MINNEAPOLIS (Interstat) — The Minnesota Twins host the Athletics on Sunday afternoon at Target Field, seeking to snap a two-game slide against a visiting club that has dominated the early portion of this series. First pitch is scheduled for 6:10 p.m. CDT under clear skies with a game-time temperature of 86 degrees. Right-hander Joe Ryan (6-6, 4.12 ERA) will start for the Athletics, who have won the first two games of this four-game set by identical 2-0 scores. Ryan has posted a 3.38 ERA over his past three starts, striking out 18 in 18 1/3 innings. Opposing him will be Twins right-hander Zebby Matthews (0-1, 5.40 ERA), who takes the hill after allowing two runs over six innings in Friday’s loss to these same Athletics. Matthews has surrendered 16 earned runs in 16 2/3 innings over his past three outings. The Athletics (44-59) have struggled to a 3-7 mark in their last 10 games, but their pitching has kept them competitive in this series. Jacob Lopez, who earned the win Friday with five scoreless innings of one-hit ball, remains a key bullpen option after working 5 2/3 scoreless frames across his last two appearances. His 4-2 record and 2.70 ERA provide a bridge to a late-inning group that has allowed just one run in the series. Minnesota (51-54) has dropped four of its last six and entered the day 6 1/2 games back in the American League Central. Matthews, a 25-year-old righty, has a 5.40 ERA in three major league starts this season. He will need to reverse a trend that has seen Twins starters post a 6.23 ERA over the past week. The Twins have managed only four hits in the series’ first two games, and their offense has scored three runs or fewer in six of their past nine contests. Byron Buxton is 0 for 7 in the series. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 5-3 Twins victory, and Minnesota has been installed as a -1.5 run-line favorite. The over/under is 10 runs. Sunday’s contest marks the finale of a four-game home stand for the Twins before they host Kansas City on Tuesday. The Athletics continue a road trip that moves to Boston on Monday.