After rebounding and taking two of three from the Blue Jays to kick off their six-game homestand, the Orioles will now host the first-place Minnesota Twins during a three-game set before heading out to Houston.

The Orioles (25-17) remain a sliver out of first place in the AL East as we head into the final week of May, despite being on a current 3-7 skid over their last ten games.

However, the Orioles have a prime chance to retake the drivers’ seat in the division from the Yankees over the next few weeks. Boasting a sparkling MLB-best 15-4 record at home, the Orioles are set to play twelve of their next fifteen games in the friendly confines of Camden Yards.

The Twins (22-18) continue to lead the way in the AL Central, much to the surprise of just about everyone. They’ve continued their steady campaign by posting a 10-7 mark thus far in May, and have really impressed on the road this season with a 11-5 record away from Target Field.

The Twins have been dealt a cruel hand by Mother Nature this season. After a few rainouts in a short span of time, they have had to play two doubleheaders over the last five days.

That’s just brutal.

Two seasons ago, the Twins owned the Orioles en route to going 7-0 against the Birds. Last year, the Orioles returned the favor by going 5-1 versus Minnesota. How will this year’s narrative go?

We’ll find out soon enough. Let’s take a look at the starters:

Game One

Ubaldo Jimenez (1-2, 6.52 ERA) will take the mound against Kyle Gibson (0-4, 8.20 ERA) in the series opener tonight.

Jimenez will be looking to bounce back from his last start versus Detroit in which he allowed five runs on eight hits over five innings. That outing pushed his ERA back up from 6.15 to 6.52. On the bright side, Jimenez has dominated the Twins in the past. He’s gone 5-3 with a stellar 2.49 ERA over ten career starts versus Minnesota.

Freshly off the bus from AAA Rochester, Gibson will be hoping to bounce back from a nightmare start to his 2017 season. He recorded an 8.20 ERA over his first six starts of the season before getting demoted. On a heavier note, after looking like a future star during the 2014 and 2015 seasons with the Twins, Gibson’s stock has plummeted since. The former first round pick may be in need of a change of scenery.

Game Two

Dylan Bundy (5-2, 2.97 ERA) will take the hill versus Twins ace Ervin Santana (6-2, 2.07 ERA) on Tuesday.

After recording eight straight quality starts to begin the season, Bundy was tagged for six runs on eight hits over six innings in his last start versus the Tigers. He had allowed just seven runs over three starts in May before last Thursday’s contest.

Santana may have come back down to earth after notching a perfect 4-0 record and a stellar 0.77 ERA and 0.65 WHIP during the month of April, but he still owns a solid 3.81 ERA over four starts thus far in May. He has been sensational for the Twins this season. He’s allowed one or fewer runs in each of his first six starts this season, and has recorded four outings this season in which he’s went six-plus innings and allowed zero runs.

Game Three

Chris Tillman (1-0, 3.52 ERA) will get the nod versus the Twins star phenom Jose Berrios (2-0, 0.59 ERA) in the series finale on Wednesday.

Tillman looked solid again during his last outing versus the Blue Jays, allowing three runs on five hits over six innings. The Orioles are 2-1 with Tillman on the mound since his return, and it could not have come at a better time.

After posting a woeful 8.02 ERA over 14 starts as a rookie last season, Berrios has been ruthless over his first two starts this season. He’s allowed just a single run on four hits over 15 1/3 innings this year while racking up 15 K’s in the process. The sky seems to be the limit for the Twins 22-year-old rising star, and we can now see why he is dubbed “La Maquina” or “The Machine.” He’s that good.

Let’s go to the Notebook.

Notes

– The Orioles sluggers don’t have the best of track records against ESantana. Chris Davis has three homers and four RBI against the Twins ace, but has gone just 5-for-32 (.179). Adam Jones has gone 5-for-22 (.227), while Seth Smith is just 4-for-20 (.200) versus Santana. Jonathan Schoop (.235, 2 HR, 4 RBI) has had some success, as has Mark Trumbo (3-for-5, 1 HR, 2 RBI).

– The Orioles big guns hit Berrios hard when they faced him last season. Chris Davis (1-for-3), Mark Trumbo (1-for-3), Adam Jones (1-for-3, 1 HR, 1 RBI) and Manny Machado (2-for-2, 1 HR, 1 RBI) combined to go 5-for-11 with two home runs and two RBI against the Twins future ace.

– Davis (4-for-11, 1 HR, 1 RBI) and J.J. Hardy (5-for-12, 1 HR, 4 RBI) have owned Kyle Gibson in the past. Schoop (3-for-10) and Machado (3-for-11) have also posted solid track records against the Twins struggling veteran.

– Tillman will be looking for a win in the worst way on Wednesday. He has gone 0-4 with a 4.50 ERA over seven career starts versus Minnesota. The Twins are the only club in baseball that he’s winless against in three starts or more.

– Watch out for Twins star slugger Miguel Sano. He’s hitting a stellar .304 on the year, is currently tied for sixth in the AL in homers (10) and is tied for second in the AL in RBI (34).

– Mauer watch: Future Hall-of-Famer Joe Mauer will be visiting Camden Yards this week. If you don’t love watching him play the game, you don’t love baseball. If you were wondering, Mauer has drilled the Orioles over 69 career games against them, hitting a stellar .341 with seventeen doubles, seven homers, 40 RBI and .403 OBP.

That’s it for now, Orioles fans! Enjoy the series!