Twins-Atlanta series preview

RHP Ervin Santana (3-8, 3.93 ERA) vs. RHP Lucas Harrell (1-2, 4.24)

RHP Tyler Duffey (5-7, 5.71) vs. RHP Mike Foltynewicz (3-4, 3.79)

They are 5-7 all-time against the Braves during the regular season and 1-2 at Target Field (they met in 2010). Atlanta has won the past five meetings, including a three-game sweep at Turner Field in 2003; the teams play again there Aug. 16-17. … The Twins are 20-29 at home and 6-7 in interleague play. They are 5-5 since the All-Star break. … Santana was 14-10 with a 3.95 ERA for Atlanta in 2014 before signing with the Twins the following year. He is 1-1 with a 3.92 ERA in three career starts vs. Atlanta. Braves RF Nick Markakis is 12-for-40 (.300) vs. Santana, with three home runs. … Duffey has pitched two interleague games this season, giving up seven runs in seven total innings. … Shortstop Eduardo Nunez is second in the AL in stolen bases with 24, one behind Jose Altuve of Houston.

The Braves are 2-8 since the All-Star break, have lost five games in a row and own the worst record in baseball. They are on pace to go 54-108, which would be the worst season in their 51-year history in Atlanta. They are 19-30 on the road, 4-9 in interleague play. … They have scored 335 runs, fewest in the majors, and have hit 61 home runs, 22 fewer than the next-lowest total in the majors. … Former Twin A.J. Pierzynski is batting .213 with one home run in 63 games. His 1,924 games behind the plate are the most by any active catcher. … 1B Freddie Freeman is third in the NL with six triples. … Closer Arodys Vizcaino, 10-for-13 in save situations, is on the disabled list (oblique). Veteran Jim Johnson is 2-for-5 in save situations. … Neither Harrell nor Foltynewicz has started against the Twins, but both have pitched in relief against them.

PHIL MILLER