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Blue Jays-Twins Preview

Oct 1, 2010 - 5:33 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Toronto (82-76) at Minnesota (93-65), 8:10 p.m. EDT

Carl Pavano has one more chance to equal his career high for wins in a season. To do so, he must pitch better than he did in his last outing.

The Minnesota right-hander looks to bounce back and build some momentum for the postseason when the AL Central champion Twins continue their home series with the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night.

Slated to pitch Game 2 of Minnesota's AL division series, Pavano (17-11, 3.83 ERA) is about to conclude his best regular season since going 18-8 with a 3.00 ERA for Florida in 2004. The 34-year-old has thrown more than 200 innings for the first time since that same season, and his seven complete games match his previous career total.

"Getting an opportunity to be counted on again, that's what it's all about," Pavano told the Twins' official website. "You like that accountability. You like when you take the mound and your team feels like it has a great chance to win that day. It's gratifying."

Pavano's last start was not very gratifying. He squandered a five-run, first-inning lead, allowing seven runs and three homers in four innings of an 11-10, 13-inning loss at Detroit on Saturday.

"My job as a starting pitcher is to set the tone and go out there and get outs," he said. "I basically pitched poorly. It's disappointing to me."

Also disappointing, Pavano is 0-1 with a 10.45 ERA in two starts versus Toronto this season - both on the road.

Minnesota (93-66) isn't playing its best with the postseason looming, having lost six of seven after falling 13-2 to the Blue Jays on Thursday.

"It's a different atmosphere when you get to the playoffs, but it's not fun (right now)," manager Ron Gardenhire said.

The Blue Jays (83-76) made the most of their first trip to Target Field, hitting six home runs in the series opener. Major league leader Jose Bautista hit home runs Nos. 53 and 54, including a grand slam as Toronto won for the seventh time in eight games. The Blue Jays' 253 home runs are the fourth-most in major league history.

"Balls have been flying out of any stadium for us all year long," said Bautista, who became the first player to hit 54 homers since Alex Rodriguez in 2007.

Bautista, who entered Thursday's game in an 0-for-20 slump, has five homers and 10 RBIs in six games versus Minnesota this season.

Toronto's Ricky Romero (13-9, 3.79) will try to set a career high for wins in his final start of 2010.

The left-hander has allowed three runs in each of his last two outings, including a five-inning stint during a 5-4, 11-inning win over Baltimore on Saturday.

Romero is 1-0 with a 3.07 ERA in two starts versus Minnesota, but will be facing the Twins for the first time this season.

Minnesota All-Star catcher Joe Mauer went 0 for 4 as the designated hitter Thursday after an 11-day absence due to an injured left knee. It is uncertain how much Mauer will play the rest of the series. He is 0 for 8 in his last two games versus Toronto.