twins vs. new york mets series preview

THREE-GAME SERIES AT TARGET FIELD

Friday, 7:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM

LHP Jonathon Niese (1-0, 2.13 ERA) vs. RHP Vance Worley (0-1, 5.73)

Saturday, 3:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM

RHP Matt Harvey (2-0, 0.64) vs. LHP Scott Diamond (12-9, 3.54 in 2012)

Sunday, 1:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM

RHP Dillon Gee (0-2, 7.71) vs. RHP Kevin Correia (0-1, 3.14)

TWINS UPDATE

The Twins are 2-1 at home, winning the final two games of the season-opening series vs. Detroit. ... They are 3-0 against the Mets in Minnesota, having swept them in the Metrodome in 2004, and are 7-5 all time. ... Mets 2B Daniel Murphy is 10-for-15 in his career against Worley and has reached base in eight consecutive plate appearances against him. ... Aaron Hicks' 2-for-35 start is well-known, but Brian Dozier and Ryan Doumit, each batting .167, are also starting slowly. ... The Twins' 33 runs scored through Thursday are only two more than Chicago, which is last in the American League.

METS UPDATE

This is the middle leg of their longest road trip of the season, a nine-game trek that they began by losing two of three in Philadelphia and will continue in Colorado after making their first-ever visit to Target Field. ... The Mets have hit 13 home runs in nine games, third-most in the National League and their most since 2006. ... C John Buck has five home runs, including three in his last three games, and leads the National League with 15 RBI. ... Friday's starter, Niese, has faced the Twins once, pitching six shutout innings for New York at Citi Field in 2010.

PHIL MILLER