Tampa Bay @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 5, 2011 ) Tampa Bay 2, Minnesota 3

THE STORY: The Minnesota Twins continue to find ways to win. Despite another shaky outing from closer Matt Capps Tuesday, the Twins won for the sixth time in seven games to climb within seven games of first place in the American League Central. They hope to keep it rolling, sending Francisco Liriano to the mound to try and finish the three-game sweep of the visiting Tampa Bay Rays Wednesday afternoon. Minnesota faces Wade Davis after beating the Rays’ two all-star pitchers – David Price and James Shields. Tampa Bay has been up and down, losing five of eight. The Rays have lost two straight road games for the first time in more than a month.

TV: 1:10 p.m. EST, FS-NO (Minnesota), SunSports (Tampa Bay).

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins LH Francisco Liriano (5-7, 4.76) vs. Rays RH Wade Davis (7-6, 4.20).

Liriano allowed two runs over seven innings to beat Milwaukee in his last start Friday. He is 2-2 with a 3.72 ERA lifetime against Tampa Bay in 36 1/3 innings. The Rays hammered him April 27, producing seven runs in three innings. B.J. Upton is 5-for-13 against Liriano.

Davis had his three-game win streak snapped, but gave up just two runs over seven innings in his last start against the Cardinals on Friday. He beat the Twins twice earlier in the season, allowing 11 hits and three earned runs in 13 2/3 innings. Davis is 2-0 lifetime against Minnesota with a 4.88 ERA in 24 innings. Jim Thome is 2-for-4 against Davis with a pair of homers.

ABOUT THE TWINS (38-46): With a good portion of the lineup on the disabled list, Michael Cuddyer has earned his all-star status in the first half. Cuddyer has been especially productive in July, going 7-for-16 with two homers and seven RBIs the last five games to raise his average to .291. He leads the team in home runs (12) and is second in RBIs (37) to Danny Valencia (42). Ben Revere has done a good job in place of Denard Span in center field. He has scored seven runs the last seven games, including two on Tuesday, and stolen 10 bases in 13 tries overall.

ABOUT THE RAYS (47-39): The Rays are now 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position and have left 15 on base in the series. That is not uncommon for an offense that has been sporadic all season. Ben Zobrist had three hits to break out of a 0-for-17 slump Tuesday. Evan Longoria needs to do the same. He is just 3-for-26 since his four-hit game at Houston, June 26. Matt Joyce is also 3-for-26 his last seven games. Upton has perked up with the bat lately, with eight hits in his last 20 at bats and two home runs. Upton leads the team with 13 homers and 44 RBIs, but is batting .234.

FINAL PITCH: Rays’ starter James Shields picked off two runners Tuesday to give him a Major League-leading 10 on the season. That is the most for a right-handed pitcher since Jack McDowell had 13 for the Chicago White Sox in 1993.