Friday, 6:07 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM
LHP Pat Dean (1-3, 5.48) vs. LHP Francisco Liriano (6-12, 5.21)
Saturday, 12:07 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM
RHP Ervin Santana (6-10, 3.39) vs. RHP Marcus Stroman (9-5, 4.47)
Sunday, 12:07 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM
RHP Kyle Gibson (5-8, 5.09) vs. RHP R.A. Dickey (9-13, 4.43)
TWINS UPDATE
In addition to losing seven straight games, the Twins enter the series with a four-game losing streak on the road. … They were swept in four games at Rogers Centre last year and are 41-72 there all-time. … Brian Dozier has a hit in 30 of his past 32 games and is batting .333 with 14 homers and 27 RBI during that period. … Robbie Grossman is batting .355 against lefties this season, which suggests he'll be in the lineup against Liriano tonight. … Jorge Polanco's four triples tie him with Byron Buxton for second among AL rookies. … Danny Santana is 2-for-3 with a home run off of Dickey.
BLUE JAYS UPDATE
Toronto (71-56) is tied with Boston for first in the AL East. Baltimore is a game back. … OF Jose Bautista was activated from the 15-day disabled list Thursday. Bautista is a career .321 hitter against the Twins with 24 home runs and 42 RBI in 53 games. … The key to beating the Blue Jays is keeping the ball in the park. The Blue Jays are 8-23 when they don't hit a home run. … Second baseman Devon Travis is nursing a sore right ring finger. … Liriano is 2-1 with a 5.66 ERA in four starts against the Twins. He beat the Twins on July 29, 2015, at Target Field when he was still with the Pirates. He was traded to Toronto on Aug. 1.
La VELLE E. NEAL III
