twins vs. blue jays

THREE-GAME SERIES AT TARGET FIELD

Friday, 7:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3 FM

RHP R.A. Dickey (11-12, 4.30) vs. RHP Mike Pelfrey (5-10, 4.86)

Saturday, 6:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3 FM

LHP J.A. Haap (3-5, 5.54) vs. RHP Kevin Correia (9-10, 4.18)

Sunday, 1:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3 FM

RHP Esmil Rogers (4-7, 4.76) vs. LHP Andrew Albers (2-2, 3.96)

BLUE JAYS UPDATE

They have won seven of their past 10 games. … They are 29-42 on the road and have lost 10 of their past 14 outside of Canada. … They are missing RHP Josh Johnson, OF Melky Cabrera, OF Jose Bautista, RHP Brandon Morrow, OF Colby Rasmus, 2B Maicer Izturis and RHP Ramon Ortiz, a former Twin, to injury. … They will finish last in the A.L. East for the third consecutive season. … Former Twin R.A. Dickey, last year's N.L. Cy Young Award winner, has won three of his past four decisions and has not allowed more than two runs in any of the victories. … 3B Edwin Encarnacion's 36 home runs and 103 RBI rank third in the American League. … Closer Casey Janssen has converted 27 saves in 29 opportunities.

TWINS UPDATE

They are 28-36 at home, have lost seven in a row at Target Field and nine of their past 10, and play 17 of their final 24 games there, beginning with this 10-game homestand . … They lost two of three games at Toronto in July, and need to win two of three to avoid losing the season series for an eighth consecutive year. … They are 3-8 against the Jays at Target Field and 13-25 in Minneapolis over the past 10 seasons. … At 61-77, they need to split their remaining 24 games to avoid a third consecutive 90-loss season. … They are without C Joe Mauer, RHP Samuel Deduno and OF Wilkin Ramirez.

PHIL MILLER