Twins at Indians
The Cleveland Indians have pulled within striking distance of first place in the American League Central and look to make up some more ground when they host the division-leading Minnesota Twins for a three-game series beginning Friday. The Indians have won a season-high six consecutive contests and 11 of 14 to move within 5 1/2 games of the Twins as they start a stretch of 11 straight at home.
“We’re enjoying the game,” Cleveland’s All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor, who has hit safely in seven straifght games, told mlb.com. “When you have fun and you play with a smile, good things happen. … It seems like every day it’s someone different putting up runs to help us get the lead.” Mike Clevinger hopes to match his last performance and shake off a season of injury issues when he takes the mound in the series opener for the Indians and the Twins counter with fellow right-hander Kyle Gibson, who is tied for second on the team with eight wins. Minnesota had a double-digit lead in the division a little more than a month ago, but has cooled off since and lost six of its last 10 games before the All-Star break despite taking two of three from Texas last weekend. Miguel Sano is riding a nine-game hitting streak, in which he is 12-for-30 with four homers, going into the series for the Twins while teammate Jonathan Schoop has hit safely in seven straight (10-for-28).
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), STO (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Kyle Gibson (8-4, 4.09 ERA) vs. Indians RH Mike Clevinger (2-2, 4.44)
Gibson threw 26 pitches in a scoreless inning on July 7 in his last outing, giving the veteran some work since there would have been a nine-day stretch between starts. The 31-year-old Indiana native did not get a decision in his last three trips to the mound after going 4-2 in his previous six starts. Jason Kipnis is 14-for-33 with a homer and Carlos Santana has gone deep three times versus Gibson, who is 3-9 with a 5.46 ERA in 18 career games against Cleveland.
Clevinger was outstanding his last time out on July 3 when he held Kansas City to four hits over six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts in a victory. The 28-year-old Florida native, who has missed time to back and ankle injuries this season, did not give up a run in three of his five starts while permitting 12 in 6 1/3 frames in the other two. Ehire Adrianza is 2-for-4 with a homer against Clevinger, who went 1-0 with a 2.29 ERA in three starts versus the Twins last year.
WALK-OFFS
1. Santana has reached base in 29 straight games and hit safely in 11 of his last 12 contests.
2. Minnesota INF-OF Luis Arraez is 10-for-28 during a six-game hitting streak and is batting .412 on the road this year.
3. Cleveland 1B-LF Jake Bauers is 12-for-23 with a homer and seven RBIs over his last six contests.