Series preview: Twins at Seattle

RHP Kevin Correia (4-10, 4.95) vs. RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (6-4, 3.33)

RHP Phil Hughes (8-5, 3.95) vs. RHP Chris Young (8-4, 3.11)

RHP Kyle Gibson (7-7, 4.17) vs. LHP Roenis Elias (7-7, 4.19)

RHP Yohan Pino (0-2, 4.98) vs. TBA

This is the first stop on a seven-game road trip that takes them to Colorado over the weekend. They are 18-26 on the road but have lost 10 of their last 11. The Twins are 5-14 against the AL West this season. … They won two of three games against the Mariners at Target Field in May, despite being outscored 13-11 in the series. ... They are 10-18 at Safeco Field since 2008, and 28-45 since it opened in 1999. ... Monday's starter, Kevin Correia, allowed six runs and retired only five batters in his last start in Seattle, July 25, 2013. ... The Twins' starting pitchers' ERA is 5.01 this season, worst in the AL, but their bullpen ERA is a 3.27, fifth-best in the league. ... The current Twins are a combined 3-for-28 (.128) against Mariners closer Fernando Rodney; only Kurt Suzuki (2-for-9) and Kendrys Morales (1-for-7) have hits.

They open a seven-game homestand heading into the All-Star break in third place in the AL West and holding a two-game lead over Toronto for the final wild-card spot in the American League. ... After a 71-91 season a year ago, they are one of the biggest surprises in baseball, mostly because of pitching; they are the only team in the majors that has not allowed 300 runs this season. ... Mariners ace RHP Felix Hernandez (10-2, a league-leading 2.11 ERA) was scheduled to start Thursday, but manager Lloyd McClendon has decided to hold him until Friday, to face AL West-leading Oakland. The Mariners will likely call up a fill-in starter from Class AAA Tacoma to make that start.

PHIL MILLER