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Blue Jays-Twins Preview

Sep 30, 2010 - 5:30 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Toronto (81-76) at Minnesota (92-65), 8:10 p.m. EDT

Before Francisco Liriano opens the postseason for the AL Central champion Minnesota Twins, the left-hander hopes to build some momentum with a strong effort in his final regular-season start.

A healthy Liriano looks to avoid losing a third straight start Thursday night against the Toronto Blue Jays at Target Field.

Ron Gardenhire named Liriano (14-9, 3.48 ERA) his starter for Game 1 of the AL division series, but the Minnesota skipper would like his pitcher to regroup after posting a 7.88 ERA in his last two starts. Liriano left a 10-1 loss at Detroit on Friday because of flu-like symptoms after he gave up two runs in three innings.

"It's going to be another game for me," Liriano told the Twins' official website. "I need to get my mind ready for the game, mentally and physically. Then I'll go out there and try to do my best. I'm not going to change anything."

Liriano allowed two runs in six innings of a 9-2 loss in his only previous start against the Blue Jays on April 16, 2009.

All-Star catcher Joe Mauer appears healthy enough to return to the Minnesota (93-65) lineup as a designated hitter after missing the last nine games with a knee injury.

"He's getting close," Gardenhire said. "Get home and get some action."

Mauer batted .419 in his last 12 games before getting hurt.

Danny Valencia had three hits and Delmon Young hit his 20th homer Wednesday as Minnesota snapped a season-high five-game skid with a 4-2 win at Kansas City.

Young, the fifth player in club history to record 20 home runs, 40 doubles and 100 RBIs in a season, is 9 for 23 with two homers and five RBIs in his last five games. He's batting .316 with two homers against the Blue Jays in 2010.

The biggest suspense for Toronto (82-76) in its first visit to Target Field may be whether Jose Bautista can increase his major league-leading home run total of 52 in the season's final four games. Three of Bautista's four hits in 17 at-bats against Minnesota this season have left the park, but he is 0 for 18 in his last five games overall.

The Blue Jays have won nine of 12, including an 8-4 win over New York in retiring manager Cito Gaston's final home game Wednesday.

"What a way to go out," said Gaston, who was showered with beer and water by his players.

Toronto went 3-2 against Minnesota at home this season, but the Blue Jays hope Target Field will prove more hospitable than the Twins' old stadium after they lost six of their final seven games at the Metrodome.

Toronto's Shawn Hill (1-2, 2.81) makes his fourth start since being called up from Triple-A Las Vegas.

The right-hander, who has not lasted past the sixth inning in his three previous starts, allowed four hits and struck out seven in five innings of a 1-0 win over Felix Hernandez and Seattle last Thursday - his first victory since April 10, 2009.

Hill, coming off his second Tommy John surgery, gave up six runs in 3 2-3 innings of a 9-3 loss in his only previous start versus Minnesota while with Washington on June 19, 2008.