The Minnesota Twins will attempt to get their seventh consecutive victory, as well as a three-game interleague sweep when they lock up with the San Diego Padres on Father's Day at Target Field.
The Twins have gotten one-run victories in the first two games of the series, 6-5 on Friday night and 1-0 on Saturday, and will be looking for their thirteenth victory in their last fifteen games after getting off to a disastrous start to the 2011 season.
Minnesota will be without third baseman Danny Valencia in this one. Valencia strained a muscle in his arm in the eighth inning of Saturday night's game, and manager Ron Gardenhire has said that Valencia is day-to-day with the strain. In addition, Joe Mauer will be in the Minnesota lineup today, but he will be serving as the DH rather than suiting up behind the plate today.
The Twins will hope that starting pitcher Francisco Liriano (4-6, 4.67 ERA) can deliver more of what he's given the team since he came off of the disabled list. Liriano was brilliant in his last start, taking a perfect game into the seventh and a no-hitter into the eighth as the Twins beat the Texas Rangers 6-1 one week ago.
The Padres will counter with right-hander Dustin Moseley (2-6, 3.16 ERA). Moseley missed his last start with some shoulder issues. He has pitched fairly well in 2011, but has fallen victim to the same lack of run support that many of his fellow San Diego starters have had to deal with this season. He got a no-decision in his last start on June 8, as he gave up three runs on eight hits in five innings against the Colorado Rockies, but did not figure in the decision as the Padres lost 5-3.
First pitch for this one is scheduled for 1:10 PM Central time from Target Field. The Game Thread over at Twinkie Town is all ready to go for your in-game discussion, and we will have the recap back here for you when everything has finished up.