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MINNEAPOLIS (Interstat) — The Minnesota Twins host the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday at 7:10 p.m. at Target Field in a matchup of struggling American League clubs looking to climb back toward .500.

Toronto (14-16) enters on a high note after an 8-1 victory Wednesday over Boston, but the Blue Jays have dropped 10 of their last 15 overall. Minnesota (13-18) has lost four of its last five, including a 5-3 defeat Wednesday to Seattle.

The right-hander Taj Bradley takes the mound for Minnesota. Bradley (3-3, 3.31 ERA) has been solid this season, striking out 35 batters in 36 2/3 innings. His last start came Wednesday against Seattle: seven innings, four hits, two earned runs and seven strikeouts in a no-decision. Bradley faced Toronto on April 12, earning a win with five innings of one-run ball, striking out seven. He is 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA in two career starts against the Blue Jays.

Left-hander Eric Lauer starts for Toronto (1-4, 6.55 ERA). Lauer is coming off his best outing of the season, earning the win Wednesday against Boston with 4 1/3 innings, five hits and one earned run. His recent outings have been a mixed bag: a loss April 22 at the Los Angeles Angels (five innings, three earned runs) and a loss April 11 against Minnesota (5 1/3 innings, seven earned runs). In two starts versus the Twins this season, Lauer is 0-1 with a 9.45 ERA.

These teams met April 10-12 in Toronto, with Minnesota taking two of three. The Twins won 8-2 on April 12 behind Bradley’s strong start. The Blue Jays’ lone win came April 10, scoring 10 runs.

Weather forecasts call for 51 degrees and cloudy at first pitch.

Toronto is installed as a -1.5 run favorite, according to Interstat. The over/under is 8. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 6-2 Toronto victory, giving the Blue Jays a 59.1 percent win probability.

Both teams will continue the four-game series through Sunday. Toronto then travels to Tampa Bay, while Minnesota visits Washington.