Tampa Bay @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 13, 2018 ) Tampa Bay 8, Minnesota 11

Former MVP Joe Mauer passed one milestone in the series and looks to add another when his surging Minnesota Twins host the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday for the third of a four-game set. Mauer homered and knocked in four runs, pushing his career total to 902 RBIs, as the Twins registered 15 hits to outlast the Rays 11-8 on Friday for their eighth victory in nine games.

Mauer has hit safely in seven consecutive games, going 13-for-29 in the process, and remains one double from breaking the tie with Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett (414) for the all-time franchise lead. All-Star Jose Berrios will try to reach double figures in wins for the second straight season as he takes the mound for Minnesota on Saturday against two-time All-Star Chris Archer, who makes his second start after a stint on the disabled list and is 6-1 in his career versus the Twins. The Rays continue to struggle on the road after recording their 16th loss in the last 21 away from home Friday, despite totaling 13 hits and battling back within 8-7 after falling behind by seven early on. All-Star catcher Wilson Ramos had a pair of hits in the setback and is 9-for-22 during a five-game hitting streak for Tampa Bay, which can improve to 9-1-2 in its last 12 season series with the Twins with a win in one of the next two contests.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), FS North (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Chris Archer (3-4, 4.41 ERA) vs. Twins RH Jose Berrios (9-7, 3.41)

In his first start since June 2, Archer permitted three runs on six hits and two walks over 3 1/3 innings Monday without being involved in the decision. The 29-year-old North Carolina native had held opponents to two or fewer runs in seven of nine starts before suffering an abdominal injury, including 6 2/3 innings of two-run ball against the Twins on April 20. Eduardo Escobar owns a double and a homer versus Archer, who boasts a 1.95 ERA in eight outings against Minnesota.

Berrios held Kansas City to one run on six hits with eight strikeouts over seven innings in a 3-1 victory Monday to end a two-game slide. The 24-year-old from Puerto Rico owns quality starts in nine of his last 11 outings, going 6-3 with a 2.75 ERA in that stretch after starting with a 4.50 mark in his first eight appearances of 2018. Kevin Kiermaier is 2-for-6 with a double versus Berrios, who gave up five runs over five innings in a loss to the Rays last year.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tampa Bay 1B/OF Jake Bauers homered Friday and is 5-for-9 with three RBIs in the series.

2. Minnesota OF Jake Cave had three hits Friday and is 13-for-25 during an eight-game hitting streak.

3. Rays INF/OF Joey Wendle belted his fourth homer last time out and has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 contests.

PREDICTION: Rays 4, Twins 3