Los Angeles @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 27, 2011 ) LA Dodgers 15, Minnesota 0

THE STORY: All the news surrounding the Los Angeles Dodgers had been concerning the team’s financial woes after owner Frank McCourt filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday. But that same night the team shifted some of the attention back onto the field. Coming off their best offensive showing of the season, the visiting Dodgers will try for a third straight win on Tuesday against the banged-up and struggling Minnesota Twins.

TV: 8:10 pm. ET, Fox Sports North, KCAL (Los Angeles).

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins LH Brian Duensing (4-7, 4.54 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Ted Lilly (5-7, 4.63).

Duensing has found a rhythm over his last two starts after struggling for most of the season. He is 1-1 with a 2.21 ERA in that span. The lefthander had been 0-5 with a 7.39 ERA in seven starts prior to beating Kansas City on June 6. He allowed one run and six hits in 6 2/3 innings of a 2-1 loss to San Francisco on Thursday. This will be Duensing’s first start against the Dodgers.

Lilly clearly prefers pitching at night this season. The lefthander was rocked for six runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings on Wednesday against the Tigers. He is now 0-4 with a 7.11 ERA in six day starts, as opposed to a mark of 5-3 with a 3.22 ERA in 10 night outings. Lately, the time of day hasn’t mattered, though. Lilly is 0-2 with a 9.90 ERA over his last two starts. However, he has success against Minnesota (3-1 with a 3.33 ERA in seven games).

ABOUT THE TWINS (32-45): The Twins would like to press the reset button on the 2011 season. Injuries to Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Michael Cuddyer and Delmon Young among others have played a part in the two-time defending AL Central champions’ dismal first half. And even Minnesota’s red-hot June (15-9) has begun to take a turn for the worst. The Twins have lost six straight after winning 15 of 18 to begin the month. Mauer, who missed 58 games due to “bilateral leg weakness,” took groundballs at first base prior to Monday’s lopsided loss. The four-time All-Star catcher may play there some in place of Justin Morneau (neck surgery), who is out at least six weeks.

ABOUT THE DODGERS (36-44): Hours after the news of McCourt’s filing broke, the Dodgers broke out the bats. Matt Kemp had four hits and his National League-leading 22nd homer and nine other players had at least one RBI as the Dodgers set a season-high in runs and a franchise-record 25 hits in a 15-0 win. Kemp, who's hitting .395 with nine homers and 22 RBIs in June, raised his road average to .380 (52-for-137), the second-best mark in the majors behind teammate Jamey Carroll (.383). Aside from Kemp, Aaron Miles has been especially hot. His .414 average this month is tops in the majors. Still, the Dodgers are near the bottom of the National League West mainly due to a porous pitching staff (4.04 ERA 21st in baseball).

FINAL PITCH: The Dodgers won in Minnesota for the first time since Game 7 of the 1965 World Series. Los Angeles was swept in its only other visit in 2006.