Twins at Mariners
The Minnesota Twins are in the mix for the best record in the American League and sitting atop the Central Division while playing equally well at home and on the road. Winners of seven of their last 10, the Twins will play their next seven games away from Target Field beginning with the opener of a four-game series at the Seattle Mariners on Thursday night.
Power should be on display with Seattle and Minnesota ranking among the top three in the majors in home runs entering the series. Byron Buxton and Jason Castro swatted two-run shots and the Twins held off a ninth-inning comeback to win Wednesday's rubber match of a three-game set against the Los Angeles Angels. After dropping 12 of 14 to fall a season-worst three games below .500, the Mariners returned home and posted a pair of one-run victories over the Oakland Athletics. Right-hander Michael Pineda, who began his career with the Mariners, will get the start in the series opener for the Twins, while Seattle counters with Erik Swanson.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS North (Minnesota), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Michael Pineda (2-3, 5.85 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Erik Swanson (1-4, 6.35)
Pineda, who made 28 starts with Seattle as a rookie in 2011, did not factor in the decision last time out versus Detroit, giving up three runs -- all on solo homers -- and six hits over six innings. He was 0-3 over his previous four starts and was tagged for 19 runs and 30 hits over 19 innings while continuing to have difficulty keeping the ball in the park. Edwin Encarnacion is 10-for-30 against Pineda, who has made three starts against his former team and posted a 1-1 mark with a 5.71 ERA.
Swanson has been boom or bust in five outings as a fill-in starter for Wade LeBlanc but he will remain in the rotation due to an injury that is expected to sideline Felix Hernandez for four to six weeks. The 25-year-old rookie surrendered two homers for the third time in four starts and was pounded for seven runs on seven hits over 4 2/3 innings in a loss at Boston on Friday. Swanson was exceptional in his previous turn at Cleveland on May 5, tossing six scoreless innings of one-hit ball.
WALK-OFFS
1. Buxton is 8-for-17 during a five-game hitting streak.
2. LeBlanc will return to the rotation and start against Minnesota on Saturday.
3. Twins 3B Miguel Sano rejoined the team Wednesday after missing 41 games due to a lacerated heel.