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Sep 17, 2010 - 5:42 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Oakland (72-73) at Minnesota (88-58), 8:10 p.m. EDT

Sweeping a series from their closest pursuer has the Minnesota Twins easing towards a sixth AL Central title in 10 years.

Their remaining regular-season schedule may see them finish atop the league.

The red-hot Twins look to continue their march to a second consecutive division crown when they open a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics on Friday night.

Minnesota (88-58) has won 16 of its last 19 after sweeping a three-game series at Chicago, capped by Thursday's 8-5 win. The Twins lead the second-place White Sox by nine games with 16 to play.

Their remaining schedule is rather advantageous, too. Minnesota's last five series come against Oakland (72-73), Cleveland, Detroit, Kansas City and Toronto - none of which currently hold a winning record.

Still, manager Ron Gardenhire isn't ready to uncork the champagne.

"Cart before the horse," he said. "We're not going to mess with that."

With the division race practically determined, the Twins are challenging East-leading Tampa Bay and the New York Yankees for the AL's best record.

"We're capable of that," said Carl Pavano, who won his team-high 17th game Thursday.

Minnesota is 5-1 against the A's this season including a three-game sweep last month at Target Field.

Kevin Slowey (12-6, 4.24 ERA) looks for a third straight strong start since after coming off the 15-day disabled list due to a strained right triceps.

The right-hander allowed two unearned runs with five strikeouts in five innings of a 6-2 win at Cleveland on Sunday. Six days earlier, he yielded two runs in four innings of a 5-4 victory over Kansas City after being activated.

"I felt a whole lot better than the last time out, but still wasn't as sharp as I would like," Slowey said after beating the Indians. "Getting five runs early helps. You don't have to be quite as sharp."

Six of Slowey's last seven starts have resulted in wins for Minnesota, and he's gone 4-1 with a 2.43 ERA. That includes a superb performance against Oakland on Aug. 15, as he threw seven innings of no-hit ball before the bullpen gave up three hits and two runs in a 4-2 win.

Slowey is 3-0 with a 1.38 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 26 innings over four career starts against the A's.

Oakland is all but mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, but is trying to get back to .500 after dropping two of three at Kansas City following Wednesday's 6-3 defeat.

The A's will turn to Dallas Braden (9-12, 3.56), who has lost three consecutive starts with a 6.32 ERA after throwing a four-hitter in a 5-0 win at Texas on Aug. 28.

The left-hander struggled again Sunday, surrendering four runs with four walks in 5 2-3 innings of a 5-3 loss to Boston.

"The story (Sunday) was I provided a nice walkathon for them," Braden said. "It was just gross. I don't ever complain on balls and strikes because I'm a big believer that, that stuff evens out over the course of a season, but (Sunday) was bad. Period."

Braden is 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA in five starts against the Twins. He lost his only game at Minnesota on Aug. 20, 2008.