New York @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 10, 2018 ) NY Yankees 7, Minnesota 2

The New York Yankees have been perfect in the season series and look to improve to 6-0 when they visit the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday for the middle contest of their three-game series. The Yankees have outscored Minnesota 40-13 this season after posting a 7-2 victory on Monday and have won 19 of the last 23 regular-season meetings.

New York has beaten the Twins nine straight times - including last season's American League wild-card game - and the latest victory included Gary Sanchez's 460-foot homer. Sanchez was 3-for-5 in Monday's triumph after going just 3-for-25 in his first seven contests since returning from a groin injury. The Yankees moved within eight games of idle Boston for first place in the AL East and increased their lead over Oakland for the first wild-card spot to three games. The Twins have dropped 12 of their last 16 games and have scored fewer than three runs in each of their last five setbacks.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, YES (New York), FS North (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Sonny Gray (10-8, 4.96 ERA) vs. Twins RH Tyler Duffey (1-2, 9.00)

Gray is making his first start since scattering three hits over 6 1/3 innings against Baltimore on Aug. 25. The 28-year-old pitched four innings of relief versus Detroit on Sept. 2 in his most recent appearance, giving up one run and four hits. Gray is 2-3 with a 5.23 ERA in six career appearances against the Twins, including a no-decision on April 25 in which he permitted three runs and six hits over 4 2/3 innings.

Duffey will be the first pitcher to take the mound as Twins manager Paul Molitor said the 28-year-old will serve as the club's "opener." Duffey has made 14 relief appearances this season and served up six homers in just 19 innings. Kohl Stewart figures to be one of the pitchers who takes the mound Tuesday as he hasn't pitched since Sept. 4, when he was the second pitcher used and tossed five scoreless innings against Houston.

WALK-OFFS

1. Yankees 3B Miguel Andujar recorded a two-run double in the series opener to join Hall-of-Famer Joe DiMaggio as the lone rookies in franchise history to register 20 homers and 40 doubles.

2. Minnesota 3B Miguel Sano (leg) is progressing slowly, according to Molitor, but there currently isn't talk of shutting him down for the season.

3. New York RF Aaron Judge (wrist) took a step toward his return by taking live batting practice on Monday and hitting several homers.

PREDICTION: Yankees 8, Twins 1