lineup is a tall order.

"Obviously, it's a tough place to pitch," Hughes said of Comerica Park. "I'm going to have my hands full."

Twins: Lack of depth straining part-time players
Jason Kubel and Sam Fuld weren't supposed to be everyday players, but with the Twins' entire Opening Day outfield on the disabled list and first baseman Joe Mauer recovering from back spasms, manager Ron Gardenhire hasn't had much of a choice.

Now, Fuld has joined his teammates on the DL due to concussion-like symptoms, and Kubel is coming off a tough series in Cleveland in which he went 2-for-16 with 10 strikeouts.

Because of Fuld's injury, Gardenhire's bench on Thursday consisted of Pedro Florimon -- who was optioned to Triple-A along with Chris Herrmann after Thursday's game, with corresponding roster moves to be announced Friday. The Twins called up Eduardo Nunez on Thursday after putting Fuld on the DL.

"Kubel, he needs his breaks," Gardenhire said. "You give him his breaks, and you've got a productive guy. That's your starting outfield. You're talking about guys being sent out. That's depth. How much depth do you have to have? We've got Sammy Fuld. We've got Kubel. That's three guys on the DL who are supposed to be playing."

One of them is eligible to return for the series opener in Detroit. Starting center fielder Aaron Hicks went on the seven-day concussion DL on May 2, and Gardenhire said Hicks would be ready to come back to the team.

Tigers: Joba adds stability to setup role
When they signed veteran closer Joe Nathan over the offseason, the Tigers finally put to rest their instability in that role after a season of tumult.

The same could not be said for the eighth-inning job, and with nobody having claimed that position in Spring Training, manager Brad Ausmus said he hoped somebody would earn the role. Joba Chamberlain has done so with authority.

"I think Joba's shown so far that he's running with it, so we're going to try to keep handing him the ball and hope he can hand the ball to Joe," Ausmus said.

Chamberlain has six holds with a 3.55 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP this season.

Worth noting
• Detroit's Victor Martinez enters Friday's series opener riding an 11-game hitting streak.

• In April at Target Field, the Twins and Tigers split two games before the rubber match was postponed. Hughes pitched seven innings in Minnesota's win, allowing four hits and one earned run.

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






INJURY UPDATE:


• Dirks, Andy (LF) (Recovering from March 2014 back surgery, on the 60-day disabled list, Due Back: Possibly June)

• Hanrahan, Joel (P) (Recovery from 2013 Tommy John surgery, Placed on 15-day DL on May 2, Due Back: Possibly June)

• Iglesias, Jose (SS) (Stress fractures in both shins, 60-day disabled list, Due Back: Possibly late 2014)

• Putkonen, Luke (P) (Right elbow inflammation, Placed on 15-day DL on April 21, retroactive to April 19, Due Back: Possibly week of May 5)

• Rondon, Bruce (P) (Tommy John surgery-Right elbow, 60-day disabled list, Due Back: 2015)

• Sanchez, Anibal (P) (lacerated right middle finger, Placed on 15-day DL on April 26, Due Back: Possibly mid-May)



On the Internet

MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
•  SCOREBOARD
•  Official Press Pass game notes


On television

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• Direct TV Extra Innings Schedule


On radio

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• XM Channel Schedule





• Saturday, May 10:
TIGERS: (RHP Max Scherzer (4-1, 1.72 ERA)) VS
TWINS: (RHP Kyle Gibson (3-2, 3.50 ERA))
1:08p  p.m. ET (FS-D, MLBN , FM 97.1)


• Sunday, May 11:
TIGERS: (LHP Robbie Ray (1-0, 1.69 ERA)) VS
TWINS: (RHP Samuel Deduno (0-2, 3.42 ERA))
1:08p  p.m. ET (FS-D, FM 97.1)


• Monday, May 12:
TIGERS: (RHP Rick Porcello (5-1, 3.49 ERA)) AT
ORIOLES: (?HP TBA (TBA ERA))
7:05p  p.m. ET (FS-D, FM 97.1)


• Tuesday, May 13:
TIGERS: (LHP Drew Smyly (2-2, 2.96 ERA)) AT
ORIOLES:[/b] (?HP TBA (TBA ERA))
7:05p  p.m. ET (FS-D, MLBN, FM 97.1)


