Twins at Brewers
The Minnesota Twins on Monday found themselves in second place for the first time since April 20 but regained the top spot in the American League Central one day later and look to stay there when they visit the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday afternoon for the finale of their two-game interleague series. Marwin Gonzalez belted a go-ahead, three-run homer in the eighth inning as the Twins posted a 7-5 win on Tuesday to move one-half game ahead of Cleveland in the division.
Gonzalez is 9-for-23 with a pair of homers and six RBIs during his six-game hitting streak while Eddie Rosario recorded two hits and scored twice on Tuesday but remained one home run shy of 100 for his career. Kyle Gibson looks to rebound from a rough outing last time out when he takes the mound for Minnesota while the Brewers counter with Gio Gonzalez in the finale of their five-game homestand,during which they are 2-2. Milwaukee is 2 ½ games out in the National League Central and 1 ½ back in the wild-card race after losing for just the second time in seven contests on Tuesday. MVP candidate Christian Yelich returned to the lineup for the Brewers after missing five straight games with back stiffness and went 1-for-5 as he remains one homer shy of becoming the seventh player in team history to launch 40 in a single season.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, YouTube
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Kyle Gibson (11-5, 4.24 ERA) vs. Brewers LH Gio Gonzalez (2-1, 3.20)
Gibson saw his nine-game unbeaten streak come to an end on Thursday, when he permitted six runs - five earned - on four hits and six walks over 4 1/3 innings against Cleveland. The 31-year-old native of Indiana went 4-0 with a 3.74 ERA in his previous nine appearances, including one out of the bullpen. Mike Moustakas is 11-for-35 with three doubles and a homer versus Gibson, who is 1-2 with a 5.70 ERA in five career games against Milwaukee.
Gonzalez is winless in his last six starts and has not received a decision in his last five outings after giving up one run and two hits over five innings against Texas on Friday. The 33-year-old Floridian has completed six innings just once this year and is 0-1 with a 2.91 ERA in four turns at home in 2019. Jason Castro is 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles against Gonzalez, who gave up four runs over 4 2/3 innings in a no-decision at Minnesota on May 27.
WALK-OFFS
1. Brewers LF Ryan Braun has gone 14-for-38 with a homer and five RBIs while hitting safely in 11 straight starts.
2. Minnesota 3B Miguel Sano, who recorded a single on Tuesday, has hit safely in 24 straight starts in interleague games.
3. Milwaukee C Yasmani Grandal reached the 20-homer plateau for the fourth straight season on Tuesday with his first blast since July 6.