Written by The Sports Network TSN

(Sports Network) - The Detroit Tigers continue their quest toward an American League Central crown on Saturday when they once again try to open a three-game series with the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park.

This series was slated to get underway on Friday, but rain caused a postponement. Now the series will close with a day-night doubleheader on Sunday.

Detroit enters this matchup trailing the division-leading Chicago White Sox by 1 1/2 games. But the Tigers close their season with 13 games against the Twins and Kansas City Royals. The Twins, of course, are tied with the Cleveland Indians for the worst record in the AL, while the Royals are 13 games under .500.

The Tigers lost for only the third time in nine tries on Thursday and were denied a three-game sweep over the Oakland Athletics with a 12-4 loss.

Gerald Laird, Austin Jackson and Prince Fielder knocked in runs, and Andy Dirks also homered for the Tigers, who remained within striking distance of Chicago in the AL Central. Chicago lost at Kansas City on Thursday.

Anibal Sanchez (3-6) was charged with six hits and six runs -- five earned -- over 5 2/3 innings.

"We won the first two and we got off to a good start today. Obviously we didn't get it, that's the way it is. Now we turn the page and start to scoreboard watch," noted Tigers manager Jim Leyland.

Getting the call for the Tigers on Saturday will be righty Doug Fister, who had a two-start winning streak stopped his last time out. Fister lost to Chicago on Monday, as the White Sox reached him for five runs (4 earned) and eight hits in only four innings, dropping him to 9-9 to go along with a 3.65 ERA.

Fister beat the Twins the last time he faced them, but is just 2-6 lifetime against them with a 3.68 ERA in eight starts.

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Tigers, Twins begin series at Comerica Park