Scherzer makes final regular-season start against Twins Thursday
Max Scherzer may not have many starts left in a Detroit Tigers uniform, but they're all guaranteed to be important.
After Detroit wrapped up a playoff spot, the reigning AL Cy Young winner looks to help the Tigers move closer to a fourth consecutive Central title as he makes his final regular-season start against the visiting Minnesota Twins on Thursday night (6 p.m. pregame, 7:08 first pitch on FOX Sports Detroit).
Detroit (88-70) secured at least a wild-card berth with Wednesday's 6-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox and Seattle's 1-0 loss to Toronto later in the day. That doesn't mean first-year manager Brad Ausmus is satisfied, though, as the Tigers lead Kansas City by two games atop the Central with four to play.
"The goal is to win the division," Ausmus said.
Scherzer (17-5, 3.19 ERA) again has been at the forefront of Detroit's success, leading the club in victories and ranking third in the majors in strikeouts. He's won at least 15 games in four consecutive years, including going 21-3 with a 2.90 ERA and winning his first Cy Young as the Tigers advanced to a third straight ALCS in 2013.
The right-hander is in the final year of his contract and could bolt in free agency this offseason after he reportedly rejected a 6-year contract worth at least $24 million per season in March. The Tigers issued a statement regarding the situation and decided to table talks until after the season with Scherzer's agent Scott Boras, who maintained Detroit rejected his client's proposal.
Nevertheless, Scherzer has unfinished business with the Tigers, who will be counting on Scherzer to provide more quality outings in the postseason.
He allowed one run in seven innings of a 3-2 victory over the Royals on Saturday, but he wasn't as sharp in his previous start while allowing four runs in seven innings of Detroit's 8-6 win at Minnesota on Sept. 15.
Scherzer is 2-0 in three starts against the Twins this season despite a 5.00 ERA and is 8-1 with a 2.97 ERA in his last 11 outings against the division rivals.
Minnesota (68-90) will be looking to play spoiler as it closes out a disappointing campaign with this four-game set.
The Twins took the final two of a three-game series with Arizona after winning 2-1 on Wednesday. Trevor Plouffe recorded his 80th RBI with a sacrifice fly, but he left in the sixth with a broken left forearm after trying to make a tag at third base.
Though Plouffe will miss this series, manager Ron Gardenhire is sure Joe Mauer will be back in the lineup after sitting out Wednesday with a right elbow contusion suffered when he was hit by a pitch the previous day.
"I just wanted to give him a day. I didn't even ask," Gardenhire said. "We're going to Detroit for four and I want him in all those games. I want him ready to play (Thursday) for sure."
Trevor May will take the hill for his ninth and final start of his rookie season. May (3-5, 8.39) is coming off a rough outing after giving up seven runs in 4 2-3 innings of a 7-3 loss to Cleveland on Saturday.
The right-hander had won his previous three starts. He'll now focus on trying to slow Tigers outfielder J.D. Martinez, who is batting .429 in his last 10 games against the Twins and .500 over his last 10 overall.
"I've had eight starts now, and it's about taking care of your job and keeping guys in the game," said May, who allowed five runs and a season-worst 11 hits in 5 1-3 innings in an 8-6 loss to Detroit on Aug. 23.
Minnesota is 8-7 against the Tigers this season and has split six matchups at Comerica Park.
