AP Sports Preview MINNEAPOLIS (Interstat) — The Seattle Mariners open a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins on Monday night at Target Field, with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. under rainy conditions and temperatures near 58 degrees. Seattle (14-15) sends right-hander Luis Castillo (0-1) to the mound. The veteran has struggled early this season, allowing three earned runs in each of his past two starts. The Mariners counter their pitching staff with Connor Prielipp (0-0), who will make his major league debut. Prielipp, the organization’s top pitching prospect, has posted a 1.80 ERA in four starts at Triple-A Tacoma. Minnesota (12-16) counters with Prielipp in what will be his first big-league appearance. The Twins have lost seven of their last eight games, including a 4-2 defeat Sunday at Tampa Bay. Seattle enters after a 3-2 win at St. Louis on Sunday, snapped the Cardinals’ five-game winning streak. Right-hander Emerson Hancock delivered six strong innings, allowing two earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts. Hancock has been Seattle’s most consistent starter, posting a 2.80 ERA over his last five outings. He is a player to watch for the Mariners. The Mariners have won four of six and have shown improved run support, averaging 5.2 runs over that stretch. Seattle’s bullpen has been effective, with Eduard Bazardo and Jose A. Ferrer combining for 2 1/3 scoreless innings Sunday. Minnesota’s offense has been inconsistent, scoring two or fewer runs in five of their last seven contests. Shortstop Brooks Lee is a player to watch for the Twins. He homered and drove in two runs Sunday, and has three multi-hit games in his last six contests. Lee is hitting .263 with two home runs and six RBIs over his past 10 games. The Twins have lost nine of 11 and have the second-worst record in the American League. Minnesota’s pitching staff has a 4.95 ERA in April. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 4-2 Seattle victory. The Mariners are -1.5 run-line favorites, with the over/under set at 8.5 runs. Seattle is 16-11 all-time at Target Field. The Mariners have won four straight in Minnesota. After Monday’s opener, the teams play Tuesday and Wednesday before Seattle returns home to face Kansas City on Friday. Minnesota hosts Toronto on Thursday.