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The Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins have both been eliminated from playoff contention, but both have young cores looking to build momentum entering the 2023 season as the two hook up for a series in Detroit starting on Friday.
Minnesota Twins (-145, 7) vs. Detroit Tigers
The Twins give Joe Ryan the start, and he has not been the same pitcher on the road as he has been at home. The righty has allowed at least four runs in three of his last four starts, leading to a 8.02 ERA in that span.
Ryan has a 4.52 ERA and 1.5 HR/9 in his 12 starts since the All-Star break after registering a 2.99 ERA in his first 14 starts of the season.
Tyler Alexander will start on the mound for Detroit. He enters with a 4.68 ERA and one of the league’s lowest strikeout rates, getting just five strikeouts per nine innings while opponents are hitting .274 off of him.
The Tigers bullpen overall this season is eighth in the league in ERA but has struggled since the beginning of August, posting a 4.24 ERA since then, which ranks 19th in that span.
The Tigers have scored at least four runs in five of their last six games, and with Alexander having allowed at least three runs in five of his last eight starts, Friday’s clash will kick off the series with some offensive sparks.
The Play: Twins vs. Tigers Over 7