Cleveland at Minnesota - Apr 19^th 2017 8:10 PM ^ET Preview

The Cleveland Indians made it to extra innings in the seventh game of the World Series last season but might be even better in 2017, if only because shortstop Francisco Lindor keeps improving. Lindor will try to lead the Indians to a series win when they visit the Minnesota Twins for the third of a four-game set on Wednesday.

Lindor extended his hitting streak to 12 straight games and recorded his first triple of the season while helping Cleveland to an 11-4 drubbing in the second game of the series on Tuesday. The 23-year-old is starting to get more support from former MVP candidate Michael Brantley, who is 8-for-21 with seven runs scored in the last five games. The Twins have lost three in a row and are 1-4 midway through a 10-game homestand. Minnesota will lean on a rookie starter to snap them out of the funk on Wednesday, when they send Adalberto Mejia to the mound to oppose Cleveland's Trevor Bauer.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, ESPN, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Trevor Bauer (0-2, 8.44 ERA) vs. Twins LH Adalberto Mejia (0-1, 4.05)

Bauer has yet to complete six innings and is coming off his worst effort of the young season after surrendering six runs on eight hits and two walks in five innings against Detroit on Friday. The UCLA product yielded three home runs over 10 2/3 innings in those first two outings. Bauer struggled against Minnesota in the last three seasons, posting a 1-5 mark with a 5.32 ERA in 11 starts.

Mejia lasted just 1 2/3 innings in his first start but turned in a better effort on Friday, when he limited the Chicago White Sox to one run and four hits over five innings without factoring in the decision. The 23-year-old rookie issued a total of five walks in 6 2/3 innings. Mejia is making his first career appearance against the Indians.

WALK-OFFS

1. Twins CF Byron Buxton went 0-for-4 on Tuesday to drop his batting average to .085.

2. Cleveland 2B Jose Ramirez is 14-for-24 with 10 RBIs in the last six games.

3. Minnesota 3B Miguel Sano recorded nine strikeouts in his last four games.