Oakland @ Minnesota preview
Target Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 6, 2010 ) Minnesota 4, Oakland 5
The Minnesota Twins could be in a tough spot this weekend.
They can't afford a letdown, nor can they get caught looking ahead.
The Twins open a three-game series with Oakland on Friday night. The series comes between a pair of three-game sets against the Chicago White Sox.
Minnesota just took two of three games from the White Sox and moved into first place by a game in the American League Central.
The teams will meet again for three games in Target Field starting Tuesday, but Minnesota first has to concern itself with Oakland. The A's have been an up-and-down club all season, but have the league's best record in one-run games and could prove to be dangerous.
Carl Pavano gets another chance to continue the excellent work that has made him the Twins' best starter this season. In fact, the 34-year-old right-hander is having his best season since 2004, when he went 18-8 with a 3.00 ERA for Florida.
Pavano has been one of the league's best pitchers for nearly 2 1/2 months. He's 9-1 in 12 starts since June 3 and has pitched deep into games on a consistent basis.
Other than a five-inning appearance against Kansas City on July 27, Pavano has been a workhorse when he takes the mound. He has pitched at least seven innings eight times in those 12 starts. It's no surprise the Twins have won all eight of those games.
Pavano's only loss in the last two months came on Aug. 2, when he allowed four runs in six innings against Tampa Bay. He bounced back on Saturday against Cleveland with his 14th win. Pavano held the Indians to two runs in seven innings.
Because he pitches for the A's, Gio Gonzalez hasn't gotten a lot of attention, but the left-hander has had a solid season. Gonzalez has 10 wins and could have at least a couple of more with better run support. He has pitched at least six innings 16 times in 23 starts and has allowed four or more earned runs only six times.
Gonzalez pitched seven scoreless innings in beating Texas on Saturday. He struck out 11 in eight innings against Chicago in his previous starts. Gonzalez beat Minnesota on June 6 in Oakland, holding the Twins to two runs and six hits in seven innings in a 5-4 win.
Gonzalez doesn't have an extensive track record against Minnesota, but will have to do a better job against its left-handed hitters. Joe Mauer and Jason Kubel have both homered and leadoff man Denard Span is 4-for-8 against him. Michael Cuddyer, a right-handed hitter, is 3-for-3 with a home run against Gonzalez.