Toronto @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 7, 2013 ) Minnesota 5, Toronto 11

R.A. Dickey is used to disappointing Septembers - and even though 2013 was supposed to be different, the knuckleballer finds himself playing out the string as he leads the Toronto Blue Jays into the opener of a three-game series Friday against the host Minnesota Twins. Toronto came into the year as heavy favorites to reach the postseason but is a longshot to even finish at .500. The Twins also are out of the postseason picture entering the series opener.

Though the Mets' 2012 season was a lost cause, Dickey at least had a National League Cy Young Award to ease the pain. One year later, the 37-year-old is winding down a difficult campaign that has seen him surrender 29 home runs - tied for second-most in the American League - and pitch terribly at the Rogers Centre. He'll be opposed Friday by Mike Pelfrey, who also is having a difficult season after spending the previous two years as Dickey's teammate in New York.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, RSN (Toronto), FSN North (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH R.A. Dickey (11-12, 4.30 ERA) vs. Twins RH Mike Pelfrey (5-10, 4.86)

The knuckler that flummoxed hitters league-wide in 2012 hasn't been nearly as elusive in Dickey's first season with Toronto. He had surrendered a home run in five straight starts before keeping Kansas City in the park in his last outing, tossing eight strong innings in a 4-2 triumph. Dickey is 1-2 with a 6.52 ERA in 29 career innings against the Twins and was tagged for six runs over seven frames in their previous encounter on July 6.

Consistency has been a major issue for Pelfrey, even though he has pitched better of late. The 29-year-old native of Ohio's Wright-Patterson Air Force Base walked six over five uneven innings against Cleveland on Aug. 25 but bounced back to throw seven sensational frames - with zero walks - in a no-decision against Texas six days later. Pelfrey faced off against Dickey in the July 6 matchup and limited the Jays to three hits over six scoreless innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Twins 2B Brian Dozier had the big blow in Dickey's previous start against Minnesota, swatting a three-run homer in the seventh inning.

2. The Blue Jays shut down OF Jose Bautista for the rest of the season with a bruised femur. The two-time major-league home-run champion finishes the year batting .259 with 28 homers and 73 RBIs.

3. Toronto took two of three from Minnesota in their previous series.

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 5, Twins 3