Philadelphia @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 7, 2013 ) Minnesota 10, Philadelphia 6

The Philadelphia Phillies had built up some momentum and moved above .500 for the first time this season before dropping three straight to the lowly Milwaukee Brewers. The Phillies will try to put the pieces back together when they open a three-game interleague series at the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday. The Twins will face their second straight National League opponent after dropping two of three at Washington over the weekend.

Philadelphia squandered leads in losses on Friday and Saturday before being blown out 9-1 on Sunday. Michael Young seems to be settling nicely into his new spot atop the lineup but the rest of the crew was spotty over the weekend, with even Domonic Brown only homering once in the four games. Minnesota is opening up a nine-game homestand and has won four of its last five at Target Field.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies LH Cole Hamels (2-9, 4.56 ERA) vs. Twins RH P.J. Walters (2-1, 3.00)

Hamels turned in his best start of 2013 last time out, when he held Miami to one run and four hits while striking out a season-high 11 in seven innings. The veteran left-hander had absorbed the loss in each of his previous six starts and has been given one or no runs of support in six of his 13 starts. Hamels is 1-0 with a 6.23 ERA in two career starts against Minnesota and has had trouble with Josh Willingham (9-for-31 with three home runs).

Walters has gone six innings in each of his first three starts and took the loss last time out despite not being charged with an earned run in Kansas City. The 28-year-old has yielded 25 hits in 18 total innings but has limited the damage by surrendering just one home run. Walters has made one start against Philadelphia in his career and was knocked around for four runs on as many hits without recording an out on June 13, 2012.

WALK-OFFS

1. Twins CF Aaron Hicks left Sunday night’s game with a left hamstring strain. He is day-to-day.

2. The Phillies placed C Erik Kratz (knee) on the 15-day disabled list, where he joins fellow C Carlos Ruiz (hamstring).

3. Philadelphia RHP Mike Adams (biceps soreness) has been unavailable since Thursday and is day-to-day.

PREDICTION: Phillies 4, Twins 3