The Twins are sticking with Jose Morales as their DH and Matt Tolbert as their third baseman, as they open a critical three-game with Detroit.

Manager Ron Gardenhire spoke glowingly of Morales and Tolbert after the Twins swept Cleveland earlier in the week, hinting strongly that he was going to stick with this lineup. The Twins have won four straight. One more and they’ll match their season high.

Also of note, RF Jason Kubel has moved into the cleanup spot, with 1B Michael Cuddyer at No. 5. Kubel is 5-for-5 in his career against Tigers starter Rick Porcello, and Cuddyer is 0-for-4. It won’t get easier for Cuddyer this weekend, as he is 5-for-27 against Saturday’s starter Justin Verlander and 10-for-47 against Sunday’s starter Nate Robertson.

Meanwhile, you see the changes the Tigers make in their lineup because they’re facing a lefthanded starter. Curtis Granderson, who bats leadoff against righthanders, is in the seventh spot, and Carlos Guillen is not in the lineup. Granderson is batting .176 against lefties, and Guillen .158.

Update: Asked before the game if he’s worried about his team thinking they must sweep this series, Manager Ron Gardenhire said, “We’re just going to try to win tonight. I think the only thing we’re going to guard against is trying to look ahead. We have to win tonight’s ballgame, and we’ll try to play tomorrow’s as it comes. Tonight’s the most important ballgame and then you go from there.”

As for starting Morales and Tolbert, Gardenhire said, “They’re playing. Their energy and great at-bats and hit-and-run and speed and playing defense. They played well in the last series; we’ll put them right in there for this series, and we’ve got guys off the bench now in the Buschers and Harrys — that’s a left-right combo, some veteran guys who know a little about the game. We’ve got the best of both worlds going, so we’ll see what happens. I wanted Morales’ bat in there for sure and Tolbert at third base. I like the way he’s moving around.”

TIGERS (78-68)

1. Ryan Raburn, LF
2. Placido Polanco, 2B
3. Magglio Ordonez, RF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Marcus Thames, DH
6. Brandon Inge, 3B
7. Curtis Granderson, CF
8. Gerald Laird, C
9. Adam Everett, SS

Starting pitcher: RH Rick Porcello (13-8, 4.21 ERA)

TWINS (74-72)

1. Denard Span, CF
2. Orlando Cabrera, SS
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Jason Kubel, RF
5. Michael Cuddyer, 1B
6. Delmon Young, LF
7. Jose Morales, DH
8. Matt Tolbert, 3B
9. Nick Punto, 2B

Starting pitcher: LH Brian Duensing (3-1, 3.53 ERA)

Metrodome. First pitch: 7:10 p.m. TV: FSN

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