Beginning on Friday, the New York Yankees will host the Minnesota Twins for a three-game series in the Bronx.
The Twins are in a tailspin at the present moment, having lost six of seven since reaching a season-high two games over .500 after a victory over the Padres last Wednesday.
The Yankees come in having won three of their last four, sitting three games behind the surprising Toronto Blue Jays for the A.L. East lead.
Snapshot:
Home: New York Yankees
Record: (28-24, 11-11 home, 2nd A.L. East)
Away: Minnesota Twins
Record: (24-27, 11-13 road, 3rd A.L. Central)
Season Series: no games played
Key stat:
Minnesota comes into this weekend with the worst staff ERA (4.54) in all of Major League Baseball.
Yankees outlook:
The Yankees got some good news involving Carlos Beltran and Mark Teixeira on Thursday, as both Beltran and Teixeira look like they could be in the team's lineup earlier than initially feared.
Teixiera's bothersome right wrist (the same surgically-repaired wrist which ended his season last year) is merely inflamed right now - meaning the Yankees first baseman could very well be back in the mix as early as Friday.
Beltran's situation is also looking up, as a bone spur in his elbow which landed him on the disabled list on May 15th may not require surgery as initially expected. He took practice hacks at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, with no discomfort reported whatsoever.
Twins outlook:
The Twins offense has been anemic over the past week, managing just 13 runs over their past seven contests.
A normally empathetic Target Field crowd has begun to turn on the team during their recent slide, with a cascade of boos drawing comments from several players after the team's 1-0 loss on Wednesday.
The Twins will have five road games against the Yankees and Brewers to right the ship, or the jeers could get louder when they return to the Twin Cities next Wednesday.
What to watch for:
The Twins' Phil Hughes (5-1, 3.23) makes his return to Yankee Stadium, opposing 24-year-old Yankees hurler Chase Whitley (0-0, 2.57) in Sunday's series finale.
Hughes went 56-50 with a 4.53 ERA in seven seasons with the Yankees before signing a three-year, $24 million contract with the Twins this past offseason.
The 27-year-old right hander has most likely had this game circled on his personal calendar for some time now, so it should be a fun day - especially to see how the Yankees faithful react to their former top prospect.
What they are saying about the Dodgers:
Yankees get good injury news for Teixeira, Beltran (NJ.com)
What they are saying about the Twins:
Aaron Hicks arriving early, taking more cuts (TwinCities.com)
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