Seattle @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 3, 2010 ) Minnesota 1, Seattle 4

After getting clobbered by the big bats of the Chicago White Sox, Seattle faces a Minnesota team that is perhaps playing even better as the Mariners continue a seven-game road trip with a three-game set Friday night.

Seattle was swept in Chicago in a four-game series Thursday night for the first time since Sept. 15-18, 1983.

The White Sox outscored the Mariners 32-11 in the four games and had 47 hits, including 11 home runs.

The Mariners, 39-64 and a season-worst 25-games under .500, are unlikely to get much relief in their first trip to spacious Target Field.

The Twins (56-46) are 1 1/2 games behind Chicago for the American League Central lead and hope to continue feasting on the AL’s bottom-feeders.

Minnesota has won five in a row against Baltimore and Kansas City, outscoring those teams 53-13 and producing a ridiculous 86 hits during the winning streak. Even more impressive, the Twins have put up those big numbers without leading hitter Justin Morneau, who is on the disabled list with post-concussion symptoms, and Orlando Hudson (oblique).

Despite the absences, it seems that nothing will come easily for the Mariners against the powerful Twins lineup, which leads the majors with a .283 batting average.

Catcher Joe Mauer is hitting .404 with nine doubles, two homers and 17 RBIs in his last dozen games. Rookie third baseman Danny Valencia has had four three-hit games in his last five outings. Left fielder Delmon Young is batting .439 with six homers and 28 RBIs in July, and Michael Cuddyer, filling in for Morneau at first base, has a career-best-tying 13-game hitting streak.

Aside from the offense, Twins starting pitchers are 7-0 with a 1.21 ERA in their past eight games.

Minnesota also added All-Star closer Matt Capps on Thursday in a trade with Washington for two minor-leaguers. He joins a bullpen that leads the American League with a 3.19 ERA.

The Twins might not be done trading yet, as they are reportedly interested in Toronto Blue Jays left-handed reliever Scott Downs.

Minnesota will start Scott Baker (8-9, 5.00) against Doug Fister (3-6, 3.56) tonight.

Baker has been hampered by elbow tendinitis this season, but allowed two runs on four hits, striking out eight in seven innings of a 7-2 victory over Baltimore on Saturday.

Baker is 1-3 with a 4.60 ERA in seven starts against the Mariners.

After a 3-1 start, Fister is 0-5 with a 5.17 ERA in his last nine appearances. He last won at Tampa Bay on May 14. He took a no-decision in his previous start, allowing two runs in five innings of Seattle’s 4-2 victory over Boston on Sunday.