(Best E Casino) - Two teams hot in pursuit of the American League's Central Division title -- the Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers -- face off today in the opening game of a four-game weekend series at Comerica Park.

The Twins enter play on Thursday 3 1/2 games behind the front-running Chicago White Sox, while the Tigers sit a full seven games off the pace.

Veteran southpaw Kenny Rogers gets the start for the Tigers in Thursday's opener and looks for his third win in five starts. The 43-year-old has alternated wins and losses in four starts since a four- start no-decision string ended on June 17.

He beat San Francisco, 5-1, after scattering five hits and allowing a run in seven innings against the Giants. That was followed by an 8-4 loss to St. Louis, then by a 4-3 victory over Colorado and a 4-1 loss at Seattle.

Rogers is 3-2 in eight home starts in 2008 with a 4.40 earned run average over 47 innings.

For the Twins, young right-hander Kevin Slowey seeks a fifth straight win since a 2-6 start.

The 24-year-old last lost June 6 at Chicago, when he allowed 10 hits and eight runs in three innings of a 12-2 rout by the White Sox.

He's 4-0 in five starts since, in which he's allowed 24 hits and eight runs over 35 innings.

Slowey has won both career starts against Detroit, including a 9-4 verdict on May 23 at Comerica, in which he gave up four hits in six scoreless innings.

On Wednesday in Boston, Kevin Youkilis went 3-for-4 with a homer and four RBI, and Boston took advantage of a wiped-out triple play call in the seventh inning to rout Minnesota, 18-5, en route to sweeping the three-game set at Fenway Park.

Justin Morneau hit a two-run homer for the Twins, who have lost three in a row after a five-game win streak.

Livan Hernandez (9-6) suffered the loss after being tagged for six runs in only 4 1/3 innings. The veteran righty did not allow any walks, but surrendered 11 hits, while striking out two.

In Detroit, Miguel Cabrera's game-ending two-run homer in the ninth inning gave the Tigers a come-from-behind, 8-6 win over Cleveland, completing a two- game sweep of the Indians.

The Tigers came back from six runs down and tied the game in the seventh; though in the top half of the ninth, Detroit's Todd Jones took the mound and almost gave up the go-ahead run.

Jensen Lewis (0-3) took the loss while Jones (4-0) got the win.

Matt Joyce finished 3-for-4 with a two-run home run, while Cabrera ended with two hits and three total RBI for Detroit, which has won three in a row. Guillen also drove in a pair for the Tigers. Shortstop Edgar Renteria left the game before the top of the eighth with a mild left hamstring strain.

Detroit starter Eddie Bonine struggled in 3 2/3 innings, as he gave up five runs on nine hits. Casey Fossum threw 3 1/3 solid frames of relief, allowing one run on three hits.

The Twins have won seven of their 11 contests with the Tigers this season.