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Twins-Orioles Preview

Jul 24, 2010 - 3:44 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Minnesota (51-45) at Baltimore (30-65), 7:05 p.m. EDT

An inferior starting rotation has been a major concern for a Minnesota Twins team in the thick of the AL Central playoff race.

Scott Baker is in the center of this problem.

Baker hopes to bounce back from another shaky outing as he takes the ball for the Twins on Saturday night against the Baltimore Orioles, one of his favorite opponents.

While Carl Pavano has pitched effectively and Francisco Liriano has been stellar at times, the other three starters in Minnesota's rotation have mostly struggled.

Brian Duensing was moved from the bullpen to the rotation to take the place of an ineffective Nick Blackburn, and there could be more changes if Baker and Kevin Slowey continue to stumble. Duensing pitched well in his first start of the season Friday, limiting the Orioles (31-65) to one run and four hits in five innings, but the Twins went on to lose 3-2.

Minnesota (51-46) has dropped three of five, falling to third in the Central.

Baker (7-9, 5.15 ERA) led the Twins with 15 victories last season, but has already matched last year's loss total.

Minnesota's opening day starter gave up six runs and 10 hits in 4 2-3 innings in Monday's 10-4 loss to Cleveland, his first outing in 11 days because of elbow tendinitis. Baker, 1-4 with a 7.39 ERA in his last five starts, isn't using the condition as an excuse.

"It's not affecting my pitches," the right-hander said.

Baker tries to break out of his funk by facing a Baltimore team against which he is 4-0 with a 1.97 ERA in five starts since 2007. Baker allowed one run and three hits while striking out eight in a season-high eight innings of a 6-1 win over the Orioles on May 8.

Baker also hopes to take advantage of a sluggish Baltimore lineup that has plated three runs or fewer in six of eight games since the All-Star break.

The Orioles' offense could get a lift after second baseman Brian Roberts returned from the 60-day disabled list Friday. The two-time All-Star, who had been sidelined with back and abdomen injuries, went 0 for 4 in his first game since April 9.

While Baltimore got its second baseman back, the Twins might have lost theirs for an extended period. Orlando Hudson left in the third inning Friday with a muscle strain near his right rib cage, and there's no telling how long he'll be out.

"We're going to give him a day here and see how he feels," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Normally this is a thing you end up on the DL (for) a couple of weeks, if not more. We just don't know how bad it is."

Gardenhire's Twins will face Brian Matusz (3-10. 5.21), who was tagged for six runs and five hits in 1 2-3 innings of Sunday's 10-1 loss to Toronto. The left-hander has 10 defeats in his last 11 decisions, and is tied with teammate Jeremy Guthrie and the Angels' Joe Saunders for the most losses in the AL.

"It's just some mechanical adjustments I need to make," Matusz said. "When I'm staying down in the zone, I'm effective. When I'm not, I'm getting hit."

Matusz also had trouble in Minnesota on May 9, yielding six runs and nine hits in 3 2-3 innings of a 6-0 loss.