Twins vs. Houston: Series preview

Champs come in for chilly series

THREE-GAME SERIES AT TARGET FIELD

Monday, 7:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM

RHP Lance Lynn (0-1, 11.25 ERA) vs. RHP Justin Verlander (1-0, 2.31)

Tuesday, 7:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM

RHP Jake Odorizzi (0-0, 2.61) vs. LHP Dallas Keuchel (0-1, 3.27)

Wednesday, 12:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM

RHP Kyle Gibson (1-0, 0.87) vs. RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (1-1, 3.48)

TWINS UPDATE

Sunday’s postponement vs. Seattle because of cold and snow means the Twins will push their rotation back a day. It also means they won’t have to use a fifth starter on Wednesday; one will be needed Friday vs. the White Sox instead. That’s assuming the weather cooperates, of course. … Lynn will try to rebound from a shaky Twins debut on April 2 in Pittsburgh, where he gave up a first-inning grand slam in a 5-4 loss. … The Twins were 4-for-9 with runners in scoring position Saturday vs. the Mariners to raise their season average to .258.

ASTROS UPDATE

The last time Houston was here, the Astros bludgeoned Twins pitching last May, batting .388 with 10 home runs and outscoring the Twins 40-16 in a three-game sweep. This time, they come in as World Series champions, and at 8-2 they have matched their best 10-game start to a season. They have outscored opponents 47-25 in those 10 games, though they only scored six runs in three games vs. San Diego over the weekend. … Verlander, traded from Detroit to Houston on Aug. 31, made only one start vs. the Twins last season, giving up four runs over five innings and walking six during a 6-3 loss April 21. Overall, he is 17-9 with a 3.15 ERA in 34 career games against the Twins.

La Velle E. Neal III