Tampa Bay @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 12, 2018 ) Tampa Bay 1, Minnesota 5

The Minnesota Twins are trying to keep their playoff hopes alive as they seek an eighth win in nine games Friday against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays, who are struggling away from home. Eddie Rosario belted a two-run homer as the Twins posted a 5-1 victory in Thursday's opener of the four-game series to pull within 7 1/2 games of first-place Cleveland in the American League Central.

Brian Dozier brings a seven-game hitting streak (10-for-27) into Friday's contest while Joe Mauer has hit safely in six straight (11-for-26) for Minnesota, which won for the first time in four outings versus Tampa Bay this season. Former Ray Jake Odorizzi will attempt to keep it going for the Twins when he takes the mound Friday opposite Nathan Eovaldi, who hopes to continue his overpowering stretch for Tampa Bay. The Rays saw their five-game winning streak come to an end in the series opener and are struggling on the road with 15 losses in their last 20 contests. Tampa Bay All-Star catcher Wilson Ramos recorded a pair of hits Thursday and is 7-for-17 over his last four games.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), FS North (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Nathan Eovaldi (3-3, 3.35 ERA) vs. Twins RH Jake Odorizzi (4-6, 4.28)

Eovaldi has been outstanding in his last three starts - all against National League foes - as he's allowed two runs on 10 hits and three walks while registering 23 strikeouts in 19 innings. The 28-year-old Texan has fanned 44 batters and walked just six over 48 1/3 frames this year but has surrendered nine homers. Dozier is 5-for-11 with a home run and Max Kepler 2-for-4 with a pair of blasts versus Eovaldi, who is 2-2 lifetime with a 4.78 ERA against the Twins.

Odorizzi also has been solid in his last three outings, permitting two runs on 12 hits and eight walks with 22 strikeouts in 17 innings. The 28-year-old native of Illinois, who went 40-37 in five years with the Rays before being traded to Minnesota in the offseason, blanked Baltimore on five hits over six innings to earn his first win since May 8. C.J. Cron is 2-for-4 with a homer against Odorizzi, who will face his former team for the first time.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tampa Bay rookie 1B-OF Jake Bauers is 7-for-18 with three doubles and a homer over his last five games.

2. Twins MGR Paul Molitor needs one victory to pass Billy Gardner (268) for sixth-most in franchise history.

3. The Rays optioned SS Willy Adames to Triple-A Durham and recalled RHP Chih-Wei Hu, who allowed two runs over five innings on Thursday.

PREDICTION: Rays 5, Twins 2