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.

Kyle Gibson vs. Ubaldo Jimenez, 1:10 p.m., CDT

Here we are at the final game of the first half, and if everything goes right today, the Twins could be in playoff position and only 1.5 games back out of the division lead. Regardless, the Twins are guaranteed to have a winning record and in playoff contention as the second half of the season starts.

The Twins certainly have been playing over their head this season, much like they did in 2015. However, this season seems to be a little different in that those making the important decisions for the team seem to be able to recognize that the Twins aren't nearly as good as their record and will need help in the second half if they are going to be able to take advantage of this seemingly magical run.

Management has said they will not trade away prospects for one-year rentals, which is a wise decision given their weak grip on their playoff positioning and the youthfulness of the team that expects to contend for years to come. However, they have said that they will be willing to go after players that will help them for the rest of this year and at least another year after that. This could at least make the last couple weeks of July a lot more interesting than it has been for the vast majority of the previous six seasons.

If the Twins are to stay in the race into September, they will need continued improved pitching from the back of the starting rotation, including Kyle Gibson, who starts today. The Twins will to see him throw more pitches in the strike zone, especially early in the count. He can't afford to work from behind and I can't stand to watch him nibble constantly off the corners.

With the signing of Bartolo "Big Sexy" Colon, who is expected to be called up after the All-Star Break to take the fifth slot in the rotation, it will be interesting to see what happens once Hector Santiago is deemed healthy. A pitcher will need to be removed from the active roster and someone will need to be taken out of the rotation if Santiago is to be put back in the rotation.

If the Twins do manage to stay in contention despite the long odds, it seems fitting that a fat, old pitcher with the nickname of "Big Sexy" would lead the run.

In progress: Happy Jose Day! Scoreless first for Berrios.

Twins are 37-26 when they are not trailing after the first inning, and they are 13-5 when they are leading after the first inning.

In progress: Kole Calhoun got his homer out of the way already. Fortunately, with no one on base.