Philadelphia @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 11, 2013 ) Philadelphia 2, Minnesota 3

The Philadelphia Phillies are on the wrong side of a streak at the moment, with a four-game losing slide coming on the heels of a five-game surge. The Phillies will be hoping to break out of their funk when they visit the Minnesota Twins again on Wednesday. Philadelphia is averaging 2.5 runs during its skid after putting up 6.4 during the winning streak.

The Twins took advantage of that lack of offense and pulled out a 3-2 victory in the series opener on Tuesday, leaning on Justin Morneau for three hits and a pair of RBIs. The former MVP had gone eight straight games without driving in a run before Monday and has not homered since April 28. Philadelphia was getting the bulk of its offense from Erik Kratz, John Mayberry and Domonic Brown during the winning streak, but Kratz is injured and Mayberry and Brown have not been able to carry things themselves.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, Fox Sports North (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Tyler Cloyd (2-2, 3.68 ERA) vs. Twins RH Mike Pelfrey (3-6, 6.40)

Cloyd picked up a win with 6 2/3 scoreless innings at Milwaukee last week, overcoming five walks. The 26-year-old has allowed two or fewer earned runs in four of his five starts. Cloyd has never faced the Twins and owns a 2-1 record with a 4.03 ERA in four road starts.

Pelfrey has gone six straight turns without notching a win but did post a quality start last time out, holding Kansas City to three runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings. That marked the first time this season that the veteran right-hander had recorded an out in the seventh inning or later. Pelfrey has plenty of experience with the Phillies from his time with the New York Mets in the National League East and owns a 7-7 career record against them with a 5.16 ERA in 20 starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Twins relievers Ryan Pressly (biceps) and Jared Burton (groin) are both day-to-day.

2. Kratz will have surgery Wednesday to repair a torn medial meniscus in his left knee.

3. Brown has not homered in either of the last two games. He has not gone three straight without a blast since May 21-24.

PREDICTION: Phillies 6, Twins 3