Indians at Twins
The Minnesota Twins hope to continue their success against the American League Central-leading Cleveland Indians on Tuesday, when they host the middle contest of their three-game home set, despite being in selling mode at the non-waiver trade deadline. The Twins have won seven of their 10 meetings with Cleveland this season after recording a walk-off 5-4 victory in the series opener on the same day they dealt two productive veteran pitchers.
The Twins acquired four prospects in separate trades as right-handed starter Lance Lynn was sent to the New York Yankees and left-handed reliever Zach Duke was shipped to Seattle on Monday before they climbed within eight games of the Indians in the division. Kyle Gibson, who has allowed three runs over 12 2/3 innings in two starts against Cleveland this year, will try to help Minnesota move closer when he starts opposite Trevor Bauer on Tuesday. The Indians, who lead the majors with 147 runs this month, could be prominent Tuesday at the trade deadline as they look for an outfielder and perhaps some more pitching help. The big positive out of the series opener was All-Star Jose Ramirez, who broke out of a slump with a pair of homers to tie Boston’s J.D. Martinez for the major-league lead with 32.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), FS North (Minnesota)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Trevor Bauer (9-6, 2.32 ERA) vs. Twins RH Kyle Gibson (5-7, 3.42)
Bauer registered his ninth quality start in 10 outings on Wednesday, when he limited Pittsburgh to two hits and struck out 10 over seven scoreless innings. The 27-year-old UCLA product is 2-0 with a 1.87 ERA in four starts this month but lost his only meeting with Minnesota on June 2, when he yielded seven runs - three earned - over 5 2/3 frames. Eddie Rosario is 12-for-30 with two homers versus Bauer, who is 4-7 with a 4.84 ERA in 17 career games (16 starts) against the Twins.
Gibson held Boston to one run on four hits and two walks over eight innings of a 2-1 victory on Thursday. It was the third win in four starts for the 30-year-old native of Indiana and he has worked at least seven frames in six of his last nine turns. Edwin Encarnacion (7-for-22, four homers), Yan Gomes (12-for-27, two) and Jason Kipnis (12-for-27, one) have hit well against Gibson, who is 3-6 with 5.21 ERA in 15 career games versus Cleveland.
WALK-OFFS
1. Ramirez has hit five homers against the Twins this season while SS Francisco Lindor and Encarnacion have belted four apiece.
2. Minnesota SS Jorge Polanco is 9-for-27 during his seven-game hitting streak and has notched four RBIs in his last three contests.
3. Cleveland 1B Yonder Alonso is 11-for-34 with five homers and 11 RBIs in 10 games since the All-Star break.