twins at baltimore series preview

FOUR-GAME SERIES AT camden yards

Friday, 6:05 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM

RHP Trevor May (0-3, 8.79 ERA) vs. RHP Miguel Gonzalez (6-7, 3.75)

Saturday, 6:05 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM

RHP Kyle Gibson (11-10, 4.31) vs. RHP Chris Tillman (11-5, 3.41)

Sunday, 12:35 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM

RHP Ricky Nolasco (5-9, 5.62) vs. LHP Wei-Yen Chen (13-4, 3.74)

Monday, 12:35 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM

RHP Phil Hughes (14-9, 3.70) vs. RHP Kevin Gausman (7-6, 3.84)

TWINS UPDATE

These are the Twins' final games against the AL East this season. They are 13-15 against East teams, and 6-6 on the road, after going 10-23 (and 8-9) a year ago. … They won two of three games against the Orioles in May. They are 17-12 in Baltimore since 2006, 7-7 since 2010. ... Hughes has made 18 career starts against Baltimore and is 7-5 with a 5.03 ERA against the Orioles. ... The Twins are fifth in the American League in scoring with 572 runs entering Thursday, but their 137 runs in August leads the major leagues. But they rank 12th in runs allowed. … Glen Perkins is 3-for-3 in save opportunities against Baltimore in his career.

ORIOLES UPDATE

Baltimore went 32-17 in July and August to open a 6½-game lead in the AL East, putting the Orioles in position to win the division for the first time since 1997. … They are 36-27 at home, where they have won six of their past eight. … They are 13-16 vs. the AL Central. ... They are without 3B Manny Machado, out for the season after knee surgery last week, and C Matt Wieters, who had elbow surgery in June. … J.J. Hardy is batting .280 with eight home runs and 44 RBI, while fellow ex-Twin Delmon Young is at .302 with six homers and 23 RBI. … OF Nelson Cruz leads the AL with 34 home runs. 1B Chris Davis led the majors with 53 home runs in 2013, but has only 23 this year, with a .190 batting average and 158 strikeouts.

PHIL MILLER