Tampa Bay @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 28, 2011 ) Tampa Bay 6, Minnesota 1

THE STORY: After finishing 12-6 in interleague play, the Tampa Bay Rays return to American League action Monday when they visit the Minnesota Twins to start a three-game series. The Rays took three of four in Tampa when the teams played in April. Tampa Bay won two of three against St. Louis over the weekend while Minnesota took two of three against Milwaukee. The Twins have won five straight series at Target Field, while Tampa Bay is 26-16 on the road.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, SunSports (Tampa Bay), FS North (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH David Price (8-6, 3.43 ERA) vs. Twins LH Brian Duensing (5-7, 4.69 ERA).

Price, named to the American League All-Star team on Sunday, is having his best stretch of the season. He has given up three runs or less in six of his last seven starts. Price is only 3-2 in those games due to a lack of run support. He struck out 12 in 7 2/3 innings in his last start against Cincinnati, but ended up with a no-decision. Price is 1-1 with a 1.69 ERA lifetime against the Twins.

Duensing has alternated wins and losses in his last five starts. He defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday despite allowing four runs, four hits and four walks in five-plus innings. Duensing defeated the Rays on April 17, giving up two runs in seven innings for Minnesota's only win of the series.

ABOUT THE RAYS (47-37): The Rays, who play four games at AL East rival New York after this series, can't afford to overlook the Twins. Johnny Damon has been carrying Tampa Bay's offense. He's 14-for-31 in the last seven games, including two four-hit games and a three-hit game. Damon was 3-for-5 with four RBIs, including a three-run double Sunday. Damon's hot streak has come at an opportune time. Evan Longoria, who didn't play Sunday, is in a 3-for-18 slump. Manager Joe Maddon used closer Kyle Farnsworth for a five-out save Sunday.

ABOUT THE TWINS (36-46): Minnesota has won 11 of 13 at home, but Sunday's 9-7 victory over Milwaukee was particularly important. It appeared the Twins were in for an easy win Saturday when they led 7-0 after four innings, but the Brewers rallied for an 8-7 victory. It looked like the negative momentum had carried over when Minnesota fell behind 6-1 Sunday, but a three-run fourth and a four-run seventh resulted in a win. Closer Matt Capps blew the save Saturday and had to be bailed out of a ninth-inning jam by Glen Perkins, who recorded his first major league save Sunday.

FINAL PITCH: Michael Cuddyer's reward for making his first All-Star team will be to face a pitcher he can't touch. Cuddyer is 0-for-9 with six strikeouts in his career against Price.