Twins at Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are playing some of their best baseball of the season as they work toward the All-Star break and have a chance to make a statement against a division leader this week. The Athletics will try to push their winning streak to four straight when they host the American League Central-leading Minnesota Twins in the opener of a three-game series on Tuesday.
Oakland is 13-5 over its last 18 contests and won the last three games at the Los Angeles Angels over the weekend by a combined 23-5. The Athletics pounded their way to a 12-3 victory on Sunday behind third baseman Matt Chapman, who was named to his first All-Star team and celebrated by going 3-for-5 with his 21st home run and six RBIs. The Twins enter the week with an eight-game lead over the Cleveland Indians in the Central but are losers of three of their last four and fell to 27-16 on the road with a 4-3 loss at the Chicago White Sox on Sunday. Minnesota will turn to All-Star Jake Odorizzi on Tuesday while Oakland counters with right-hander Daniel Mengden.
TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), NBCS California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Jake Odorizzi (10-3, 2.73 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Daniel Mengden (2-1, 4.03)
Odorizzi was carrying a 1.92 ERA after a win at Detroit on June 9 but struggled in his last three turns, allowing a total of 11 runs and 19 hits across 15 1/3 innings. The 29-year-old struck out seven over 5 1/3 innings against Tampa Bay on Wednesday but yielded three runs on four hits - two homers - along with two walks, and was held out of the decision. Odorizzi surrendered two runs - one earned - over seven innings in his lone start against Oakland last season but suffered the loss.
Mengden is coming off his best start of the season after tossing six scoreless innings in a win at St. Louis on Wednesday. The 26-year-old was sent to Triple-A Las Vegas after getting knocked around for six runs on as many hits over 2 1/3 innings at the Los Angeles Angels on June 5. Mengden is making his first career appearances against Minnesota and is 0-1 with a 3.95 ERA in three games - two starts - at home this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Twins DH Nelson Cruz homered three times in the last two games.
2. Oakland OF Khris Davis (hand) sat out the last three games and is questionable.
3. Minnesota OF Max Kepler (knee) was held out of the starting lineup on Sunday and is day-to-day.