Kyle Gibson vs. Mike Fiers, 1:10 p.m.

When you are outscored 50-25 in a season series, you're really not supposed to win any games, let alone a three-game series, but that's what the Twins have an opportunity to do today. What helps is not having to face two of the AL's best pitchers in the season series.

Surprisingly, Gibson has had good success against the Astros, although he hasn't faced them this year. In his last 5 games against the Astros, he is 3-0 with a 1.93 ERA. The Twins are going to need more pitching like that if they want to have a chance at what would feel like an upset by winning the last two games against the Astros after the Twins' pitching staff was pummeled for 48 runs allowed in the first four games with the Astros this season.

Fortunately, the Twins are guaranteed to be no worse in their division than they were when the series started.

They'll also need to see more players swinging the bat like Brian Dozier has the last two games. With 2 homers in 2 games, Dozier has started the second half of this season like he did last season when he hit 28 of his 42 home runs after the All-Star break.