The Red Sox are set to begin a six-game homestand at Fenway Park, starting with a three-game series against the Twins.
Boston are coming off a 4-2 road trip at Atlanta and Kansas City.
They are on a three-game winning streak after completing a sweep of the Royals with Wednesday’s 4-3 win.
The Twins have won three of their last four, including taking two of three from the Astros.
They rank fifth in MLB with 21 quality starts of six or more innings and three or fewer earned runs. They’re seventh in starter ERA at 3.67.
It will be a battle of left-handers for Friday’s opener, with Payton Tolle for the Red Sox against Minnesota’s Connor Prielipp.
Pitching Matchups and Team Lineups
The Twins will start Connor Prielipp (1-2, 2.88 ERA).
The Red Sox will counter with Payton Tolle (2-2, 2.05 ERA).
Twins Lineup: Buxton DH, Lee 3B, Martin CF, Bell 1B, Gonzalez LF, Kreidler SS, Clemens RF, Keaschall 2B, Jackson C.
Red Sox Lineup: Duran LF, Rafaela CF, Abreu RF, Contreras 1B, Monasterio DH, Sogard SS, Mayer 2B, Narváez C, Durbin 3B.
Player Stats and Notes
Jarren Duran has gone 7 for 19 with six extra-base hits and six RBIs in his last five games.
Tolle is coming off a 3-2 win over the Braves last Saturday in which he went eight innings.
Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras has a five game-hitting streak, going 9 for 20 in that span.
Minnesota will be without catcher Ryan Jeffers, who was placed on the injured list Tuesday with a left hamate bone fracture and is expected to miss 6 to 8 weeks. He was batting .295 with 26 RBIs.
“One of the things that we were very thoughtful about this offseason was getting another major league catcher in terms of Victor [Caratini] and being able to fill that,” Twins manager Derek Shelton said.
“The offensive production, we’re just going to have to fill it with multiple people because Ryan has been so good.”
Prielipp, 25, is making his sixth start. He struck out eight in six innings of work in his most recent start, but came out on the short end of a 2-1 loss to the Brewers.
Previous Matchups
Twins vs. Tolle: Tristan Gray 0-1.
Red Sox vs. Prielipp: Has not faced any Boston batters.
The Red Sox return to Fenway Park after a successful road trip, while the Twins look to continue their winning form.