Twins at Marlins
The Minnesota Twins' homer-happy offense has kept them atop the American League Central for the bulk of the season, while the Miami Marlins' inability to hit them consistently has been among the reasons why they reside in the National League East basement. The Twins attempt to maintain their historic home run pace Tuesday when they visit Miami for the opener of a three-game interleague set with the Marlins.
Minnesota has connected on 39 blasts since the All-Star break and 48 in July - both marks the best in the majors - after belting four more in Sunday's 11-1 rout of the Chicago White Sox. The Twins, who are clinging to a two-game lead in their division, have 28 more home runs than any other team in baseball (205) and are easily on pace to break the club record (225 in 1963) as well as the major-league mark (267), set by the New York Yankees last season. On the other end of the spectrum is the Marlins, who have six fewer homers than any other team (87). Miami managed two in Monday's 11-6 victory over Arizona to win the four-game series over the Diamondbacks, and has won five of its last six contests while holding its opponent to two runs or fewer four times.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), FS Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Jake Odorizzi (11-5, 3.84 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Zac Gallen (1-2, 2.76)
Odorizzi lost for the third time in his last four decisions Wednesday against the New York Yankees, surrendering season highs in runs (nine) and hits (10) while throwing 102 pitches over four innings. Since carrying a 1.52 ERA during a 10-game winning streak that ended June 20, the 29-year-old has posted an 8.44 ERA and not registered a quality start while going 1-3 in six turns. Starlin Castro (3-for-16, five strikeouts) is the only Marlin with a home run against Odorizzi, who is 2-1 with a 3.81 ERA in five starts versus Miami.
Gallen enjoyed the finest outing of his brief major-league career Wednesday in Chicago, earning his first victory while yielding only a pair of hits and striking out a season-high nine over seven innings against the White Sox. Although the New Jersey native has yet to allow more than three runs in any of his turns, the outing marked the first time he pitched more than 5 1/3 innings. Gallen is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two trips to the mound at home as he makes the seventh start of his career.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Twins are a major-league best 33-20 on the road.
2. The Marlins have won each of the last 10 games in which OF Brian Anderson has homered, and they are 13-2 overall when he does so.
3. Minnesota RHP Sergio Romo will likely make his team debut in this series after he was acquired from the Miami on Saturday.