Orioles at Twins
The Minnesota Twins had a chance at a perfect six-game road trip dashed when they dropped two straight to the Houston Astros, but things are still looking bright. The Twins will try to get back in the win column when they open a seven-game homestand against the same two teams by hosting the Baltimore Orioles for the first of three contests on Friday.
Minnesota swept a three-game set at Baltimore last weekend and took the opener at Houston on Monday before dropping the next two games by a combined 17-5. "I thought it was a very good trip," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli told reporters. "Obviously, coming in (to Houston), it is a difficult place to play and it's against a good team, but I think our guys battled pretty well and it was good to win a game in here. Obviously, we want to win every game, but overall it was a very, very solid trip." The Orioles were moving in the opposite direction with the sweep against Minnesota turning into a four-game slide, but they took the last two on their homestand against the Chicago White Sox. Baltimore will try to secure its first three-game winning streak since the opening week of the season behind right-hander Alex Cobb on Friday while Minnesota counters with lefty Martin Perez.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Baltimore), FS North (Minnesota)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Alex Cobb (0-1, 11.88 ERA) vs. Twins LH Martin Perez (2-0, 5.31)
Cobb was returning from a back injury when he was lit up for nine runs on 10 hits - three homers - over 2 2/3 innings against Minnesota on Saturday. The 31-year-old served up homers to Nelson Cruz, C.J. Cron and Eddie Rosario while recording the eight outs on 61 pitches. Cobb was stronger in his season debut against the New York Yankees on April 4, allowing two runs across 5 2/3 innings before hitting the injured list.
Perez is making his third straight start after beginning the season in long relief and yielded four runs on six hits - two homers - over six innings at Baltimore while matching up against Cobb on Saturday. Perez was given 13 runs of support before he yielded a run in the easy win. The 28-year-old Venezuelan held the Toronto Blue Jays to one run across six frames without factoring in the decision in his previous outing.
WALK-OFFS
1. Orioles 1B Chris Davis (personal) missed Wednesday's game but is expected back on Friday.
2. Minnesota 3B Marwin Gonzalez is 2-for-24 over his last six games.
3. Baltimore traded RHP Mike Wright to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for minor-league INF Ryne Ogren.