Indians at Twins (Game 2)
The Minnesota Twins are lagging six games behind first-place Cleveland in the American League Central, primarily due to their inability to beat the Indians on their home field. Winless in eight games against Cleveland at Target Field, Minnesota - which is one game behind the Los Angeles Angels in the wild-card race - looks to put an end to that drought when the teams return from a rainout to play a doubleheader on Thursday.
The Indians put on another impressive display of domination in the series opener, clubbing five home runs in an 8-1 victory to extending their winning streak to five games. Carlos Santana went deep twice on Tuesday to tie the mark for the most homers by a visiting player at Target Field with 14, while Edwin Encarnacion added his fifth blast in as many contests. The Twins, who lost for only the second time in nine games, have been outscored 56-16 by the Indians at home but have won five of six in Cleveland this season. Jose Berrios looks to rebound from a pair of rough starts when he opposes Ryan Merritt in the nightcap.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), FSN North (Minnesota)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians LH Ryan Merritt (0-0, 3.60 ERA) vs. Twins RH Jose Berrios (10-5, 4.27)
Merritt will be recalled as the 26th man for the doubleheader and get the nod for the second game in place of previously scheduled starter Mike Clevinger, who be available out of the bullpen. The 25-year-old Merritt is no stranger to stepping into a spot start, as he allowed three runs and seven hits in four innings of a no-decision at Minnesota on June 17 in an earlier twinbill between the division rivals. Merritt owns a 3.60 ERA in two career encounters with the Twins.
Berrios has surrendered five runs in the first inning in each of his last two starts but has a 1-0 record to show for it. The 23-year-old was tagged for six runs on as many hits in 3 1/3 frames at Detroit on Saturday before walking away with a no-decision. Berrios pitched significantly better in his lone encounter versus Cleveland this season, yielding one run and two hits in 7 2/3 innings of a 4-1 triumph on May 13.
WALK-OFFS
1. Indians SS Francisco Lindor, who is 9-for-18 against Gibson, has hit safely in eight straight games overall.
2. Twins 3B Miguel Sano had his seven-game hitting streak snapped Tuesday, but he's struck out 17 times in his last seven contests.
3. Encarnacion is three homers shy of reaching 30 for the sixth year in a row.