June 28, 2024; SEATTLE, WA; Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa (4) celebrates with second baseman Willie Castro (50) after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-USA TODAY Sports The Minnesota Twins will be looking to acclimate to more familiar surroundings as they return to their home stadium to begin a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers in Minneapolis on Tuesday night.
The Twins are in good spirits after a nine-game road trip against the Oakland Athletics, Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners. They are 6-3 on the road, winning each series 2-1.
This is the type of consistent success that Twins manager Rocco Baldelli enjoys.
“I think we’re getting better as a group,” Baldelli said. “I still think we’re getting better this year. I think you can see it in the way the plate appearances are unfolding, how the plate appearances actually look.”
Meanwhile, Detroit is looking for back-to-back wins for the first time since June 2-4.
The Tigers won 7-6 over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday. The win snapped Detroit’s four-game losing streak, which had ended in 16 of their previous 22 games.
“You can’t complain about the win, especially considering how things went,” Tigers coach AJ Hinch said. “We’re going to get a win and go out here, get on the plane, have a nice flight, have a day off. We definitely needed a win, no matter what.”
The Tigers will look to left-hander Tarik Skubal (9-3, 2.32 ERA) to continue the momentum. Skubal is on track to make the All-Star team after striking out 112 batters in 97 innings.
In his most recent outing, Skubal pitched seven scoreless innings against the Philadelphia Phillies, one of the best teams in the majors. He gave up three hits, walked one, and struck out seven.
“He’s a great guy,” Hinch said after the performance. “He hit 100, but he mixed in some of his other pitches a lot better. He gave it his all tonight.”
Skubal has faced Minnesota 10 times in his career. He is 3-3 with a 3.53 ERA, including one start this season where he pitched five scoreless innings and earned the win on April 12.
The Twins will face right-handed pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson (3-1, 3.41), who is making his 14th start of the season and 15th of his career. Woods Richardson is looking for back-to-back wins after holding Arizona to four hits and three runs in 5 1/3 innings in an 8-3 win over Arizona on Wednesday.
Woods Richardson made two starts against Detroit, going 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA and eight strikeouts in 11 innings.
Carlos Correa leads the Twins with a .311 batting average and .822 on-base percentage. He has nine home runs and 40 RBIs in 65 games.
Detroit’s most influential hitter was Riley Greene, who hit .253 with 15 home runs and 41 RBI in 83 games. He had an OPS of .831, which was significantly higher than anyone else on the team.
The Tigers are 4-3 against the Twins this season, leading them to a 32-29 record.
Minnesota is 23-16 at home this season. The Tigers are 19-24 on the road.
–Field level media
