Tigers hit the road to face Twins in AL Central clash

The Detroit Tigers open a seven-game road trip Monday night against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field, with right-handers Jackson Jobe and Taj Bradley on the mound for Game 138. Both AL Central clubs sit near .500—Detroit at 63-73 and Minnesota at 65-72—making this tigers twins matchup a late-season test in Minneapolis.

Key Takeaways

• First pitch is 7:40 p.m. ET (6:40 p.m. CT) at Target Field in Minneapolis.
• RHP Jackson Jobe (1-1, 3.93 ERA) starts for Detroit; RHP Taj Bradley (9-6, 3.97 ERA) goes for Minnesota.
• The Tigers won just one of three against the Los Angeles Dodgers before leaving Comerica Park.
• Minnesota went 8-17 in August and sits four games out of a playoff spot.
• Both clubs are giving increased playing time to young prospects down the stretch.

Why does this Tigers-Twins series matter right now?

Detroit dropped a 6-1 decision to the Dodgers on Sunday, finishing the weekend with only one win in three games. Framber Valdez held the Tigers to one run through five innings before a hung changeup in the sixth broke a 1-1 tie and opened the door to the loss.

Minnesota's situation is equally urgent. An 8-17 August has turned what looked like a promising building year into a long-shot playoff push. The Twins remain four games out of a postseason berth, but teams like Cleveland, Toronto, and Baltimore are trending upward while Minnesota fades.

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Who is starting on the mound for Detroit and Minnesota?

Jackson Jobe gets the ball for the Tigers. The 24-year-old right-hander is still finding his rhythm after returning from Tommy John surgery earlier in August. Over his last two starts—9⅔ innings total—Jobe posted a 1.86 ERA and 3.81 FIP, allowing eight hits and six walks while striking out seven.

Taj Bradley counters for the Twinkies. The 25-year-old carries a 9-6 record and 3.97 ERA on the season, though August was rough: a 5.40 ERA across 26⅔ innings over five starts, with 28 hits, 14 walks, and 30 strikeouts. Bradley has faced Detroit twice in 2026—he threw 6⅓ one-run innings for a win on April 7 in Minneapolis, then gave up five runs in a June 9 loss at Comerica Park.

Can the Twins still reach the postseason?

Postseason hopes are not officially dead, but the math is steep. With Byron Buxton likely done for the year and the club mired in a brutal August, Minnesota appears to be pivoting toward 2027 evaluation. Yahoo Sports notes that Walker Jenkins, Kaelen Culpepper, Gabriel Gonzalez, Emmanuel Rodriguez, and Alan Roden should see heavier workloads as rosters expand.

Part of Minnesota's recent problem has been uncertainty over which young players are truly ready for bigger roles—something the front office cannot afford heading into an offseason that will require upgrades on both sides of the ball.

What lineups and broadcast details should fans know?

Detroit's lineup features Gleyber Torres leading off, Colt Keith at DH, Kevin McGonigle at shortstop, and Spencer Torkelson at first base. Minnesota counters with Luke Keaschall in right, Brooks Lee at third, Kody Clemens at second, and Walker Jenkins in center.

Watch on Twins.TV or stream via MLB.TV. Detroit fans can tune in through Detroit SportsNet or the Tigers Radio Network. Radio listeners in Minnesota can catch the call on TIBN, 830 WCCO, 102.9 The Wolf, or the Audacy app. Full preview details are available from Bless You Boys.