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DETROIT -- If Ron Gardenhire had a vote for AL MVP, he would cast it for Miguel Cabrera. Julio Jones Nike Jersey . "Im just tipping my hat to Cabrera, hes the best player in this league," the Minnesota manager said Friday before the series opener in Detroit was postponed by rain. "Hes going for a Triple Crown, thats an MVP season. His team is in a playoff hunt not solely dependent on him, but hes the reason theyre in it right now." The Tigers gained ground in the playoff race hours after the washout, pulling within 1 1/2 games of AL Central-leading Chicago when the White Sox lost 6-2 at the Los Angeles Angels. Detroit also moved within 5 1/2 games of Oakland for the second wild card. The rainout will be made up Sunday night as part of a doubleheader. Detroit will send Doug Fister (9-9) to the mound Saturday afternoon -- not Rick Porcello, who was scheduled to start Friday night -- and the Twins plan to stick with Samuel Deduno (6-4) in the series opener. The Tigers will pitch Drew Smyly in one of Sundays games and might have Max Scherzer available five days after his previous outing was cut short by a fatigued right shoulder. Minnesota will have Scott Diamond on the mound in the first game of the doubleheader and P.J. Walters in the nightcap. Even though the Twins are playing for only pride, Gardenhire said theyll take each game seriously because theres a lot at stake for many teams. "Out of respect for the game, you go out and give them everything you have," Gardenhire said. "This atmosphere here does lift you up a little bit." Cabrera leads the AL with a .333 batting average and 130 RBIs -- with a relatively comfortable cushion in each category -- and his 41 homers are one behind league leader Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers. "I think hes the best hitter in the league," Gardenhire said. "All-around power and the whole package -- I dont think theres anybody that close to him." With a little less than two weeks left in the regular season, he has a legitimate shot to be baseballs first Triple Crown winner since 1967 when Bostons Carl Yastrzemski led with AL with a .326 batting average, 44 home runs and 121 RBIs. Gardenhire discounts the statistical sabermetric approach that favours Los Angeles rookie Mike Trout over Cabrera in the MVP race. "If youre going for the Triple Crown and youve got those numbers, you can saber all you want to," Gardenhire said. "I know Trout is good, too. It doesnt make much sense to me to be arguing about this." Tigers catcher Alex Avila agreed. "Whats pretty crazy is people are talking about him winning a Triple Crown, but that hes second in MVP to Mike Trout," Avila said. "Thats pretty ridiculous." "I dont even want to talk about it because itll get me upset." Cabrera isnt really eager to talk about the hot topic because hes genuinely more interested in Detroit playing in consecutive postseasons, an accomplishment the franchise hasnt pulled off since the 1934-35 seasons. "We need to focus on winning games," he said. Cabrera acknowledged it has been awkward to hear the Comerica Park crowd chanting, "M-V-P! M-V-P!" when he has stepped to the plate recently. "Its kind of weird for me," he said. Twins first baseman Justin Morneau, the 2006 AL MVP, said Cabreras chances will improve if he can help the Tigers catch Chicago. "It would be an easier decision if Detroit gets into the playoffs," Morneau said. "He changed positions -- that hasnt been talked about." When designated hitter Victor Martinez needed surgery during the winter and the Tigers signed first baseman Prince Fielder, they needed to move Cabrera from first to third and he did so without a bit of resistance. "I said, Yes, right away," Cabrera recalled. Cabrera hasnt been a Gold Glove candidate at third base, but he hasnt been awful as some expected him to be, with 13 errors in 148 games. The burly slugger -- listed as 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds -- isnt going to burn up the basepaths. Trout, meanwhile, has an all-around game that gives him an edge over Cabrera in sabermetrics. "Its not like the kid, Trout, is not certainly a deserving candidate," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said. "Im not downplaying what Trouts done. "I mean, the guys a potential Triple Crown winner. If he wins the Triple Crown and sabermetrics is going to say that Trout should be the MVP that would be embarrassing to every writer in baseball if a guy won the Triple Crown and didnt win the MVP." Matt Bosher Jersey . Power had a lap of 1 minute, 21.4045 seconds on the 2.5-mile, 11-turn Anhembi circuit on the streets of South Americas biggest city, less than half a tenth of a second ahead of Franchitti. Tony Gonzalez Jersey .C. -- Jessica Shepley became the new torchbearer for Canadian womens golf Friday -- at least temporarily. http://www.falconsfansroom.com/michael-turner-jerseys .C. -- Tiger Woods watched the flight of his tee shot until he could see it drifting too far right, and he hung his head slightly as the ball tumbled off the green. Tony Gonzalez White Jersey . The two-time defending Formula One champion set a lap of 1 minute, 38.086 seconds on Valencias 5.4-kilometre (3.3-mile) street circuit. "I have had a very good weekend, every day I have felt comfortable in the car," the German said. Matt Ryan Elite Jersey . They were perceived as conservative, strong-willed and unbending in their run-first convictions. The stereotypes are changing as suddenly no one seemed to know what offensive philosophy to expect from either coach entering the 2012 season.Edmonton, AB (Sports Network) - The Edmonton Oilers have agreed to terms with defenseman Oscar Klefbom on a three-year, entry-level contract. The Oilers selected Klefbom with the 19th overall pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Kleefbom had two goals in 33 games with Farjestads BK Karlstad of the Swedish Elite League in 2011-12. Julio Jones White Jersey. The 18-year-old also helped Team Sweden earn a Gold Medal at the 2012 World Junior Championship in Calgary. ' ' '