New York @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 26, 2018 ) Minnesota 3, NY Yankees 4

The Minnesota Twins are not competing for a postseason spot but watching the young players and recent callups improve is keeping the team engaged. The Twins will try to make things tough on a team that is competing for a playoff spot when they host the New York Yankees in the opener of a three-game series on Monday.

Minnesota rookie catcher Willians Astudillo is making the most of his opportunity with the team out of the race and blasted a two-run, walk-off homer to give the Twins a 3-1 win over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday, clinching a series victory. "I don't want to swing at bad pitches," Astudillo told reporters through an interpreter. "I was looking for a specific pitch. The first one wasn't even close, so I waited for the second one. This is the big leagues. It's a walk-off and a win for the team. I'm very emotional. Very happy." The Yankees are making the third stop on a three-city road trip after taking two of three at Seattle and are 2 1/2 games clear of the Oakland Athletics for the No. 1 American League wild card spot while keeping the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox just close enough to make things interesting. New York will turn to left-hander J.A. Happ in the opener while Minnesota counters with righty Kyle Gibson.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, YES (New York), FS North (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH J.A. Happ (15-6, 3.90 ERA) vs. Twins RH Kyle Gibson (7-12, 3.74)

Happ bounced back from his first poor start since joining New York by dominating Oakland on Tuesday, scattering one run and two hits over six innings without factoring in the decision. The Northwestern product surrendered two or fewer runs in five of his seven outings with the Yankees. Happ is seeing Minnesota for the first time since Sep. 15, 2017, when he allowed three runs over 6 1/3 innings to earn a win as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Gibson is trying to snap a string of three straight losses, allowing a total of 16 runs - 11 earned - and 19 hits across 17 innings against Houston, Cleveland and the Chicago White Sox. The Missouri product runs into trouble when he gets the ball up in the zone and yielded five homers in those last three outings. One of Gibson's best outings this season came at New York on April 26, when he struck out a season-high 10 and surrendered one hit over six scoreless innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Twins 3B Miguel Sano (lower leg) sat out the last four games and is day-to-day.

2. Yankees SS Didi Gregorius is 0-for-5 in three games since returning from the disabled list.

3. New York OF Andrew McCutchen is 3-for-25 in eight games since joining the team.

PREDICTION: Yankees 6, Twins 4