Minnesota @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( May 23, 2010 ) Milwaukee 4, Minnesota 3

What began as a terrible weekend in Philadelphia ended up as one of the high points for the Minnesota Twins this season.

The Twins will look to keep the positive flow going on Tuesday when they open a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Minnesota's weekend the City of Brotherly Love started with a 9-5 loss on Friday night. It looked even worse Saturday when the Twins gave up eight runs in the first three innings and still trailed, 9-4, going into the ninth. A five-run rally tied the game and Minnesota eventually posted a 13-10 triumph in 11 innings.

The Twins took the series on Sunday when Carl Pavano outpitched ace Roy Halladay in a 4-1 win.

Instead of possibly crawling into Miller Park, the Twins are flying high. Minnesota leads the Detroit Tigers by 1 1/2 games in the AL Central going into the rematch of interleague foes. The Twins took two of three from the Brewers at Target Field last month.

Although Scott Baker has won only two of his last seven starts, he is coming off his best outing of the season. Baker pitched seven scoreless innings against the Colorado Rockies, allowing two hits, walking one and striking out a career-high 12.

The only hits off Baker came on singles by Troy Tulowitzki in the first and Carlos Gonzalez in the third.

The right-hander's strong effort against the Rockies interrupted a stretch of six starts in which he struggled. Baker had allowed 20 earned runs and 43 hits in 35 1/3 innings in that stretch.

Baker has had success against the Brewers - and at Miller Park. He's 4-2 with a 4.93 ERA in six career starts and is 3-1 with a 4.26 ERA at Miller Park. Baker didn't face Milwaukee when the teams met earlier this season.

Baker needs to avoid Prince Fielder if at all possible. Fielder is batting .412 (7-for-17) with two home runs lifetime against Baker.

The Brewers broke a three-game losing streak Sunday with a 6-1 win in Colorado. Two-run doubles by Rickie Weeks and Corey Hart highlighted a five-run ninth.

Struggling left-hander Chris Narveson starts for the Brewers. He was knocked around in his last start against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, putting his team in an early four-run hole and allowing five runs in 4 1/3 innings.

Narveson has one win in his last five starts, a victory over the Texas Rangers on June 11. He has allowed at least four earned runs in four of his past five outings, pitching less than six innings three times.

Narveson will be making his first career start against the Twins.