GDT: 8/26/11 - DET (71-59) AT MIN (55-75) - 8:10 p.m. ET 
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Detroit Tigers AT Minnesota TwinsFriday, August 26, 2011
Target Field, Minneapolis, MN
Game Time - 8:10 p.m. EDT 
REMEMBERING SPARKYThe Tigers are wearing a patch on their right
sleeves this season in the shape of a home
plate emblazoned with the name SPARKY, to
honor Hall of Fame manager Sparky
Anderson who passed away on November 4,
2010. Anderson’s number 11 was retired
in a pre-game ceremony on June 26.
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Preview Twins looking for change in fortunes vs. TigersBy Cash Kruth / MLB.com | 8/25/2011 5:42 PM ET
The Twins bucked a trend last week against the Tigers, taking two of three against their division rivals in Detroit. Despite that series win, the Tigers have won 13 of their past 16 against Minnesota, dating back to Sept. 2, 2010.
On Friday, the Tigers look to continue that success against the Twins at Target Field, where Minnesota will try to end a disappointing 11-game homestand on a high note.
The Twins have lost 13 of their past 15 home games, including a 1-7 mark on their current homestand, which included the Orioles' first four-game sweep in Minnesota. The Tigers, meanwhile, come to Minnesota having won 16 of their past 25 road games, including taking three of four from the Rays in St. Petersburg.
Trying to break both of those trends is 25-year-old left-hander Scott Diamond, who will be recalled from Triple-A to start Friday's opener. Diamond will make the spot start in place of Anthony Swarzak, who had to throw on Thursday after Francisco Liriano left after two innings with a left posterior shoulder strain. Diamond will be making his second start of the season for the Twins, the first coming on July 18 when he allowed four runs (three earned) in 6 1/3 innings against Cleveland.
Taking the hill for Detroit is right-hander Rick Porcello, who looks to rebound from three poor outings in which he posted an 11.48 ERA over 13 1/3 innings. The best of those outings came against the Twins on Aug. 15, in which he lasted six innings but allowed six runs (four earned) on nine hits. Before that outing, Porcello was a perfect 3-0 with a 2.56 ERA in three starts against the Twins this season.
Tigers: Boesch's thumb still an issue• Brennan Boesch's right thumb -- the same one that caused him to miss three games two weeks ago -- flared up during Wednesday's game. Boesch had a pad sewn onto the top of his batting glove in an attempt to take away some of the pain, but it apparently hasn't worked.
"I don't want to paint a bleak picture," manager Jim Leyland said on Thursday, "but I don't think it's too good."
• Detroit's bullpen has a 1.67 ERA and 66 strikeouts in its past 20 games, holding opponents to .193 average against.
Twins: Injuries continue to pile upMichael Cuddyer returned to the lineup on Thursday after getting hit in the left wrist on Wednesday, but he isn't the only Twins player battling an injury. While Cuddyer started in the finale against the Orioles, Joe Mauer (neck), Tsuyoshi Nishioka (back spasms) and Danny Valencia (wisdom tooth) did not.
"That's the frustrating part," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "You can't just come in every day to the computer and hit go. I have to go the training room and talk to players and check everything out. There's a never a day where you come in, and there's a lineup out. Every day it changes."
• Minnesota's Trevor Plouffe has hit safely in 11 of his past 12 games, with a .313 average in that span.
Worth noting• Jason Kubel is hitting .429 (12-for-28) for his career against Porcello.
• The Twins are 5-17 in August and have been outscored, 119-68, and out-hit, 234-170.
• First baseman Miguel Cabrera (paternity list) is expected to rejoin the Tigers in Minnesota for Friday's opener.
Tigers: RHP Rick Porcello (11-8, 5.17 ERA)Porcello's August struggles, including a no-decision last Sunday against Cleveland after taking a 7-0 lead into the fourth, have made his 5-0 record in July seem like a distant memory. This outing could be key for his confidence.
Twins: LHP Scott Diamond (0-1, 4.26 ERA)Scheduled starter Anthony Swarzak threw 3 1/3 innings on Thursday in relief of Francisco Liriano, so Scott Diamond will get his second start of the year. He allowed three runs over 6 1/3 innings in his big league debut vs. the Indians on July 18.
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Tiger's MLB Game Notes
Game InformationRESCHEDULED GAMES: The following is the information on the rescheduled Tigers games postponed at Comerica Park this season:
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Thursday, September 1 versus Kansas City at 1:05 p.m. (rescheduled from May 15)
INJURY UPDATE: •
INF Carlos Guillen (sore left wrist,
15-day disabled list on August 13),
•
RHP Al Alburquerque (concussion,
7-day disabled list on August 12).
•
RHP Joel Zumaya (right elbow olecranon fracture surgery,
60-day disabled list on March 30).
•
LHP Brad Thomas (left elbow inflammation,
60-day DL on May 11)
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Gameday Audio•
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Official Press Pass game notesOn television •
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Direct TV Extra Innings ScheduleOn radio•
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XM Channel Schedule______________________________________
Up next (Probable Pitchers) (RHP
Justin Verlander (19-5, 2.28 ERA))
AT Twins (RHP
Carl Pavano (6-10, 4.54 ERA)),
4:10 p.m. ET (FOX / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)• Sunday, August 28: Tigers (RHP
Brad Penny (9-9, 4.82 ERA))
AT Twins (LHP
Brian Duensing (8-13, 5.12 ERA)),
2:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)• Monday, August 29: Tigers (RHP
Max Scherzer (13-7, 4.21 ERA))
VS Royals (RHP
Luke Hochevar (8-10, 4.91 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)
Thu Aug 25, 2011 9:34 pm
out swinging.
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