The Twins started off their series against the Tigers last night with their fifth straight win — matching the club’s longest winning streak of the season.

Now they’ll try to see if Carl Pavano can improve his record against the Tigers this season to 5-0 and pull the club within two games of first-place Detroit.

UPDATE: Thanks to fellow MLB.com writer Jason Beck, who covers the Tigers, I learned that Pavano will try to become the first pitcher to beat Detroit five times in one season since Joe Mays did it in 2001.

Here are today’s lineups:

Tigers (78-69)
1st place in AL Central
Curtis Granderson, CF
Placido Polanco, 2B
Carlos Guillen, LF
Miguel Cabrera, 1B
Aubrey Huff, DH
Magglio Ordonez, RF
Brandon Inge, 3B
Gerald Laird, C
Adam Everett, SS
Pitching: RHP Justin Verlander (16-8, 3.34)

Twins (75-72)
2nd place in AL Central, 3 games back
Denard Span, CF
Orlando Cabrera, SS
Joe Mauer, C
Jason Kubel, RF
Michael Cuddyer, 1B
Delmon Young, LF
Jose Morales, DH
Brian Buscher, 3B
Nick Punto, 2B
Pitching: RHP Carl Pavano (12-11, 4.91)

A reminder you can follow me on Twitter  @kellythesier