Game 85: Twins at Tigers, 4:10 pm

---

---

---

---

---

---

vs.

---

---

---

---

FYI: Today's game is in FOX's national TV window, and is one of 3 games to be shown regionally. So there's no Fox Sports Detroit coverage this afternoon.

More pregame linkage and game notes after the jump!

Pregame linkage:

The Rick Porcello trade rumors are bunk, according to one cranky old coot who's usually in the know. Towards the end of Jim Leyland's no trade rant last night, he stated Porcello would be back in the rotation after the break.

Via Jason Beck of MLB.com:

Rick Porcello is going to pitch in Cleveland. There's not a ... chance that he's going to be [traded]."

So much for that trade rumor. Though we don't yet know if Porcello's start is a one time thing, or if this means he'll be back in the rotation for good. It's not as if he's been tearing it up with the Mud Hens. We also need to remember Leyland claims he has no say in regard to trades, and no one knows what Dave Dombrowski is thinking. He holds his cards so close to his vest...well, they're super damn close!

Justin Morneau being out of the Twins' lineup is more than good news for the Tigers, it could be good news for Miguel Cabrera.

Via John Lowe at the Freep:

Twins first baseman Justin Morneau hasn’t started in the two games since he suffered a mild concussion in a baserunning collision Wednesday night. If the concussion causes Morneau to miss the All-Star Game on Tuesday, Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera would be in line to start in Morneau’s place.

Cabrera is the only first baseman on the AL team besides Morneau.

I won't root for someone to get injured, but once they already are gimpy? All bets are off. Let's hope Morneau remains on the bench until after the All-Star break.

Brennan Boesch just missed being able to join the MLB leaderboards last night.

Once again, via the Freep:

If Brennan Boesch had gotten one more plate appearance Friday, he would have moved among the official AL leaders in batting average and slugging percentage. Whenever Boesch does move among the leaders, he could be the leading hitter in the league. Boesch is hitting .345, one point lower than the official league leader as of the end of Friday night's game, Miguel Cabrera (.346).

I guess the only thing that can stop Boesch are MLB's arcane rules!

Worst trade deadline pickup ever (OK, a little hyperbole there...but just a little) Aubrey Huff is not happy over how the All-Star rosters are selected!

Via Hardball Talk:

"It's a sham," Huff told CSNBayArea.com by phone Friday morning from Washington, D.C. "To me, the All-Star Game is retarded."

A sham and retarded? Are they sure Huff isn't talking about his short tenure with the Tigers?

Game notes:

Twins' starter Nick Blackburn was 6-1 the last week of May, but has been a batting practice pitcher since. In his last 7 starts, he's posted a 1-5 record and a 9.28 ERA.

The Twins' Denard Span is hitting .350 against the Tigers this season, and is at .392 for his career. I knew Span was a Tigers killer, but come on! .392?

But the Tigers have a Twins killer in Magglio Ordonez. He's hitting .345, with 16 home runs and 73 RBIs in 85 games against the Twinkies since he joined the Tigers in 2005.

With his single in Friday's game, Miguel Cabrera's hitting streak stands at 17 games. It's Miggy's career high. Cabrera also has 73 RBI, the 2nd most before the All-Star break for a Tiger since Cecil Fielder's 77 ribbies in 1993.

Justin Verlander won his 11th game of the season last night. It's the first time Verlander has had 11 wins before the All-Star break, and the most by a Tigers' pitcher since the Gambler, Kenny Rogers, stood at 11 wins at the 2006 break.

Going into today's games, the Tigers are 1/2 game ahead of the White Sox, and 3 games in front of the Twins. Let's make it 1.5 and 4 by tonight, shall we?