(Sports Network) - Summer must be winding down, because the Minnesota Twins are making their annual late-season push in the American League Central race.

"The Piranhas", as White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen calls his division rivals, have won seven of their last nine games and had a season-high five-game win streak snapped Wednesday against Baltimore. Prior to their current run, the Twins were 6 1/2 games behind the division-leading Detroit Tigers. Entering Friday's series opener against Texas, they are now 4 1/2 games back and just a half-game behind Chicago for second place.

Minnesota's homestand resumes Friday with a big three-game series against the Rangers, then wraps up next week with a three-game set against the rival White Sox.

The Twins' hot stretch began last week in Texas, where they split a four-game series thanks to a pair of late-inning comebacks.

"I think we just showed a lot of character when we were there, two come-from- behind wins," said outfielder Denard Span. "Just take it as a new series. We know (the Rangers have) got a good ballclub, a good lineup. We know they're going to come in here and swing the bats well."

Manager Ron Gardenhire has been waiting a long time for that team character to rear its head. For much of the season, it has been one step forward, one step back for Minnesota (63-64). A lot of that inconsistency can be attributed to a sporadic starting rotation.

On the season, Minnesota's starters have a combined 5.07 ERA, which is the second-worst mark in the American League behind only the Orioles (web | news) . In addition to their ineffectiveness, the starters have also recently been dealing with a slew of injuries.

Francisco Liriano (5-12, 5.80) is on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation and left elbow fatigue. He received a cortisone shot on Wednesday, with the hope of returning in early-September. Glen Perkins (6-7, 5.89) is also on the DL with left shoulder tendinitis. He began rehabbing on August 16, though there is no timetable for his return. Kevin Slowey (10-3, 4.86) underwent right wrist surgery to remove bone chips on August 4 and is lost for the season.

So, what does that leave the rotation with?

There is a healthy Nick Blackburn (8-9, 4.29), who leads the team with 26 starts this season. However, he is winless in his last eight starts. Reliever Brian Duensing (1-1, 4.91) was recently slotted into a starting role and picked up his first major league win last Saturday against Kansas City. Carl Pavano also beat Kansas City to improve to 2-1 since being acquired from Cleveland. There is also Triple-A callup Armando Gabino, who lasted just 2 2/3 innings in his big league debut Tuesday against Baltimore. He allowed four runs, five hits and three walks, and Gardenhire has not committed to giving Gabino another start.

Essentially, that leaves the team with the ever-reliable Scott Baker (12-7, 4.47), who has quietly won his last six decisions. In his last 16 starts, Baker is 10-1 and effective earned the "stopper" label. The right-hander allowed just one earned run over seven innings against Baltimore Monday night.

Despite his importance to the Twins for the stretch run, Baker doesn't put any extra pressure on himself.

"What good is that going to do, trying to do that?" Baker told the Pioneer Press. "I'm trying to go out there and help my team win a ballgame. So regardless of what's going on with the rotation or with the team, I think it's the same mentality. If you carry anything else extra out there, I can see it being detrimental to your success."

After a rough 2-6 start to the season, Baker adjusted his mechanics and pace and obviously, you can't argue with the results. He will get the start Sunday against the Rangers, a team he has gone 2-0 against this season. Now, with the division race heating up, Baker's teammates are counting on him to deliver once again.

"It's that time of the year where you kind of want to see what the other teams that are ahead of you are doing," Baker said. "If anybody tells you they're not watching, they're probably not telling the truth."

ORDINARY TIGERS CONTINUE TO PLAY FRONT-RUNNER

Somehow, the Detroit Tigers (67-59) have managed keep their place atop the AL Central standings for more than three months. They've done so despite a poor road record (27-39), an inconsistent offense and a knack for playing down to lesser competition.

The Tigers again failed to take advantage of favorable scheduling last week, going 5-4 in a nine-game stretch against Kansas City (49-78), Oakland (56-71) and Seattle (66-62). During that stretch, there were only three occasions in which the Tigers scored five or more runs. And in each of those contests, they failed to put up more than three runs in the following game.

Detroit has played the give-and-take line for most of the season. The team's .258 batting average is the third-worst in the AL, ahead of only Kansas City and Oakland. And if it weren't for super slugger Miguel Cabrera (.343), that number would be a lot uglier.



PEAVY CLOSE TO JOINING WHITE SOX

Barring a setback, Jake Peavy will be coming to the rescue pretty soon for the Chicago White Sox. Peavy will make one more minor-league rehab start Saturday for Triple-A Charlotte. If all goes well, he could join the White Sox rotation by late next week.

"It's always something to shoot for," Peavy told the Chicago Tribune after Thursday's 30-pitch session. "When you put things in concrete, you get a letdown. We'll see what happens. I'm looking forward to Saturday night, meet the team Sunday or Monday in Minnesota and start hopefully in the big leagues some time that week. Whenever this team wants me to start in the big leagues, I'll make that happen," Peavy said.

Among the questions surrounding the former Cy Young winner is: how will he handle the switch from the National League to the American League? How will he handle the switch from pitcher-friendly Petco Park to hitter-friendly U.S. Cellular Field? How will his arm, which experienced minor discomfort following Thursday's light bullpen session, handle a three-month layoff?

White Sox General Manager Kenny Williams was willing to eat up $52 million remaining on Peavy's contract to find out.



CAN TRIBE'S HAFNER EVER RETURN TO FORM?

Discounting Travis Hafner's 2007 season (.266, 24 HR, 100 RBI), 2006 was the last year the Cleveland Indians slugger was a bonafide impact player. He hit .308 that year while belting 42 homers and driving in 117 runs. Last season was cut short after 57 games and a .197 batting average. "Pronk" had just five homers in 198 at-bats that year, then underwent surgery on his right shoulder in October.

Manager Eric Wedge has had to ease Hafner back into action this season, noting there are still physical limitations for his designated hitter. He can only play three or four games at a time before he needs a day to rest the shoulder.

"It's still somewhat physical with him," Wedge said on the team's website. "The fact that it took us this long to get him to four days in a row is real."

On the season, Hafner is hitting .278 with 13 homers and 38 RBI. It's anybody's guess what those numbers could be if the 32-year-old was in peak physical condition. More than likely, only Hafner has an idea of what he's capable of these days.

"At times, my swing feels like it's better than it was the last two years, especially last year," Hafner said. "But if you're playing every day, you get into more of a good rhythm."



ROYALS MIRED IN FUTILITY

"Major League II," the sequel to the 1989 cult favorite of the same name, follows the exploits of a futile American League Central team. One of the many highlights (or lowlights) in the film is when an all-out brawl erupts amongst teammates ("Vaughn is carrying his left a little low, this could hurt him in the later rounds").

That scene could very well describe another futile AL Central team, the 2009 Kansas City Royals. According to multiple reports, several teammates were involved in a scuffle outside the team hotel Wednesday night. The main culprits were first baseman Mike Jacobs and outfielder Jose Guillen, although witnesses said catchers Miguel Olivo and Brayan Pena, both of whom were trying to mediate, wound up bearing the brunt of a few blows.

"Just a misunderstanding," Jacobs said on the team's website. "Obviously you don't want to have misunderstandings with a teammate, but sometimes you do. It's OK. We kissed and made up."

Considering this season was supposed to mark the beginning of a turnaround for the long-suffering organization, things couldn't be much worse right now for the last-place Royals.













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