Tampa Bay @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 25, 2015 ) Tampa Bay 2, Minnesota 1

The Minnesota Twins have been one of major league baseball’s biggest surprises in the early season, primarily due to their outstanding 12-5 record at home. The Twins look to continue the trend at Target Field when they host the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday in the opener of a three-game set that falls between 11 road contests.

Minnesota, which finished 70-92 last year, has scored an American League-high 99 runs at home and veteran Torii Hunter has led the way with six homers and 21 RBIs overall. Hunter is 8-for-18 with three homers and seven RBIs in his last five games as the Twins split six on the road. The Rays are turning heads as well despite a barrage of injuries to their pitching staff, winning five of their last seven. Rene Rivera snapped out of a slump with four RBIs in Thursday’s 6-1 victory over the New York Yankees, pushing Tampa Bay (20-16) four games over .500 for the first time this season.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Sun Sports (Tampa Bay), FSN North (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Jake Odorizzi (3-2, 2.09 ERA) vs. Twins RH Phil Hughes (2-4, 5.11)

Odorizzi has pitched better than his record indicates while allowing one or fewer runs in five of his seven outings, including the first two in May. The Illinois native limited Texas to one run and scattered seven hits over 6 2/3 innings his last time out without being involved in the decision. Odorizzi permitted four runs over 3 1/3 innings in his lone career start against Minnesota last year, but has been solid in 2015 by holding opponents to a .201 batting average.

Hughes has given up fewer than three runs in only one of his seven starts this season, but has found a way to win his last two outings. The 28-year-old has been able to complete at least six innings in six of his seven starts and boasts 32 strikeouts to go along with just four walks in 44 total innings. James Loney (9-for-14) and David DeJesus (6-for-10, one homer) have hit well versus Hughes, who is 4-6 with a 4.81 ERA in 18 career appearances (11 starts) against the Rays.

WALK OFFS

1. Hunter, who was rested Thursday, has 732 RBIs with the Twins and needs one to tie Rod Carew for seventh in franchise history.

2. Tampa Bay INF Logan Forsythe has hit safely in five straight and 11 of his last 12 games to lead the team with a .303 average.

3. Minnesota 3B Trevor Plouffe is batting .311 with all five of his homers and 15 of his 18 RBIs at home.

PREDICTION: Rays 3, Twins 2