Twins vs. Tampa Bay series preview

Last update: April 30, 2007 - 9:18 PM

THREE-GAME SERIES AT TROPICANA FIELD

Today, 6:10 p.m. • FSN, 1500-AM

RHP Sidney Ponson (1-3, 8.44 ERA) vs. RHP Edwin Jackson (0-3, 6.10)

Wednesday, 6:10 p.m. • FSN, 1500-AM

RHP Boof Bonser (0-1, 5.26) vs. RHP Jae Seo (1-2, 9.51)

Thursday, 6:10 p.m. • FSN, 1500-AM

RHP Ramon Ortiz (3-1, 2.57) vs. RHP James Shields (2-0, 3.75)

KEY MATCHUP

B.J. Upton is on fire for the Devil Rays. He enters the series batting .365 with five home runs and a team-high 20 RBI. Upton went 2-for-2 with a double against Ponson when the Twins defeated Tampa Bay 12-5 on April 14.

TWINS UPDATE

General Manager Terry Ryan said Jeff Cirillo could extend his rehabilitation assignment with Class A Fort Myers beyond Monday's game against Clearwater, if necessary. Otherwise, Cirillo, who had arthroscopic knee surgery April 11, will be activated from the disabled list tonight, and infielder Alexi Casilla likely will be optioned to Class AAA Rochester. ... This is a big series for Ponson and Bonser, whose spots in the starting rotation are tenuous. Ponson's lone victory this year came against Tampa Bay, and Bonser, who hails from St. Petersburg, Fla., dominated the Devil Rays at Tropicana Field last Sept. 4.

DEVIL RAYS UPDATE

Tampa Bay split four games at the Metrodome in mid-April, and the Twins saw how potent the young Devil Rays lineup can be. Tampa Bay entered Monday ranked second among American League teams in runs scored with 126. But the Devil Rays also ranked last in the majors with a 6.01 ERA. ... Japanese third baseman Akinori Iwamura dazzled the Twins two weeks ago, but he is on the disabled list because of an oblique strain. ... Tampa Bay has been outscored 24-4 in the first inning, so the Twins will try to jump on them early.

JOE CHRISTENSEN

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