The Minnesota Twins enter Sunday's double-header with the Detroit Tigers as losers of two straight with a half game lead on the Cleveland Indians, who are in last place in the AL Central.
Scott Diamond (11-8, 3.69 ERA) starts game one for Minnesota at 1:05 p.m. against Max Scherzer (16-6, 3.78 ERA). Diamond picked up a no-decision in a 7-3 loss to Detroit on July 5. He allowed two runs in seven innings.
Scherzer, the Major League leader in strikeouts, left his previous start early with a fatigued shoulder. He is 2-0 with a 2.19 ERA against the Twins this season.
In game two at 7:05 p.m., Drew Smyly (4-3, 4.45 ERA) starts for the Tigers against P.J. Walters (2-4, 6.39 ERA). Smyly will be making his first start since Aug. 25. He has made four appearances out of the bullpen since then.
Walters has started against the Tigers twice this season. He's 1-0 with a 3.65 ERA in those games.
Detroit enters the day trailing the Chicago White Sox by a half game for the AL Central lead.
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