Should be an interesting series this weekend with the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays have had a mixed start to the season with a 23-27 record currently. They just got swept by the Indians at Progressive Field where they never seem able to win, having lost 17 road games there since September 2005. Their home form isn’t spectacular (11-10), but they’ll certainly be looking to rebound. Former Twins short-stop Jason Bartlett remains on the DL, which might be good news for Minnesota seeing how well he’s been playing this season (MLB-leading average, at the time of writing), but we all know that the Rays always remain a threat.

Intriguing pitching match-up of the weekend should be Sunday’s encounter between another former Twin, Matt Garza, and Nick Blackburn. The Twins have a horrible road record, and it would be a good time to turn this around to at least ‘average’. Early June sees West Coast road trips to both Seattle and Oakland, and then back to the Chicago Cubs for some interleague joy. The Twins do have a small home stand entertaining the Cleveland Indians (who finally seem to be regaining some of their form) but it’ll be essential that Minnesota improves its woeful road performances as we hit the one-third mark of the 2009 season.