Twins @ Athletics

Who will WIN this matchup?

Minnesota Twins (53-30)

@ Oakland Athletics (46-39)

Starting Pitchers:

Odorizzi (MIN): 10-3; 2.73 ERA

Mengden (OAK) 2-1; 4.03 ERA

Last 10 Games Played:

Minnesota Twins: 5-5

Oakland Athletics: 7-3

Current odds:

Minnesota Twins: (-106)

Oakland Athletics: (-104)

• The Oakland Athletics are playing some of their best baseball of the season as they work toward the All-Star break and have a chance to make a statement against a division leader this week. The Athletics will try to push their winning streak to four straight when they host the American League Central-leading Minnesota Twins in the opener of a three-game series on Tuesday. Oakland is 13-5 over its last 18 contests and won the last three games at the Los Angeles Angels over the weekend by a combined 23-5. The Athletics pounded their way to a 12-3 victory on Sunday behind third baseman Matt Chapman, who was named to his first All-Star team and celebrated by going 3-for-5 with his 21st home run and six RBIs.

• The Twins enter the week with an eight-game lead over the Cleveland Indians in the Central but are losers of three of their last four and fell to 27-16 on the road with a 4-3 loss at the Chicago White Sox on Sunday. Minnesota will turn to All-Star Jake Odorizzi on Tuesday while Oakland counters with right-hander Daniel Mengden.

• Odorizzi was carrying a 1.92 ERA after a win at Detroit on June 9 but struggled in his last three turns, allowing a total of 11 runs and 19 hits across 15 1/3 innings. The 29-year-old struck out seven over 5 1/3 innings against Tampa Bay on Wednesday but yielded three runs on four hits – two homers – along with two walks, and was held out of the decision. Odorizzi surrendered two runs – one earned – over seven innings in his lone start against Oakland last season but suffered the loss.

• Mengden is coming off his best start of the season after tossing six scoreless innings in a win at St. Louis on Wednesday. The 26-year-old was sent to Triple-A Las Vegas after getting knocked around for six runs on as many hits over 2 1/3 innings at the Los Angeles Angels on June 5. Mengden is making his first career appearances against Minnesota and is 0-1 with a 3.95 ERA in three games – two starts – at home this season.

• Twins DH Nelson Cruz homered three times in the last two games.

• Oakland OF Khris Davis (hand) sat out the last three games and is questionable. Davis is in the line-up tonight.

• Minnesota OF Max Kepler (knee) was held out of the starting lineup on Sunday and is day-to-day. Kepler is in the line-up tonight.