twins at n.y. yankees

series preview

THREE-GAME SERIES AT YANKEE STADIUM

Friday, 6:05 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM

LHP Scott Diamond (5-8, 5.52) vs. RHP Hiroki Kuroda (7-6, 2.77)

Saturday, 12:05 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM

RHP Samuel Deduno (4-4, 3.90) vs. RHP Phil Hughes (4-8, 4.55)

Sunday, 12:05 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM

RHP Kyle Gibson (1-2, 7.27) vs. LHP CC Sabathia (9-7, 3.99)

TWINS UPDATE

They have never won a series at Yankee Stadium under Ron Gardenhire; their last successful visit was in 2001. They are 4-11 in new Yankee Stadium, which opened in 2009, and are 7-25 overall vs. the Yankees in that time. They were 2-2 in the Bronx last year. … They haven't won the season series vs. the Yankees since 2001, and New York has already clinched this year's matchup by sweeping four games last week at Target Field. … No current Twin has collected an extra-base hit or walked against Mariano Rivera. … Joe Mauer (7-39), Justin Morneau (6-47) and Ryan Doumit (4-21) are batting a collective .159 vs. Sabathia. … They are 16-29 on the road; only Houston (15) in the AL has fewer road wins.

YANKEES UPDATE

They are 27-21 at home and 4-3 on their current homestand after beating Kansas City 8-4 Thursday. They are 16-5 against the AL Central. … SS Derek Jeter, who missed 91 games with a fractured left ankle, made his 2013 debut on Thursday. Jeter is a career .323 hitter against the Twins, with 13 home runs and a .388 on-base percentage. … They are without 3B Alex Rodriguez (hip), RHP Michael Pineda (rotator cuff), C Francisco Cervelli (hand), CF Curtis Granderson (hand), SS Jayton Nix (hamstring), 3B Kevin Youkilis (back), 1B Mark Teixeira (wrist) and RHP David Phelps (forearm). OF Brett Gardner and DH Travis Hafner suffered leg contusions Wednesday and are day-to-day.

PHIL MILLER