Rays and Twins play, winner claims 3-game series
Minnesota Twins (12-9, first in the AL Central) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (12-9, third in the AL East)
St. Petersburg, Florida; Sunday, 1:10 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Twins: Josh Winder (0-0, 3.48 ERA, .97 WHIP, five strikeouts); Rays: Josh Fleming (2-2, 4.50 ERA, 1.75 WHIP, 15 strikeouts)
BOTTOM LINE: Both the Tampa Bay Rays and the Minnesota Twins are looking for a series win with a victory on Sunday.
Tampa Bay is 12-9 overall and 9-6 at home. Rays pitchers have a collective 3.18 ERA, which ranks 10th in the majors.
Minnesota is 12-9 overall and 8-4 in home games. The Twins have gone 10-1 in games when they record at least eight hits.
The teams meet Sunday for the third time this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Wander Franco has four home runs, three walks and 13 RBI while hitting .313 for the Rays. Yandy Diaz is 9-for-24 with a double, a home run and two RBI over the past 10 games.
Byron Buxton leads the Twins with 10 extra base hits (four doubles and six home runs). Max Kepler is 11-for-30 with a double, four home runs and eight RBI over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Rays: 7-3, .231 batting average, 2.69 ERA, outscored opponents by five runs
Twins: 8-2, .255 batting average, 2.02 ERA, outscored opponents by 24 runs
INJURIES: Rays: Ji-Man Choi: day-to-day (elbow), Francisco Mejia: 10-Day IL (covid-19), Chris Mazza: 10-Day IL (back), Shane Baz: 60-Day IL (elbow), Luis Patino: 60-Day IL (oblique), JT Chargois: 10-Day IL (oblique), Ryan Yarbrough: 10-Day IL (groin), Brendan McKay: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Pete Fairbanks: 60-Day IL (lat), Tyler Glasnow: 60-Day IL (elbow), Nick Anderson: 60-Day IL (elbow), Yonny Chirinos: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Twins: Byron Buxton: day-to-day (hand), Bailey Ober: 10-Day IL (groin), Jhon Romero: 10-Day IL (biceps), Jorge Alcala: 60-Day IL (elbow), Randy Dobnak: 60-Day IL (finger), Sonny Gray: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Alex Kirilloff: 10-Day IL (wrist), Kenta Maeda: 60-Day IL (elbow)
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