Minnesota @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 30, 2013 ) Minnesota 2, Boston 4

The Boston Red Sox are enduring their first rough stretch of the young season. They will try to pull out of a season-long three-game slide when they host the Minnesota Twins in the opener of a four-game series on Monday. The Red Sox started a six-game road trip with the best record in baseball but dropped four of six - including a three-game sweep at Texas - to bring on some questions about their legitimacy. The Twins are 2-4 on their 10-game trip.

Boston’s offense was the big issue against the Rangers, managing a total of four runs in the three contests. Three of those came on Sunday, when the Red Sox fell on a walk-off hit by Adrian Beltre in the ninth. Dustin Pedroia and Will Middlebrooks have been slumping and Shane Victorino is working himself back into the lineup after spending a week in the trainer's room with a sore back. The offense might not have to do much on Monday with Clay Buchholz on the mound. The right-hander has been dominant in the early going and was accused of throwing spitballs by two analysts for the Toronto Blue Jays in his last start, a claim everyone associated with the Red Sox denies.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports North (Minnesota), NESN Plus (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Vance Worley (0-4, 7.22 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Clay Buchholz (6-0, 1.01)

Worley has had a rough adjustment after coming over in a trade from the Philadelphia Phillies in the offseason. The 25-year-old allowed six runs and 10 hits (three homers) over 4 2/3 innings to suffer a loss at Detroit last Tuesday and has completed seven innings once in his first six turns. He made one interleague start against Boston when he was with the Phillies and earned the win while yielding one run and five hits in seven innings.

Buchholz was named the American League Pitcher of the Month for April, and got May started off strong by allowing two hits and striking out eight in seven scoreless innings at Toronto. The 28-year-old has surrendered only one home run - a solo blast in his first outing - and has struck out 47 batters in 44 2/3 total innings. Buchholz is 3-1 with a 4.25 ERA in five career starts against the Twins but has struggled to retire Justin Morneau (7-for-14) and Josh Willingham (2-for-3).

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox RHP Andrew Bailey (biceps) will undergo an MRI exam on Monday. He has not pitched since April 28.

2. Morneau (general soreness) served as the DH on Sunday for the first time this season. He has played in 26 of 27 games.

3. Boston DH David Ortiz has hit safely in 25 straight games dating to last season, the longest current streak in the majors.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 6, Twins 1