Minnesota @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 4, 2013 ) NY Yankees 9, Minnesota 5

After his long-awaited return to the lineup helped spark the New York Yankees to victory on Thursday, Derek Jeter could be back on the bench when the reeling Minnesota Twins come to town Friday night for the opener of a three-game series. The star shortstop failed to get the ball out of the infield in four plate appearances Thursday before exiting with tightness in his right quadriceps. Jeter said the ailment was unrelated to the ankle surgery that forced him to miss the first 91 games.

Even if Jeter has to sit, it doesn't figure to be much of a concern for the Yankees against the Twins, who have lost five straight and 11 of their last 12 games. That stretch included a four-game sweep by the Yankees in Minnesota last week in which New York outscored the Twins by a 29-14 margin. The Yankees have dominated the series by a wide margin, posting a 71-23 record (playoffs included) against Minnesota since the start of the 2002 season.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports North (Minnesota), YES (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins LH Scott Diamond (5-8, 5.52 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Hiroki Kuroda (7-6, 2.77)

The Canadian-born Diamond had a dismal homecoming when he was battered for six runs in 4 2/3 innings at Toronto last time out. He served up three homers and walked a season-high four batters to fall to 1-4 over his last six starts. The long ball has become a major concern for Diamond, who has surrendered eight over his last four outings and 15 overall.

Kuroda received a couple of extra days before his last start to rest an ailing hip and he responded with his best outing in more than a month, throwing seven scoreless innings of three-hit ball in a 2-1 loss to Cleveland. Kuroda has been strong at home, logging a 5-2 record and 1.89 ERA in nine starts. He was shelled for six runs on 10 hits in his only start against the Twins in April 2012.

WALK-OFFS

1. Yankees closer Mariano Rivera needs one save to reach 30 for the 15th season, which would break the major-league record he shares with Trevor Hoffman.

2. Diamond held New York to three runs in 6 2/3 innings on July 1 - the only time he has allowed fewer than four runs in his last six starts.

3. Twins 1B Justin Morneau, who is in a 2-for-20 rut, is 3-for-3 with two homers against Kuroda.

PREDICTION: Yankees 6, Twins 2