MINNEAPOLIS -- The Tigers will have a chance to move into an American League Wild Card spot Thursday. But they'll have to beat the Twins twice to do it.
Detroit's charge in the AL Wild Card ran into an opponent it couldn't defeat: Mother Nature. Rain postponed Wednesday's game between Tigers and Twins at Target Field, leaving them to a play a day-night doubleheader Thursday.
The first game will start at 2:10 p.m. ET, with the nightcap slated to start at 8:10 p.m. ET. A Tigers sweep and an Orioles loss to the Red Sox would move Detroit into the second AL Wild Card, a half-game up.
Wednesday's game was in the third inning, with starter Buck Farmer working his way out of a jam with back-to-back strikeouts of Joe Mauer and Kennys Vargas, when the line of thunderstorms that had been holding off to the north all evening finally crept over Target Field. Play stopped at 9:15 p.m. ET, with the call coming about an hour and a half later.
All stats from this game are wiped out, as if it never happened. They'll start anew when play begins Thursday.
With Farmer unable to return, Aníbal Sánchez will start the day game, making his first start since he gave up six runs in four innings to the Twins on Sept. 14 at Comerica Park. His last win came at Target Field on Aug. 23, when he tossed seven quality innings in an 8-3 win. Justin Verlander, who was already scheduled to start Thursday, is slated to start the nightcap, so the Tigers could have a long bullpen and a short leash for Sanchez.
Still unclear is the status of Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler, who remains under concussion protocol. He was hoping to try baseball activity on Wednesday to be cleared for Thursday's game, but was unable to get onto the field due to the weather.
Victor Martinez, out the past two games with swelling in his right knee, could have a better chance to return. He felt improvement Wednesday, according to manager Brad Ausmus, but was held out for one more day.