Twins AL East-like schedule continues in Baltimore

The Minnesota Twins have not moved to the American League East, but it just seems like they are always playing someone from this division. Of the Twins' 15 games this season, 10 have come against AL East clubs and they will add to that total by starting a four-game series tonight in Baltimore. Minnesota is 5-10 and lost two of three versus New York and Toronto before going 1-3 in its most recent series on the road against Tampa. The Twins lost the first three games to the Rays by 4-3, 5-2 and 4-3 margins, twice blowing saves, before Sunday's 4-2 victory. Minnesota had four walk-off losses all last year, then suffered that fate twice in the series at St. Petersburg. After going 31-17-4 in series in 2010, the Twins have not won a series this year, going 0-4-1 to date. Matt Capps got his first save on Sunday, taking over the closer's role, at least temporarily, from Joe Nathan. The Twins, who are 1-8 against right-handed pitching, are last in the AL in runs and team OPS at .605 and rank 9th in team ERA at 4.43. Denard Span has been a hot Twins hitter and enters this series batting .393 during a six-game hitting streak, going 11-for-28. The Orioles were 3-5 against the Twins in 2010 and have won the season series from Minnesota only twice in the last 10 seasons. They went 1-3 last year versus the Twins at Camden Yards. Francisco Liriano will start for the Twins tonight. A 14-game winner in 2010, he is off to an 0-3 start with an ERA of 9.42. He gave up four runs over 4 1/3 against Toronto, while allowing four runs over 5 innings to New York and seven runs in 5 to KC. Liriano has allowed 15 ER over 14 1/3 so far with a WHIP of 1.744. He has been hammered in the fourth inning. He has a fourth-inning ERA of 30.00 and batting average against of .600 in that inning. Liriano is 1-1 with an ERA of 3.46 in two career starts against the Orioles.