O's game blog: O's host Twins in series opener

The next three games at Camden Yards will match up the team with the best home record in the majors against the team with the second-best road record in the majors.

The Orioles (25-17) host the Twins (22-18) to begin a three-game series tonight. The Orioles are 15-4 (.789) at home and had an eight-game win streak at Camden Yards snapped on Sunday. The Twins are 11-5 on the road. That .688 win percentage is second in baseball to the Astros' .714 (15-6 record).

Minnesota begins today leading the American League Central by percentage points over the Cleveland Indians. In fact, the Orioles' next nine games are against the Twins, Astros and Yankees. Those three teams begin today as the division leaders in the AL.

On this date last year, Minnesota was 11-31 (.262) and in last place, 14 1/2 games back. After splitting a doubleheader with Kansas City on Sunday, the Twins have won three of four and seven of their last 11 games.

The Orioles went 5-1 against Minnesota last season, including 3-0 at Camden Yards. That was after Minnesota was 7-0 versus the Orioles the season before.

On the mound tonight, right-hander Ubaldo Jiménez (1-2, 6.52 ERA) pitches against right-hander Kyle Gibson (0-4, 8.20 ERA).

While Jiménez has just one quality start in seven starts for the year, somehow the Orioles have gone 5-2 in his starts in 2017. And it is not all about run support, since his run support average of 4.54 is among the lowest on the staff. Jiménez is 0-0 with a 7.04 ERA in three home starts.

But the right-hander has pitched well in his career versus Minnesota. That includes last year when he posted a 1.50 ERA in two starts. In 11 career games (10 starts), he has a 5-3 record and 2.49 ERA and has fanned 75 over 65 innings. He has faced the Twins five times (making four starts) since joining the Orioles and is 2-0 with a 1.82 ERA in those games.

Gibson opened the year in the Twins rotation and made six starts before being optioned out on May 4. In each outing, he pitched 5 1/3 or fewer innings. In 26 1/3 innings for the season, he has allowed 39 hits, including six homers, with 13 walks, 16 strikeouts and a .342 batting average against. He is 1-1 with a 3.58 ERA in five career starts versus Baltimore.

Hayes honored: Single-A Frederick outfielder Austin Hays has been named Player of the Week in the Carolina League. He becomes the first Keys player to win a weekly award in 2017.

Hays, 21, batted .438 (14-for-32) over seven games with two home runs, six doubles, six RBIs and an .813 slugging percentage. From May 15-19, he recorded five consecutive multi-hit games, going 13-for-24.

In 38 games, the Orioles' 2016 third-round pick is batting .320 with seven doubles, three triples, five home runs, 20 RBIs and 23 runs scored. Entering Monday's action, he ranks fifth in the Carolina League in hits (49) and total bases (77), and sixth in hitting. Earlier this season, Hays tallied a 21-game on-base streak from April 7-28. He is ranked as the organization's No. 7 prospect by Baseball America.