Rays host the Twins in first of 3-game series

TL;DR

The Tampa Bay Rays host the Minnesota Twins for a three-game series starting Friday at 7:10 p.m. EDT. Taj Bradley will pitch for the Twins, while Drew Rasmussen takes the mound for the Rays.

Key points

Rays host Twins for a three-game series
Game starts at 7:10 p.m. EDT
Taj Bradley pitching for Twins
Drew Rasmussen pitching for Rays
Betting odds: Rays -124, Twins +104

Tampa Bay RaysMinnesota TwinsTaj BradleyDrew Rasmussen

Minnesota Twins (12-13, third in the AL Central) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (13-11, second in the AL East)

St. Petersburg, Florida; Friday, 7:10 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Twins: Taj Bradley (3-0, 1.63 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 34 strikeouts); Rays: Drew Rasmussen (1-0, 2.75 ERA, 0.61 WHIP, 20 strikeouts)

LINE: Rays -124, Twins +104; over/under is 7 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Tampa Bay Rays host the Minnesota Twins to begin a three-game series.

Tampa Bay is 13-11 overall and 5-4 at home. The Rays are 3-1 in games when they did not allow a home run.

Minnesota has gone 5-7 on the road and 12-13 overall. The Twins have the 10th-best team on-base percentage in MLB play at .331.

Friday's game is the fourth time these teams meet this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Junior Caminero leads the Rays with nine extra base hits (three doubles and six home runs). Jonny Deluca is 9 for 32 with three doubles, a home run and nine RBIs over the last 10 games.

Josh Bell has five doubles, three home runs and 16 RBIs for the Twins. Byron Buxton is 13 for 46 with a double, five home runs and six RBIs over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Rays: 6-4, .259 batting average, 4.79 ERA, outscored by one run

Twins: 4-6, .242 batting average, 3.84 ERA, outscored opponents by nine runs

INJURIES: Rays: Gavin Lux: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Garrett Cleavinger: 15-Day IL (calf), Edwin Uceta: 15-Day IL (shoulder), : day-to-day (leg), : 15-Day IL (elbow), : 60-Day IL (hip), : 60-Day IL (back), : 60-Day IL (elbow), : 15-Day IL (forearm), : 60-Day IL (shoulder)