Indians vs. Twins
The Cleveland Indians took a liking to historic Hiram Bithorn Stadium in Puerto Rico on Tuesday with a win over the Minnesota Twins and they'll try to make it a two-game sweep when the teams meet again in San Juan on Wednesday night. Jose Ramirez and Michael Brantley had three hits apiece and slugged two of the Indians' four home runs in the series-opening 6-1 triumph.
One of the other blasts came off the bat of Puerto Rico native Francisco Lindor, who has broken out of a slump with eight hits in 19 at-bats over a four-game stretch. "These people need to cheer," Lindor told reporters in a nod to the catastrophic Hurricane Maria that hit the island last September. The fans will have another chance to cheer their local favorites Wednesday with Jose Berrios, who was born in nearby Bayamon, getting the start for Minnesota. Mayaguez native Roberto Perez is set to catch Cleveland starter Carlos Carrasco.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ESPN
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Carlos Carrasco (3-0, 3.48 ERA) vs. Twins RH Jose Berrios (2-1, 2.18)
After tying for the major league lead with 18 wins last season, Carrasco has picked up right where he left off with victories in each of his first three starts. He notched his ninth career complete game his last time out while allowing a run and three hits in a 5-1 win over the Detroit Tigers. Joe Mauer is 12-for-27 with a home run and four doubles against the 31-year-old Carrasco, who is 5-6 with a 3.83 ERA in his career versus the Twins.
Two starts after posting his first career shutout, Berrios spun seven scoreless innings while striking out 11 in a win over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday. He has 24 strikeouts against one walk and is holding opponents to a .164 batting average through his first three outings. The 23-year-old has a 5.31 ERA in four career matchups with Cleveland.
WALK-OFFS
1. Twins DH Logan Morrison went 0-for-3 on Tuesday and is 3-for-37 on the season.
2. Brantley is 7-for-13 over his last three games after going 2-for-13 in his first four contests to begin the year.
3. Cleveland LHP Andrew Miller and RHP Cody Allen, the back end of the Indians' bullpen, have combined for 14 1/3 scoreless innings this year.