Twins at Marlins
The homer-happy Minnesota Twins only belted one in their series-opening victory over Miami, but a strong pitching performance rendered the Marlins hitless over the final five innings. The Twins aim to eclipse last season's home run total on Wednesday as they bid for a series victory in Miami.
Byron Buxton belted a solo shot in the third inning of Tuesday's 2-1 triumph, allowing Minnesota to match last season's total (206) and inch closer to both the club record (225 in 1963) and major league mark (267 in 2018, New York Yankees). The 25-year-old is 7-for-17 with five extra-base hits (four doubles, homer) since returning from the injured list (concussion-like symptoms) for the American League Central-leading Twins, who have won four of five to move three games ahead of Cleveland. Miami held its opponent to two runs or fewer for the fifth time in its last seven contests on Tuesday, but the club finished with just four hits to fall to 5-2 in that stretch. Curtis Granderson had an RBI double in the fourth inning to highlight his two-hit performance, matching his sum total over his last 19 at-bats.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), FS Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Jose Berrios (9-5, 2.94 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Sandy Alcantara (4-9, 4.18)
Berrios posted his first win since June 6 on Thursday after allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits over seven innings in a 10-3 romp at the Chicago White Sox. The 25-year-old aims to reach double-digit victories for the third straight season on Wednesday when he faces Miami for the first time in his career. Starlin Castro is 2-for-4 versus Berrios, who has limited the rest of the Marlins to batting 2-for-27 against him with 10 strikeouts.
Alcantara owns an 0-3 mark in his last five starts after receiving a no-decision on Friday following two-run ball over five innings against Arizona. The 23-year-old Dominican kept the ball in the park versus the Diamondbacks after surrendering seven homers in his previous four outings. Alcantara will look to improve upon his 2-6 mark at home when he encounters Minnesota for the first time in his career.
WALK-OFFS
1. Minnesota RF Max Kepler has five homers, 12 RBIs and nine runs scored in his last 10 games.
2. Miami RF Brian Anderson went 0-for-3 in the series opener after hitting safely in his previous six contests.
3. Twins 3B Miguel Sano, who had an RBI double on Tuesday, has five extra-base hits (four homers, double) in his last seven games.