The Twins are making a pit stop at Target Field for three days before heading out to Pittsburgh and Chicago.

They will play the Rays. who are holding on in a tough A.L. East division with a 20-16 record that has them in third place. First year manager Kevin Cash is not as loquacious as Joe Maddon, but he's got the Rays at 20-16 with good pitching and sound defense. Tampa Bay was 4-2 against the Twins last season, sweeping all three games at Target Field.

After going winless in his first five starts, Twins righthander Phil Hughes has won his last two outings. Getting three in a row will be a challenge because Evan Longoria (.296). James Loney (9-for-14) and David DeJesus (6-for-10) have hit him well.

``I know he feels better about the way he's throwing the ball," Twins manager Paul Molitor said.

This also is a reunion between Twins pitching coach Neil Allen and Rays third base coach Charlie Montoyo. Montoyo managed Class AAA Durham when Allen was the pitching coach there.

It looks like Francisco Liriano and Vance Worley are in line to face the Twins next week. That will be quality entertainment.

Casey Fien (shoulder) definitely will have to go out on a minor league rehabilitation assignment when he's ready to pitch in games.

Eduardo Nunez (oblique) will probably head out on a rehab assignment too.

Oswaldo Arcia (hip flexor) ran in the pool then hit in the cage. The only time he feels any discomfort is when he throws. In his mind, he's close to returning to action, but I'm betting that the Twins take things slowly.


Rays

Kevin Kiermier, CF
Steven Souza, Jr., RF
Evan Longoria, 3B
James Loney, 1B
Logan Forsythe, 2B
David DeJesus, DH
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
Joey Butler, LF
Rene Rivera, C

Jake Odorizzi. RHP

Twins

Brian Dozier, 2B
Torii Hunter, RF
Joe Mauer, 1B
Trevor Plouffe, 3B
Kurt Suzuki, C
Eduardo Escobar, LF
Kennys Vargas, DH
Aaron Hicks, CF
Danny Santana, SS

Phil Hughes, RHP