THREE-GAME SERIES AT SAFECO FIELD

Friday, 9:10 p.m. • FSN Plus, 96.3-FM

RHP Phil Hughes (0-3, 5.30 ERA) vs. RHP Felix Hernandez (2-0, 2.37)

Saturday, 8:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM

RHP Trevor May (1-1, 4.76) vs. LHP James Paxton (0-1, 5.40)

Sunday, 3:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM

RHP Kyle Gibson (1-2, 5.87) vs. LHP Hisashi Iwakuma (0-1, 6.61)

TWINS UPDATE

For the first time this season, the Twins are facing a team from outside the AL Central. In the first five series, the Twins faced the Royals twice and the Tigers, White Sox and Indians once each. … The Twins were 5-2 against Seattle last season, even taking three of four games at Safeco Field. … Hughes has not pitched up to his standards, but, boy, he has drawn tough matchups in Detroit's David Price, Chicago's Chris Sale and now King Felix. Hughes won at Seattle last July 8, shutting out the Mariners on eight hits and no walks with eight strikeouts. He is 6-3 with a 3.20 ERA in his career against the Mariners. … Torii Hunter is a career .320 hitter against Hernandez and Joe Mauer is batting .378 against him with two home runs. Kurt Suzuki is the only other Twin with a homer against King Felix and is batting .289 against him.

MARINERS UPDATE

Seattle is expected to compete for a playoff berth this season but so far has the same record as the Twins at 6-9. … There is little doubt that Hernandez is at the height of his powers. Last season, he set career bests in ERA (2.14), walks (46), strikeouts (248) and WHIP (.915), but finished second to Cleveland's Corey Kluber in AL Cy Young Award voting. Hernandez is 7-5 with a 2.08 ERA in 17 career starts against the Twins. … The Twins will get to see an improved Mariners lineup, thanks to additions such as Nelson Cruz, who has driven in a run in eight of his past 11 games. He's batting .413 with eight home runs and 17 RBI during that run. … 2B Robinson Cano brings a nine-game hitting streak into the series, during which he is batting .405. … Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon has used 14 lineups in 15 games.

LA VELLE E. NEAL III