DETROIT – The struggling Detroit Tigers are looking to bounce back from a tough 10-games stretch this week with six straight games against winning teams on tap.
The Tigers won six of their first seven series this season, but have lost each of their last two. In fact, you have to go back to April 29, when the Tigers took two of three games from the Twins, to find the last series victory for Detroit. The Tigers fell out of first place in the division thanks to six losses in that 10-game stretch.
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Luckily for the Tigers, they've enjoyed great success against the Twins so far this season, taking five of six meetings. On Tuesday, they'll match up with a pitcher they blasted back in early April: Kyle Gibson.
Gibson allowed six earned runs on eight hits in 3.2 innings in his first start of the season, which came in the opening series at Comerica Park. Since then, the righty hasn't given up more than three runs in any of his five starts.
So far in May, Gibson has pitched 14 scoreless innings.
Gibson's recipe for success is the ground ball. He induced just six grounders against the Tigers on April 9, but has averaged 12.6 ground balls per outing in his five starts since.
For the Tigers, who hit into more double plays than any team in the American League, it'll be important to lay off of Gibson's sinker and stay out of those Twin killings.
First Pitch: 7:08 p.m. on FSD
For Detroit, Alfredo Simon takes the mound coming off two of his worst starts of the season.
Simon won each of his first four outings as a Tiger, but since surrendered nine earned runs over 9.1 innings in a pair of Detroit loses. He has yet to face the Twins this season.
Thanks to a Kansas City loss in Texas on Monday night, the Tigers are just one game behind the Royals in the AL Central Division. KC's series with the Rangers continues Tuesday.