Twins at Tigers Preview

DETROIT (Interstat) — The Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers open a three-game series Tuesday at Comerica Park, with both teams looking to climb out of the bottom of the American League Central.

First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. under cloudy skies and 83 degrees.

Minnesota (30-37) is expected to start Taj Bradley (5-2) or Troy Melton (2-0), though the team has not confirmed which pitcher will take the mound. Detroit (27-39) will counter with right-hander Jack Flaherty (2-4).

Flaherty is coming off a strong outing, earning the win in the Tigers’ 5-4 victory over Seattle on Sunday. He allowed three runs on six hits over five innings with seven strikeouts. Over his last five starts, Flaherty has a 4.06 ERA, with 33 strikeouts across 26 innings.

Connor Prielipp, a key arm for the Twins’ bullpen, has been inconsistent. In his most recent appearance Sunday against Kansas City, he allowed two earned runs on four hits with seven strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings in a 6-5 loss. Prielipp has a 6.16 ERA over his last five outings, with 28 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings.

The series continues a stretch of division play for both clubs. The Twins have lost four of their last five, including Sunday’s one-run loss to the Royals. Detroit snapped a two-game skid with Sunday’s win over Seattle.

These teams last met April 6-9 in Minneapolis, where the Twins swept a four-game series, outscoring the Tigers 22-12.

The Interstat game simulator projects a 5-3 Tigers victory.

After Tuesday’s game, the teams play Wednesday and Thursday, then Minnesota travels to Texas for three games while Detroit heads to Cleveland for a weekend series.