Astros at Twins
The Minnesota Twins look to record their fifth straight victory and ninth in 11 games when they host the Houston Astros on Tuesday for the second contest of their four-game set. Minnesota only registered three hits in the series opener, but one was Ehire Adrianza's third-inning homer as it posted a 1-0 victory.
The Twins have outscored their opponents 20-4 during the four-game winning streak and received seven strong innings from Jake Odorizzi in Monday's triumph. Adrianza's blast was his first of this season and just the 12th of his career. The Astros have dropped six of their last 10 games and scored just 12 runs in their last five contests. Michael Brantley and Carlos Correa each recorded two of Houston's five singles, with Josh Reddick being the only other player to notch a base hit.
TV: 7:40 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston), FS North (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Gerrit Cole (1-4, 4.71 ERA) vs. Twins RH Michael Pineda (2-1, 5.63)
Cole has lost back-to-back starts, the first being when he allowed nine runs - eight earned - and nine hits over 4 1/3 innings in a loss to Texas on April 20. The 28-year-old served up two solo homers - and three total hits - over seven frames in his last start as he dropped a 2-1 decision to Cleveland. Cole never has faced the Twins but regularly battled Seattle's Nelson Cruz (3-for-11, three doubles) last season.
Pineda has allowed 10 runs and 15 hits over nine innings in his last two starts. The 30-year-old was roughed up for six runs and seven hits over 3 2/3 frames in a loss to Toronto on April 18 and followed up with a no-decision in which he gave up four runs and eight hits over 5 1/3 innings against the Astros. Pineda is 3-3 with a 4.66 ERA in eight career starts against Houston and has struggled to retire Correa (9-for-16, three homers) and George Springer (8-for-19, two).
WALK-OFFS
1. Twins LF Eddie Rosario, who leads the American League with 11 homers, is 0-for-10 over his last three games.
2. Brantley has recorded six two-hit performances in the past 10 contests.
3. Minnesota 3B Miguel Sano (Achilles) is slated to begin a rehab stint at Class A Fort Myers on Tuesday.