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This is without a doubt the defining series between these two teams as Minnnesota walks into Comerica Park to start a 4 game series only 2 games behind the Tigers in the standings.

The American League will be buzzing this week as all eyes will be on this series, as it's the only real race left in the AL. The rest has all more or less been decided. The Twins are hot, very hot right now, having won 11 of their last 13 games, including 2 of 3 against said Tigers earlier this month.

Nick Blackburn gets the call for the Twins and while his record is .500 at 11-11 and his road record isn't very strong at 4-7, he did pitch one game this year at Comerica where he completed the win, allowing only two Tiger runs on 7 hits. He's the right man for the Twins to get this series off on the right foot.

I was a little surprised that the Tigers are such favorites in this match-up given how well the Twins have played lately. But of course, all that means is that taking the Twins is a great bet at [2.22]. The Tigers throw rookie Rick Porcello to the mound who has been very good this year but not against the Twins. He lost his last outing, pitching 6 innings giving up 3 Earned Runs. That was clearly a lack of offense though and he can't be blamed for that. However on the season he's 1-2 giving up 7 earned runs on 17.0 innings pitched.

The Tigers need him to be at his best tonight and it's certainly a heavy task to ask a rookie pitcher. The crowd will be hyped, the media will be large and the pressure is definitely on the Tigers who have been at the top of the American League Central for most of the season. Lately they have not played well, plain and simple. They are getting decent outings from their pitching staff, but have simply not been able to get many runs scored.

The Tigers are coming off a series against the White Sox where they once again lost the series, 2 games to 1. They simply can't seem to get it done and this could be a spectacular collapse that could start tonight. Take the Twins, they have nothing to lose!