Minnesota @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 17, 2015 ) Minnesota 5, Oakland 0

The red-hot Minnesota Twins vie for their fifth straight victory and eighth in nine outings when they continue their three-game series at the Oakland Athletics on Saturday. Brian Dozier followed his homer in the All-Star Game by going deep to lead off Friday's 5-0 win to move upstart Minnesota (50-40) 10 full games over .500.

Dozier has collected three homers and eight RBIs in his last six games with the Twins, but is just 2-for-22 in his career versus Saturday starter Scott Kazmir. Trevor Plouffe, who launched his second career grand slam in the series opener, has enjoyed success versus the left-hander by going 8-for-22 (.381) in his career. While Minnesota has won four of five versus the Athletics this season, it has mustered just three victories in its last 14 contests in Oakland. The Athletics recorded five hits on Friday en route to being shut out for the eighth time this season.

TV: 9:07 p.m. ET, FSN North (Minnesota), CSN California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Phil Hughes (8-6, 4.32 ERA) vs. Athletics LH Scott Kazmir (5-5, 2.49)

Hughes improved to 4-0 with a 3.18 ERA in his last five outings despite allowing four runs on eight hits in five innings en route to a 9-5 triumph over Detroit last Saturday. The 29-year-old upped his career mark to 5-2 against Oakland despite permitting five runs on nine hits in six frames of an 8-7 victory on May 4. Hughes has struggled on the road, posting a 2-4 mark while yielding a .321 batting average to the opposition.

Kazmir is expected to get the nod despite leaving his last outing after three innings with a mild triceps injury. The 31-year-old is slowly turning his season around after winning three of his last four decisions. Kazmir saw his career mark versus Minnesota dip to 7-5 after permitting six runs on seven hits in six innings in a 13-0 rout on May 6.

WALK-OFFS

1. Oakland 3B Brett Lawrie recorded a pair of errors on the same play Friday, upping his total to 16 on the season and the team's tally to 84.

2. Minnesota LF Eddie Rosario is 9-for-16 with five runs scored in his last four contests.

3. Athletics LF Ben Zobrist is 6-for-14 in his last four games.

PREDICTION: Twins 4, Athletics 2