Series preview: N.Y. Yankees at Twins

RHP Kyle Gibson (0-4, 6.49) vs. LHP CC Sabathia (4-4, 2.28)

LHP Pat Dean (1-2, 4.17) vs. RHP Masahiro Tanaka (3-2, 3.08)

RHP Ricky Nolasco (3-4, 5.12) vs. RHP Michael Pineda (3-7, 5.88)

RHP Ervin Santana (1-7, 5.10) vs. RHP Nathan Eovaldi (6-3, 4,90)

The Twins were 1-5 last season vs. New York and have not won a season series against the Yankees since 2001. … Joe Mauer is a career .163 hitter against old nemesis Sabathia with just three extra-base hits in 55 plate appearances. … Gibson will make his second start since returning from the disabled list. He is 1-3 with a 10.72 ERA in five starts against the Yankees and has never pitched longer than 5⅓ innings against them. … Dean will make his first appearance ever against the Yankees. … Nolasco is 1-1 with a 7.88 ERA in two career outings against the Yankees, but both games were in 2014. … Opponents are batting .350 with four home runs the first time through the order against Santana for the season.

The Yankees are in a very interesting position. They are in the middle of an 11-game stretch vs. the Rockies and Twins and, conceivably, could get on a roll that could make them buyers before the trade deadline. But besides a lights-out bullpen, the Yankees struggle with most other areas of the game, and they might be better off selling. … Aaron Hicks has not thrived in New York. He is batting .221 with two home runs and 13 RBI, and manager Joe Girardi recently said the outfielder needs to relax. Hicks was traded for catcher John Ryan Murphy, who is toiling in the minors. … Sabathia enters his start on a 12-inning scoreless streak and with one extra day of rest. … The Yankees are 16-5 at Target Field.

La VELLE E. NEAL III