Toronto @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 30, 2010 ) Toronto 13, Minnesota 2

The Toronto Blue Jays are going into the offseason the way they entered the 2010 campaign: swinging for the fences.

The Jays look to continue their climb up the all-time home-run ladder Friday as they resume their season-ending four-game series with the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Toronto has won four of six meetings this season, including three of the last four.

Toronto will miss the playoffs for the 17th consecutive season, but not because of a lack of homers. The Jays have swatted 253 dingers so far this season, the fourth-highest total in baseball history.

Jose Bautista has been the catalyst behind the total, and added to his remarkable season in Thursday's series opener. The 29-year-old hit a pair of homers, including a long grand slam in the seventh inning, and now has 54 long balls on the season. That's the highest total in the majors since Ryan Howard had 58 home runs back in 2007.

Edwin Encarnacion had a pair of homers in the 13-2 victory, while Travis Snider went deep for the third game in a row and backup catcher Jose Molina added a solo shot. The Jays trail only the 1997 Seattle Mariners (264), the 2005 Texas Rangers (260) and the 1996 Baltimore Orioles (257) on the single-season home-run ledger.

They'll try to add to their total against Twins starter Carl Pavano (17-11), who extended a high level of home-run generosity in his previous two opponents. The veteran right-hander allowed six total home runs in games against the Chicago White Sox and the Detroit Tigers after surrendering just four in his previous 12 starts combined.

Pavano struggled mightily against the Tigers six days ago, charged with seven runs on 11 hits over four innings in a game Detroit won 11-10. The Twins have seen plenty of games like it, having surrendered double-digit run totals in five of their last seven contests – a major reason why the American League Central champions are just 1-6 over that span.

Pavano needs a win Friday to equal his single-season career high, but it won't come easily against a difficult opponent. The 34-year-old is just 3-5 in 11 career starts versus Toronto, with a 6.47 ERA over 57 innings. He last faced them July 6, allowing six runs over 6 1/3 innings but escaping with a no-decision as the Twins prevailed 7-6.

Thursday was a good-news, bad-news day for the Twins, who had catcher Joe Mauer back in the lineup after he missed nine games with a knee injury. Mauer went 0-for-4 as the designated hitter.

Minnesota also found out that first baseman Justin Morneau wouldn't return to the lineup until at least the American League Championship Series, if the Twins get that far. Morneau hasn't played since early July after sustaining a concussion against the Jays.

Toronto counters with left-hander Ricky Romero (13-9) in Friday's game. The 25-year-old is a tidy 3-1 over his last five starts, and can also establish a career high in wins with a victory.

Romero earned a no-decision in his last outing, charged with three runs over five innings in a 5-4 win over Boston. He's 1-0 lifetime against Minnesota, allowing five runs over 14 2/3 career innings.