Minnesota @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 30, 2011 ) Minnesota 2, Atlanta 0

The Minnesota Twins have dropped five straight games and now have to visit the Atlanta Braves, who are a National League-best 12-5 at home. The Twins will try to pull out of their funk when they kick off the three-game interleague series on Monday. The Braves had lost five of six on the road before returning home and sweeping a three-game series from the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Justin Upton hit his 14th home run and drove in five runs on Friday but leaned on the rest of his Atlanta teammates while going 1-for-9 with five strikeouts during the rest of the series. The Braves lead the NL in strikeouts but have covered for that with home run power and strong starting pitching. Minnesota is near the bottom of the league in home runs and has been held to an average of 2.8 runs during their slide. All-Star Joe Mauer had a 15-game hitting streak come to an end in Sunday’s 5-1 loss to Boston, when he went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports North (Minnesota), Sports South (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Kevin Correia (4-3, 3.35 ERA) vs. Braves RH Julio Teheran (2-1, 4.57)

Correia has been the most consistent performer in the Minnesota rotation but is coming off one of his worst starts. The veteran right-hander was reached for four runs and nine hits in seven innings to absorb a loss against the Chicago White Sox. A long-time National Leaguer with the San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres and Pittsburgh Pirates, Correia has made 11 appearances (seven starts) against Atlanta and owns a 3-2 record with a 3.51 ERA.

Teheran has seemed to find a groove over his last four starts. The 22-year-old is 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA in that span, with 14 strikeouts and one walk. Teheran has allowed three or fewer runs in his past four starts after surrendering at least four in each of his first three turns.

WALK-OFFS

1. The last time the Braves hosted Minnesota was in Game 5 of the 1991 World Series at Fulton County Stadium.

2. Twins LF Josh Willingham is 4-for-40 with 14 strikeouts in his last 11 games.

3. Atlanta 3B Juan Francisco is 0-for-13 with 10 strikeouts in his last five contests.

PREDICTION: Twins 5, Braves 2