Staff ace Justin Verlander aims for a second 2013 defeat of the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night when the Detroit Tigers host them in game two of a three-game midweek series at Comerica Park.
Verlander defeated Minnesota in his initial start of 2013 on April 1 at Target Field, where he gave up four hits in five scoreless innings of a 4-2 victory.
The win lifted Verlander to 13-7 in 24 career starts against the Twins with a 3.11 earned run average in 159 innings of work.
He's 1-2 with in four starts since, including a no-decision in Detroit's 8-3 loss to Kansas City on April 25.
In that start, Verlander gave up one earned run on eight hits in seven innings.
For Minnesota, righty Vance Worley makes it a half-dozen tries at a first victory of the season.
Worley, who won six games with the Philadelphia Phillies last season and 11 for them in 2011, has dropped three decisions in five starts with the Twins since arriving in a trade for outfielder Ben Revere.
He allowed two runs on six hits in five innings against the Texas Rangers in his most recent outing on April 25, but has given up 36 hits and 20 runs in 24 innings overall - including a one-inning, seven-run debacle against the New York Mets on April 12.
Worley was on the short end of the 4-2 verdict against Verlander on April 1, his first career appearance against Detroit.
On Monday, Prince Fielder's three-run home run led the Tigers to a 4-3 win.
Andy Dirks hit a solo home run and scored twice while Max Scherzer (3-0) gave up three runs on six hits with 10 strikeouts over 7 1/3 innings for the Tigers, who have won five of their last six.
Josh Willingham hit a solo home run while Oswaldo Arcia and Aaron Hicks each drove in a run for the Twins, who have lost four of six. Mike Pelfrey (2-3) gave up four runs on seven hits with two walks and a strikeout over 5 1/3 innings to drop his second straight start.
"He's one of the best pitchers in the league when he has good command of his stuff," said Hicks. "Tonight he had really good stuff and we just couldn't get much going."
Minnesota won two of three from the Tigers in an early April series, though Detroit won the 2012 season series, 10-8.
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