Twins vs. Rays preview

It's been over a month since Chris Archer started anywhere but Tropicana Field, and Tampa Bay's No. 1 starter might be itching to shed the home uniform.

When he does Sunday against the Minnesota Twins, he'll take the mound riding an impressive road scoreless streak as the Rays try to avoid a sweep. Even if Archer's away success continues, the tricky part could be bettering Kyle Gibson at Target Field.

Archer (3-4, 2.59 ERA) was strong in Tuesday's 4-2 home win over the New York Yankees, surrendering two runs and seven hits while striking out eight in seven innings. Both runs came in a messy first before the right-hander settled in.

"You can probably make the argument this is Arch's most impressive start, the way it started and then what he did to finish it," manager Kevin Cash told MLB's official website. "That game could have easily got out of hand. Hopefully, we all think it's probably a sign of him progressing to being that pitcher we all think he's capable of being -- and is being."

It was his fifth straight home start and sixth in eight outings this season. The two away starts account for 14 innings of a career-best and current MLB-best 20 2/3 scoreless on the road, and dating to May 16, 2014, he's 7-3 with a 1.56 ERA in his last 15 road starts. One of those came in Minnesota on July 20, giving Archer a 3-0 record and 0.49 ERA in three starts against the Twins.

Gibson (3-2, 2.70) is 0-3 with a 9.98 ERA versus the Rays, but his recent home form has been outstanding.

Gibson hasn't allowed a run in 16 2/3 innings over two-plus starts at home as part of a five-start winning streak at Target Field with a 1.60 ERA. That's tied with Scott Baker (2011) and Max Scherzer (2011-14) for the top streaks in the ballpark's young history.

He was about as impressive in Tuesday's 2-1 loss in Detroit while holding the Tigers to a run and five hits in seven innings. The right-hander wasn't stuck with the decision and is 2-0 with a 0.96 ERA in his last four starts. A fourth-inning homer is the only run he's allowed in 24 innings.

It was the fourth time in seven starts Minnesota hasn't given him more than a run of support, and neither Gibson (2.91 RSA) nor Archer (2.40) are getting much in the way of help.

"It's disappointing when you get a game like the one Gibson just pitched and you can't get him any run support," Twins manager Paul Molitor said.

The Twins (21-16) have done a bit better in the first two games of the series with Saturday's 6-4 win setting them up for the sweep. At home, they've won nine of 10 and are an AL-best 14-5 while batting .291 and posting a 3.49 ERA. Away, they're 7-11 with a .231 average and 4.72 ERA.

Brian Dozier homered for the second straight game and fourth time in seven as part of an eight-game hitting streak that's boosted his average to a season-high .262, but he's 0 for 8 against Archer. Torii Hunter has a 10-game hitting streak against Tampa Bay.

"You hope that they remember the feeling and the confidence that they've displayed in these games," Molitor said.

Prior to this series, the Rays (20-18) had been 15-4 at Target Field. It's been nearly a year since they were last swept in a road series, dropping two in Miami from June 2-3 as part of a 10-game road skid. The Twins last swept them in four in July 2006 in Minnesota.