Indians at Twins
The Cleveland Indians look to ride the momentum from a dominating day on the mound when they visit the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night for the opener of a four-game showdown series in the American League Central. The Indians allowed one run while getting a pair of homers from Jose Ramirez during a doubleheader sweep of Texas on Wednesday to move within two games of the Twins for the top spot in the division.
“We’ve done a good job of controlling what we can control, that’s kind of the best way to go about it,” Cleveland manager Terry Francona told the Plain Dealer after his club improved to a major league-best 39-16 since June 4 with a 5-1 victory in Game 2 on Wednesday. “We’ve played a lot of baseball lately and guys will be excited for (Thursday). It will be a fun series to play.” Mike Clevinger was held back Wednesday to pitch the series opener for the Indians and the Twins hope to get some length from fellow right-hander Kyle Gibson after giving up 23 runs over the last two games against Atlanta. Minnesota won the first four contests of a six-game homestand before being pounded by the Braves, but took two of three at Cleveland right after the All-Star break and was 2-1 against the Indians at home in the season-opening series. Eddie Rosario is 13-for-34 with a pair of homers and eight RBIs during his eight-game hitting streak for the Twins and teammate Miguel Sano is 4-for-8 with two blasts and six RBIs in the past three contests.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), FS North (Minnesota)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Mike Clevinger (6-2, 3.07 ERA) vs. Twins RH Kyle Gibson (11-4, 4.02)
Clevinger has pitched like an ace since the All-Star break, going 4-0 with a 2.01 ERA in five starts, after limiting the Los Angeles Angels to one run over 6 1/3 innings of a 7-3 win Friday. The 28-year-old Floridian has strung together four straight quality starts and permitted one or fewer runs in seven of his 10 outings this year. Ehire Adrianza is 3-for-6 with a double and a homer against Clevinger, who pitched five innings of one-run ball in a no-decision versus Minnesota on July 12.
Gibson is unbeaten in his last nine appearances (one in relief) after holding Kansas City to three runs (two earned) on four hits over 6 2/3 innings of an 11-3 win Saturday. The 31-year-old Indiana native has 124 strikeouts and 35 walks across 123 innings this year and owns quality starts in three of his last four outings. Jason Kipnis (14-for-34, home run) and Francisco Lindor (13-for-36) have had success versus Gibson, who is 3-9 with a 5.34 ERA in 19 career games against the Indians.
WALK-OFFS
1. Minnesota OF Max Kepler has belted five homers and knocked in eight runs in nine games against the Indians this year.
2. Kipnis is 11-for-27 with three homers, four doubles and 10 RBIs during his current seven-game hitting streak.
3. The Twins have recorded an extra-base hit in 68 consecutive games after posting four Wednesday, including Sano’s 20th homer.