Minnesota @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 4, 2013 ) Houston 2, Minnesota 3

The Houston Astros and Minnesota Twins have long since turned their attention to their respective futures, a process that figures to be accelerated by Sunday's deadline to expand rosters. The Astros lead the majors in losses and are nine shy of reaching 100 for the third consecutive season. Houston snapped a five-game losing streak with a 2-0 victory over Seattle on Sunday, but it has managed to score only 10 runs in the past six games.

Runs have also been hard to come by for Minnesota, which has dropped six of its last eight and scored 14 runs in that span. The Twins received a boost from some of their new faces in Sunday's 4-2 victory at Texas, getting three hits from trade acquisition Alex Presley in his Minnesota debut and two hits and an RBI double from rookie catcher Josmil Pinto in his major-league debut. The Twins swept a three-game series from the Astros in Minnesota early last month.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FSN North (Minnesota), CSN Houston

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins LH Andrew Albers (2-2, 2.92 ERA) vs. Astros RH Paul Clemens (4-4, 5.81)

Albers bounced back from a pair of rocky starts with a strong performance in a loss to Kansas City last time out, giving up three run (two earned) in seven innings. He had surrendered 10 runs in his previous two starts after opening his career with 17 1/3 scoreless innings. Albers has been stung by the long ball, allowing all three runs on a pair of homers to the Royals and yielding four in his last three starts.

Clemens struggled in the bullpen in 30 appearances but made a strong impression in his first major-league start, allowing one run on four hits in six innings against the Chicago White Sox. His ERA was 6.36 when he was sent back to the minors at the end of July and he had been tattooed for 13 homers in 52 2/3 innings. Opposing batters have hit .310 against Clemens in 15 home appearances.

WALK-OFFS

1. Twins 2B Brian Dozier has 34 extra-base hits since June 28, the most in the majors.

2. Astros 2B Jose Altuve had three hits Sunday after going 2-for-20 in his previous five games.

3. Twins LF Josh Willingham is batting .310 with five homers and 15 RBIs in 28 games versus Houston.

PREDICTION: Twins 4, Astros 2