Minnesota @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( May 23, 2014 ) Minnesota 2, San Francisco 6

The San Francisco Giants had one of the worst interleague records in the majors last season at 6-14, but they’re well on their way toward reversing that mark. The Giants are unbeaten in their first four interleague games heading into Saturday’s contest against the visiting Minnesota Twins, who lost Friday’s series opener 6-2 after going 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position. The Twins need to slow down Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval, who is heating up with three home runs in his last five games, including a three-run blast Friday.

Minnesota, which needs to win the next two games to record its fifth straight series win, expects to have left fielder Josh Willingham back in the lineup as soon as Monday. Willingham missed the past 39 games with a broken left wrist and struggled early in his minor-league rehab assignment before going 2-for-4 with a two-run homer for Triple-A Rochester on Friday. The Giants’ Matt Cain left his last outing with a strained right hamstring, but is expected to avoid the disabled list and could make his next scheduled start Monday.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, FSN North (Minnesota), CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Samuel Deduno (1-2, 3.53 ERA) vs. Giants RH Ryan Vogelsong (2-2, 3.62)

Deduno recorded his second quality start in three outings since joining the Twins’ rotation last Saturday, when he held Seattle to two runs over six innings. The 30-year-old is making his second career appearance against the Giants and first since facing them as a reliever in 2011. Deduno is 15-14 with a 4.10 ERA in 36 career starts while posting a 2.96 ERA in 13 career relief appearances.

Vogelsong struggled for much of April, but he’s gone 2-1 with a 1.62 ERA and a 28-to-10 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his last five starts. The 36-year-old pitched seven shutout innings for the second time in his last four starts last Sunday against Miami. Vogelsong, who is making his third career appearance against Minnesota, is 4-5 with a 4.10 ERA in 26 career interleague games.

WALK-OFFS

1. Giants RF Hunter Pence is batting .436 during his 10-game hitting streak.

2. Twins 1B Joe Mauer is two walks away from tying Bob Allison (641) for third on the team’s all-time list.

3. San Francisco has won 13 of its last 18 games at home.

PREDICTION: Giants 5, Twins 4