(Photo: drewgeraets/flickr)

The A’s will start the second half of the season facing the Minnesota Twins (36-49).  The A’s have faced the Twins once already this season, a series we would all like to forget as the A’s were swept by them at Target Field.

Friday 5:10 PM PST: (RHP) A.J. Griffin (0-0) Vs (LHP) Francisco Liriano

• Despite having 3 very good starts, AJ Griffin is still looking for his first major league win.  Griffin last faced the Red Sox in which he lasted 6 innings, allowed 2 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 3.  This will be the firs time Griffin will face the Minnesota Twins in his big league career.
• Francisco Liriano has really turned it around since returning to the starting rotation.  In his last start he allowed 1 run on 5 hits and 6 walks while striking out 6 in 6.2 innings against the Texas Rangers.  Liriano has faced the A’s once this season, he lasted 6 innings and only allowed 3 hits, 2 walks and struck out a season high of 9.

Saturday 4:10 PM PST: (LHP) Tom Milone (8-6) Vs (RHP) Cole De Vries

• Tom Milone had another strong start at the O.co in his last outing.  He allowed 6 hits and 1 run over 7 innings while walking 1 and striking out a career high of 9 against the Seattle Mariners.  This is the first time Milone will face the Minnesota Twins in his career.
• Cole De Vries was excellent against the Texas Rangers in his last start, he lasted 7 innings and only allowed 3 hits, 1 walk and struck out 5.  De Vries faced the A’s the last time they were in town, shutting them out for 5 innings while only allowing 2 hits, 5 walks and striking out 1.

Sunday 11:10 AM PST: (RHP) Jarrod Parker (5-4) Vs (LHP) Brian Duensing(1-5)

• Jarrod Parker did not have “it” in his last start against the Seattle Mariners, he allowed 6 hits, 6 runs, 2 walks and struck out 6 over 4.2 innings, which was his second shortest start of the season.  Parker faced the Twins the last time they were at Target Field and he allowed only 4 hits, 4 walks and struck out 4 in that start.
• Brian Duensing will be making his 4th start of the season against the A’s on Sunday.  In his last start he allowed 2 runs on 4 hits and 1 walk while striking out 2 over 4.1 innings.  Duensing faced the A’s in 2/3 of an inning of relief earlier this season, he allowed 3 hits and 1 run.

Keys to success: Don’t get swept again.

In all seriousness, this could actually be a tough series for the A’s as they have to face 2 lefties and they have an 11-17 record verses left-handed pitchers this season so far.  With that, I think it’s going to be the pitching that is going to either make or break the series for Oakland this weekend.  The A’s are putting 3 rookies on the mound against the Twins, 2 of the 3 have never faced them before, which could end up working in Oakland’s favor.