Twins look to build on recent success vs Red Sox
The Minnesota Twins are set to honor designated hitter David Ortiz at Target Field on Friday night, as "Big Papi" continues his retirement tour, but they haven't exactly been kind to the Boston Red Sox over the last few years.
A sweep at Target Field, a shutout at Fenway Park; 2015 was a lopsided season series from start to finish.
The Twins went 5-2 last season against the Red Sox in 2015, Minnesota's first winning season against the Red Sox since 2006.
They were the better team in nearly every phase of the game.
Twins, vs. Red Sox Last 7 Games
| Twins | Red Sox | |
| Wins | 5 | 2 |
| Runs/Game | 4 | 2.57 |
| Runs, inning 7+ | 6 | 2 |
| ERA | 2.36 | 3.75 |
| Starters ERA | 3.02 | 4.2 |
| Relievers ERA | 0.55 | 2.4 |
| BA | .243 | .242 |
| BA w/ RISP | .319 | .256 |
Tyler Duffey is set to make his first career start against Boston and will look to continue the Twins' pitching staff's recent run against the Red Sox.
Twins pitchers held Boston to just 2.57 runs per game last season, their lowest total against an AL opponent in the most recent seven games of each series.
Twins, fewest runs/game in Last 7 games vs. opponent
*AL Opponents
| Team | Runs/Game |
| Red Sox | 2.57 |
| Brewers | 2.86 |
| Indians | 3.86 |
| Mariners | 4 |
| White Sox | 4.29 |
| Orioles | 4.29 |
It looks like Brian Dozier is finally starting to find his swing.
The second baseman is batting .333 in June after starting the season at .202, and has six hits in his last three games.
Meanwhile, Joe Mauer is heating up against at the right time after a brief slump, and is hitting .438 with five home runs and 11 RBI over his last 16 games.
Joe Mauer, last 16 games vs. previous 16 games
| Prev. 16 | Last 16 | |
| W-L | 2-14 | 7-9 |
| BA | .155 | .333 |
| Slugging % | .207 | .583 |
| HR | 1 | 5 |
| RBI | 3 | 11 |
Statistics courtesy of STATS, inc.