• Wednesday, May 14:
TIGERS: (RHP Justin Verlander (TBA ERA)) AT
ORIOLES: (?HP TBA (TBA ERA))
12:35p  p.m. ET (FS-D, MLBN, FM 97.1)


Thu, 5/15 OFF DAY
Fri, 5/16 at Red Sox 7:10p FS-D, MLBN, FM 97.1
Sat, 5/17 at Red Sox 7:10p FS-D, MLBN, FM 97.1
Sun, 5/18 at Red Sox 8:05p ESPN, FM 97.1

Mon, 5/19 at Indians 7:05p FS-D, ESPN, FM 97.1
Tue, 5/20 at Indians 7:05p FS-D, FM 97.1
Wed, 5/21 at Indians 12:05p FS-D, FM 97.1

STARTING LINEUPS:

TIGERS (career numbers against Hughes)

   Ian Kinsler, 2B (3-for-19, 2 doubles, triple, 2 walks, K)
   Torii Hunter, RF (8-for-18, 2 doubles, 2 walks, 5 K’s)
   Miguel Cabrera, 1B (15-for-31, 4 doubles, 5 HR, 2 walks, 4 K’s)
   Victor Martinez, DH (7-for-24, 2 doubles, 3 K’s)
   Austin Jackson, CF (6-for-23, triple, HR, walk, 6 K’s)
   Nick Castellanos, 3B (0-for-3, 2 K’s)
   Alex Avila, C (1-for-12, 6 K’s)
   Andrew Romine, SS (0-for-3, 2 K’s)
   Rajai Davis, LF (6-for-23, 3 doubles, walk, 4 K’s)

P: Justin Verlander



TWINS (career numbers vs. Verlander)

   Brian Dozier, 2B (2-for-9, double, 3 K’s)
   Kurt Suzuki, C (6-for-26, 2 doubles, walk, 3 K’s)
   Trevor Plouffe, 3B (4-for-24, double, 7 K’s)
   Chris Colabello, 1B
   Jason Kubel, LF (13-for-44, 5 doubles, 4 walks, 12 K’s)
   Eduardo Nunez, DH (3-for-8, double, HR, 2 K’s)
   Chris Parmelee, RF
   Aaron Hicks, CF
   Danny Santana, SS

P: Phil Hughes

Top 9

• 1. Danny Santana strikes out swinging.
  
• Pitching Change: Evan Reed replaces Ian Krol.
  
• Coaching visit to mound.
  
• 2. Brian Dozier singles on a ground ball to left fielder Rajai Davis.
  
• Twins challenged (tag play), call on the field was upheld: With Kurt Suzuki batting, Brian Dozier caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Alex Avila to shortstop Andrew Romine.
  
• 3. Kurt Suzuki flies out to left fielder Rajai Davis.
  

Bottom 9

• Pitching Change: Glen Perkins replaces Casey Fien.
  
• 1. Austin Jackson doubles (8) on a ground ball to left fielder Jason Kubel.
  
• 2. Nick Castellanos strikes out swinging.
  
• 3. Alex Avila doubles (6) on a line drive to left fielder Jason Kubel. Austin Jackson scores.
  
• Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter J. D. Martinez replaces Andrew Romine.
  
• Offensive Substitution: Pinch-runner Danny Worth replaces Alex Avila.
  
• 4. J. D. Martinez pops out to second baseman Brian Dozier.
  

TIGERS LOSE 1-2

BOX SCORE


W: Hughes (4-1)
L: Verlander (4-2)
SV: Perkins (9)

Pitches-strikes: Hughes, P 86-64, Fien 8-6, Perkins 19-11, Verlander 114-70, Alburquerque 13-7, Krol 14-9, Reed, E 7-4.
Groundouts-flyouts: Hughes, P 6-8, Fien 2-1, Perkins 0-0, Verlander 8-4, Alburquerque 0-0, Krol 0-0, Reed, E 0-1.
Batters faced: Hughes, P 28, Fien 3, Perkins 5, Verlander 30, Alburquerque 3, Krol 3, Reed, E 2.
Inherited runners-scored: Krol 1-0.
Umpires: HP: Alan Porter. 1B: Joe West. 2B: Clint Fagan. 3B: Marty Foster.
Weather: 74 degrees, overcast.
Wind: 3 mph, R to L.
T: 3:00 (:27 delay).
Att: 35,814.
Venue: Comerica Park.
May 9, 2014