Detroit Tigers vs Minnesota Twins — Apr 9, 2026 | AI-prognos & statistik

Expect a slugfest early before the bullpens settle things down. Jack Flaherty’s command wavered in his first Detroit outing and he draws a Minnesota lineup that has punished right-handers all week; look for Josh Bell to ambush a fastball for a two-run shot in the opening frame. Rookie Mick Abel hasn’t worked past the fourth inning yet, but his heavy-slider profile matches up reasonably well with a Tigers group that chases—he’ll bend for two runs through three before giving way to a rested relief corps led by Taylor Rogers and Cole Sands. Detroit’s best chance comes in the middle innings when Colt Keith and Kevin McGonigle turn Abel around for a mini-rally, but once Taj Bradley is available for a three-out bridge the Tigers’ offense cools. Flaherty survives five, yet his elevated pitch count forces the Tigers to expose a shaky middle relief unit; Will Vest surrenders a two-run burst in the fifth and Tyler Holton lets an insurance run across in the seventh. Minnesota’s defense tightens late and Justin Topa closes the door despite Riley Greene’s eighth-inning RBI double. Twins complete the sweep, 6-4, behind a balanced lineup and a bullpen that outclasses Detroit’s.