New York @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 24, 2012 ) NY Yankees 6, Minnesota 3

The Minnesota Twins did their best to play spoiler with a doubleheader sweep of the Detroit Tigers on Sunday. The New York Yankees are a tougher challenge. The Yankees cruised to a win in the series opener at Minnesota and now lead the American League East by 1 1/2 games over the Baltimore Orioles. New York has won eight of its last nine games and will not play another team with a winning record the rest of the way.

The Yankees slugged their way to a 6-3 win on Monday, getting four home runs in the contest. Nick Swisher and Raul Ibanez each went deep and have both been strong over the last few games. The starting pitching has been less consistent, but both Andy Pettitte and CC Sabathia have put up scoreless outings in their last turn. The Twins have five more games against New York and Detroit at home the rest of the way. While Minnesota has the bats to compete, the arms have not been there. Esmerling Vasquez will get a turn on Tuesday.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, YES (New York), FSNO (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Phil Hughes (16-12, 4.05 ERA) vs. Twins RH Esmerling Vasquez (0-2, 6.75)

Hughes struck out nine against Toronto last Thursday but lasted only five innings while allowing four runs on four hits. The right-hander served up his 34th home run in that outing but still locked up his third straight win. Hughes earned a win at Minnesota on April 19 despite allowing up six runs (two earned) and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. Ryan Doumit connected for a two-run homer off Hughes in that outing.

Vasquez has yet to earn a win since joining the Twins rotation at the beginning of the month. The former reliever is getting his first taste of starting in the majors and has yet to complete six innings in four chances. He went 5 2/3 at Cleveland last Thursday, allowing three runs on six hits in the no-decision. Vasquez made one relief appearance against New York when he was with the Arizona Diamondbacks and did not fare well, getting ripped for five runs on four hits without recording an out.

WALK-OFFS

1. New York OF Ichiro Suzuki is 2-for-10 in the last two games. He was 14-for-20 in his previous five contests.

2. Minnesota RHP Matt Capps (shoulder) returned after a 64-game absence on Monday. He will not be used in back-to-back games.

3. Yankees SS Derek Jeter singled in his final at-bat on Monday to extend his hitting streak to 18 games.