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Jul 11, 2010 - 12:49 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Minnesota (45-41) at Detroit (47-37), 1:05 p.m. EDT

After leading the AL Central for much of the first half, the reeling Minnesota Twins need a win Sunday to avoid entering the All-Star break five games behind the Detroit Tigers.

The Twins are also in danger of losing a season-high fifth straight game, but they'll send Carl Pavano to the mound in hopes of stopping Detroit from a sixth consecutive win and a three-game home sweep.

Minnesota (45-42) led the division by 4 1/2 games on June 11, but the third-place Twins are 9-17 since that point, with their recent skid complicated by an injury to Justin Morneau.

The All-Star first baseman, who ranks among the top three in the majors in batting average (.345) and slugging percentage (.618), will miss his fourth straight game Sunday - as well as the All-Star game - with a concussion.

"He's getting better, but the bottom line is that we're going to make sure he's healthy before we put him back on the field," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.

The Tigers (48-37) have taken advantage of Minnesota's struggles, seizing first place thanks to an 18-8 surge over the last month. They've won 17 of their last 19 at home, beginning this homestand 7-1.

"You're supposed to win at home," said Detroit slugger Miguel Cabrera, who will replace Morneau as the AL starter at first base. "People come here to see you win. ... If we can win more on the road, I think we can win the division."

Detroit has totaled 37 runs during the team's five-game winning streak, using four home runs to power Saturday's 7-4 victory. Cabrera's 22nd homer extended his career-best hitting streak to 18 games.

Poor pitching has been a consistent problem lately for the Twins, who have allowed at least six runs in seven straight games. Their 5.49 ERA since June 18 ranks among the worst in the majors.

Minnesota hopes for some help from its leader in victories as Pavano (9-6, 3.58 ERA) tries to notch 10 wins before the All-Star break for the first time. He only had nine wins at the break in 2004, when he finished 18-8 for Florida.

Pavano is 4-0 in his last six starts, but he's coming off a rocky outing at Toronto on Tuesday, when he gave up six runs and three home runs in 6 1-3 innings of the Twins' 7-6 victory.

The right-hander has faced Detroit seven times in his career - all in 2009 and 2010 - going 4-2 with a 2.88 ERA. He's lost the last two outings, but he pitched well at Comerica Park on April 29, limiting the Tigers to two earned runs in an eight-inning, complete-game 3-0 loss.

Pavano figures to have the advantage in a matchup with Detroit rookie Andy Oliver, who has encountered problems in his first three big league starts.

Oliver (0-2, 5.93) lasted 1 2-3 innings in his home debut Monday against Baltimore, allowing six runs - five earned - in the Tigers' 12-9 win.

"He didn't have command, and when you can't throw strikes up here, you pay the price," manager Jim Leyland said of Oliver. "He'll be fine. He just couldn't find the strike zone today."

The left-hander has already faced the Twins, allowing five runs - two earned - and eight hits in six innings of a 5-1 loss at Target Field on June 30.

The Tigers hope to complete their first three-game sweep of the Twins since Sept. 14-16, 2007.