Nine games separated the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins last season in the American League Central standings.

The Tigers finished in second place in the division, but by the end of the season, the Twins had already pulled away from the rest of the pack. The Tigers hope the outcome is different in 2024.

All 162 games matter, but the Tigers (7-4) will play seven games against the Twins in the next 10 days. The stretch started with Friday's opener of a four-game series at Comerica Park, and continues next Friday in a three-game series at Target Field.

"I'm always looking forward to a series because I love playing baseball," said left fielder Riley Greene, the leadoff hitter Friday against Twins right-hander Pablo López. "I get that we're playing the Twins and everything, and we gotta win, but we gotta win every game."

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Manager A.J. Hinch shot down assumptions that the Tigers could be more focused on the Twins than other teams.

"It's like every other series," Hinch said Tuesday, three days before Friday's series opener. "As a player or manager or coach, you can't say this is the series that we want to focus on. We have to win as many games as we can on the day that we play, so we can't try harder, we can't emphasize more, we can't overdo it. Otherwise, you're disrespecting the other games that you're playing."

First baseman Spencer Torkelson echoed Hinch's message.

"I think every game is important, especially against a good team in the division, but I think we're not really looking at it like that," Torkelson said Tuesday. "There's always an emphasis to win every single day, so I feel like if we just maintain that, we'll be all right. Not making one at-bat more important than another one."

Not only is Friday's game against the Twins the start of the 13-game season series between the two teams who finished at the top of the AL Central last season, but it's another chance for the Tigers to flex on a division rival. The Tigers swept the Chicago White Sox in three games to open the season.

Back in 2023, the Tigers had a 35-17 record against AL Central teams, including 8-5 against the Twins.

"It carries over because we believe that we match up better against them," Torkelson said. "I think that gives this team self-belief that we're a better team."

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In 2024, the Tigers are in third place in the division after two weeks.

The AL Central standings, entering Friday: Cleveland Guardians (9-3), Kansas City Royals (9-4), Tigers (7-4), Twins (4-6) and White Sox (2-10). The Royals are riding a seven-game winning streak.

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"This division, any team can win any given day," Hinch said before Friday's opener against the Twins. "I don't really look at expectations. I see the difficult matchups when you see what the Royals are starting to do, what Cleveland does all the time, what the Twins have done the last few years. We've trended in the right direction.

"The more time you spend on external expectations, the more distraction that is for you versus a team. It's very coach speak and probably predictable what I would say, but you got to play the games. You've got to play well to beat them. We've seen some Central teams stack some wins, and we're one of them. You got to play all 162. They'll count them up at the end of the season."

Matt Manning starts

The Tigers and Twins will play a doubleheader Saturday.

Right-hander Matt Manning is scheduled to start for the Tigers in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader, serving as the 27th man. Manning, who was scratched from Wednesday's start with Triple-A Toledo in preparation for the doubleheader, was in the clubhouse Friday at Comerica Park.

"We communicated with him what was going on," Hinch said. "It's like having a six-man rotation when we say we're not going to have a six-man rotation because he's fully equipped to pitch at the major-league level. I've said it over and over, and I'll continue to say it, he deserves the opportunities when they come up."

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Manning previously served as the 27th man for Game 2 of the April 4 doubleheader against the New York Mets at Citi Field, throwing 5⅔ no-hit innings with four walks and three strikeouts on 90 pitches.

"He's had a couple of bullpens in between his last outing," Hinch said. "That long stretch isn't ideal, but Matty is in good spirits, and he'll be ready to go."

Sawyer Gipson-Long injury

Right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long showed up in the clubhouse at Comerica Park for the first time this season.

He has been pulled off his rehab assignment, recovering from a left groin strain, because of right forearm tightness. He threw three innings Sunday with Low-A Lakeland in his first rehab start.

Gipson-Long is going to visit multiple doctors.

"We brought him here because we wanted him to see our doctors and also wanted to set up some appointments to get further evaluated," Hinch said. "Obviously, on our injured list, he's always welcome to have a locker here. He's frustrated, as he should be. It's good to be around your teammates, around your coaches, around this place while he waits to find out what the next steps are."

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers host reigning AL Central champs, but message the same