Minnesota Twins vs. Detroit Tigers

One of the better series of the Fourth of July weekend will pit the struggling Detroit Tigers, the AL Centrals best team against the surging Minnesota Twins beginning Friday in the Metrodome.

The Minnesota Twins (41-39) will have their ace on the mound as they try to catch the Tigers who are three games ahead of them and 1/2 game behind the second-place Chicago White Sox.

Kevin Slowey (10-3, 4.41) can become the first pitcher in the major leagues to win 11 games, even though he failed in his last attempt at accomplishing the feat when he allowed five runs on six hits in a 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, including two homeruns from Albert Pujols.

Minnesota is looking for their third straight victory and seventh win in their last 10 games when they face a struggling Detroit (43-35) who can not seem to win on the road lately, dropping their last four series on the road.

The last time the Tigers went to the Metrodome, they were swept in early May, including the series finale in which Justin Verlander was unable to hold a five-run lead, and not lead the season series 4-1.

Historically, Detroit has not have much success in the Metrodome, so will not be sad to see it go at the end of this season, lately they have lost nine of the last 12 games there.

Joe Mauer continues his assault on hitting .400 and will likely keep it up against the Detroit Tigers, who he has hit .488 (21 for 43) against in the last 11 home games.

While Detroit has surprised some by ascending and staying in first place in the division, they have been doing it with plenty of band-aids. Carlos Guillen has missed much of the season with a shoulder injury and his return is not imminent.

Pitchers Dontrelle Willis and Jeremy Bonderman both have spent much of the season on the disabled list, save for a few ineffective starts for Willis and one for Bonderman before heading back there again. A possible veteran replacement, and former starter, Nate Robertson is also unavailable to pitch in as he too is on the disabled list.

So once again, the Tigers look to the minors for a starter as Lucas French will get his first career start on Friday after spending time in Triple-A Toledo this season. He replaced Alfredo Figaro, who had been called up a few weeks ago from Double-A and had mixed results.

French was 4-4 with a 2.98 ERA in 13 starts for the Mudhens this year and was in Detroit earlier this season, pitching out of the bullpen and allowing no hits in three innings.

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