Twins at Indians
After the Indians snapped Minnesota’s three-game winning streak with a 7-1 rout in the series opener, the Twins rebounded with a 7-4 triumph on Saturday behind home runs from Trevor Plouffe and Joe Mauer. The win was just the second for Minnesota in its last 13 games against Cleveland, who remained a game and a half behind first-place Chicago in the American League Central despite having lost six of their last eight. The last-place Twins are 10 1/2 games back of the division lead.
The Minnesota pitching staff has been arguably the worst in baseball for most of the year, ranking at or near the bottom of the major leagues in nearly every major category. The Twins’ team ERA of 5.25 is nearly three-quarters of a run worse than any other American League club, and their 293 strikeouts are the fewest in baseball. Pitching has also been Cleveland’s bane of late — the Indians have surrendered 62 runs over the last eight games, including 56 in the six defeats during that span.
TV: 3:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports North (Minnesota), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins LH Scott Diamond (3-1, 2.27 ERA) vs. Indians RH Justin Masterson (2-4, 5.14 ERA)
Diamond has performed well since joining a struggling Twins rotation, with the team winning four of his five starts. After opening the year with 14 shutout innings, he has been a bit more mortal over his last three outings, giving up 11 runs (8 earned) on 26 hits in 17 2/3 innings, allowing four home runs. In two career starts against Cleveland, Diamond is 0-1 wit ha 5.40 ERA.
Masterson has turned in six quality starts but has also been shelled on occasions — he has given up six runs or more three times, including his last trip to the mound (6 IP, 9 H, 8 R, 7 ER May 29 vs. Kansas City). The Indians have sputtered along with him recently, losing four of his last five starts. Masterson is 1-4 with a 3.53 ERA in 13 games (10 starts) against the Twins.
WALK-OFFS:
1. Indians OF Johnny Damon went on paternity leave after Saturday’s game and will be replaced on the roster by 1B/OF Matt LaPorta.
2. Twins 3B Danny Valencia is 6-for-13 against Masterson, while reserve C Drew Butera is hitless in 12 at-bats.
3. Minnesota’s victory Saturday was just its 17th in its last 54 away games. The Twins are 32-76 in their last 108 games overall.