Mariners @ Twins

Who will WIN this matchup?

Seattle Mariners (29-42)

@ Minnesota Twins (44-22)

Starting Pitchers:

Kikuchi (SEA): 3-4; 4.99 ERA

Pineda (MIN) 4-3; 5.34 ERA

Last 10 Games Played:

Seattle Mariners: 4-6

Minnesota Twins: 6-4

Current odds:

Seattle Mariners: (+155)

Minnesota Twins: (-170)

• Daniel Vogelbach is finding Minnesota pitching to his liking and will look for another productive outing on Thursday when the Seattle Mariners close a three-game set against the host Twins. Vogelbach recorded his first career four-hit game, one being a homer, in Seattle’s 9-6, 10-inning win on Wednesday and is 9-for-20 with three homers and seven RBIs against Minnesota this season. Vogelbach’s blast was his 17th of the season, just four behind teammate Edwin Encarnacion’s American League-leading total as the Mariners improved to 3-2 on a nine-game road trip. Shed Long hit a three-run homer – his first big league shot – while Mallex Smith is 5-for-10 in the series to extend his hitting streak to 11 games.

• The Twins rallied from a 6-1 eighth-inning deficit to tie the score but committed three of their five errors in the 10th to fall for just the seventh time in the past 26 contests. Marwin Gonzalez continued his pattern of hammering Seattle pitchers by slugging his 19th homer against the Mariners, his most against any franchise.

• Kikuchi has lost three straight starts and lasted just 3 1/3 innings in each of the outings. The native of Japan, who turns 28 on Monday, has served up six homers and been roughed up for 18 runs (16 earned) and 29 hits during the 10-inning stretch. Kikuchi’s last victory was against the Twins on May 19 when he allowed three runs (one earned) and five hits over six innings.

• Pineda is 2-0 over his last five starts and allowed three runs in each of the turns. The 30-year-old has walked just two batters in 30 innings during the stretch and didn’t give up a homer in his last two outings after serving up 10 over his previous five starts. Pineda defeated the Mariners on May 16 when he gave up three runs and five hits over seven innings to improve to 2-1 with a 5.18 ERA in four career outings against Seattle, his first major-league team.

• Mariners 3B Kyle Seager, who struck out three times in five hitless at-bats on Wednesday, is 5-for-8 with a homer against Pineda.

• Minnesota CF Byron Buxton hit a tying two-run homer in the ninth on Wednesday and is 12-for-34 with four homers and nine RBIs in June.

• Seattle SS J.P. Crawford (ankle) is finishing up a minor league rehab stint and could return as soon as Friday.