Twins at Indians
The Cleveland Indians have put themselves in position to complete a series sweep of the visiting Minnesota Twins on Thursday, and they've done so by defeating their American League Central rivals at their own game. The Indians have gone deep seven times to win the first two contests of their three-game set versus the Twins, who share the major-league lead with 114 home runs.
Francisco Lindor recorded his 10th career multi-homer performance in Cleveland's series-opening 5-2 win before belting a solo shot in the eighth inning of Wednesday's 9-7 victory. The All-Star shortstop is 16-for-38 with four homers, nine RBIs and 11 runs scored in his last 10 contests for the Indians, who remain 9 1/2 games behind the first-place Twins. Minnesota's Jorge Polanco belted a solo homer on Wednesday and has gone 11-for-30 during his seven-game hitting streak. He has collected multiple hits in 11 of his last 20 contests heading into Thursday's tilt versus Trevor Bauer, against whom he is 6-for-22 with three homers.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Jose Berrios (7-2, 3.27 ERA) vs. Indians RH Trevor Bauer (4-5, 3.76)
Berrios walked away with a no-decision on Friday after allowing three runs on as many hits with eight strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings at Tampa Bay. The 25-year-old improved to 4-2 with a 4.00 ERA in eight career starts versus Cleveland after scattering two hits and fanning 10 in 7 2/3 frames of a 2-0 win on March 28. Carlos Santana is 4-for-11 with a homer and three RBIs versus Berrios, although the hurler has gotten the better of Jason Kipnis (2-for-14, five strikeouts) and held both Roberto Perez (0-for-8) and Jake Bauers (0-for-5) hitless.
Bauer fell to 0-4 in his last six starts on Friday after yielding six runs - two earned - and nine hits in seven innings of a 6-1 setback the Chicago White Sox. The 28-year-old settled for a no-decision despite a sterling performance against Minnesota on March 30, allowing just one run and one hit while registering nine strikeouts. Nelson Cruz (7-for-14, homer) and Eddie Rosario (12-for-39, two homers, nine RBIs) have fared well against Bauer, who sports a 6-7 record and 4.27 ERA in 20 career appearances (19 starts) versus the Twins.
WALK-OFFS
1. Minnesota CF Byron Buxton is 5-for-17 with four extra-base hits (three doubles, homer) against Cleveland this season.
2. Perez has belted solo homers in each of the first two games of this series, including a go-ahead blast in the seventh inning on Wednesday.
3. Rosario is just 2-for-19 against Cleveland this year.