Twins at Giants
After 10 seasons in the minors, left-hander Nik Turley is set to make his major-league debut Sunday as the Minnesota Twins aim for a sweep of their three-game series against the host San Francisco Giants. Selected by the New York Yankees in the 50th round of the 2008 draft, Turley will be facing a Giants team that has lost nine of its last 12 games and 13 of 18.
Kennys Vargas and Brian Dozier each homered in Saturday’s 3-2 victory as Minnesota improved to 6-3 on its 10-game road trip. Jason Castro is 12-for-42 with three home runs and seven RBIs during his 11-game hitting streak for the Twins, who are 20-8 on the road. San Francisco's Eduardo Nunez has reached base safely in 25 consecutive games, but he’s been one of the few bright spots in a lineup that has scored three runs or fewer in four of its last five contests. Hunter Pence went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Saturday’s loss and is 3-for-22 with two RBIs in seven games since coming off the disabled list.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FSN North (Minnesota), NBCSN Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins LH Nik Turley (NR) vs. Giants RH Matt Cain (3-5, 4.87 ERA)
Turley received the long-awaited call to the majors after posting a combined 2.05 ERA with an 85-to-14 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 52 2/3 innings this season between Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Rochester. The 27-year-old is starting in place of Hector Santiago, who landed on the disabled list this week with a left shoulder strain. Turley recorded 15 strikeouts over six scoreless innings for Rochester on Tuesday.
Cain has been a much better pitcher at home this season, going 3-2 with a 1.82 ERA in six starts at AT&T Park compared to an 0-3 record and 8.40 ERA in six road outings. His struggles away from home continued on Tuesday, when he allowed five runs and 10 hits over five frames in a 5-2 loss at Milwaukee. The 32-year-old will be looking to snap a four-game losing streak when he faces the Twins for the first time in his 11-year career.
WALK-OFFS
1. Giants 2B Joe Panik is expected to miss his third straight game due to a sprained left thumb.
2. Twins SS Jorge Polanco may return from the bereavement list for Sunday’s contest.
3. San Francisco has lost 12 of its last 16 interleague games dating back to last season.