Cardinals at Twins
The Minnesota Twins will try to complete a season sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals when they host the finale of a two-game interleague set Wednesday. The Twins have held the Cardinals to a total of two runs while winning the first three meetings.
Minnesota has won eight of its last 11 after a 4-1 victory Tuesday, pulling within a half-game of American League Central leader Cleveland. The Twins snapped out of a brief offensive funk in the series opener after scoring only one run in each of their previous two games - both losses. The Cardinals have totaled five runs during a three-game skid and managed only two hits in Tuesday’s series opener. They’ll try to get the offense going against former St. Louis right-hander Lance Lynn, who has struggled through the worst start of his career in his first season with the Twins.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Midwest (St. Louis), FS North (Minnesota)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Miles Mikolas (5-0, 2.51 ERA) vs. Twins RH Lance Lynn (1-3, 7.34)
After spending the past three seasons in Japan, Mikolas is proving he can be an effective big-league starter. The 29-year-old allowed one run over 6 2/3 innings of a win at San Diego last time out for his fifth consecutive quality start. Mikolas has compiled 35 strikeouts and only three walks in 46 2/3 innings.
Lynn has shown better control over his last two starts, walking only two batters after issuing 23 free passes over his first five outings. The 31-year-old has only one quality start among his seven outings, though, and gave up four runs over 4 2/3 frames in a no-decision against the Los Angeles Angels last time out. Lynn has allowed six runs in 10 innings across two home starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cardinals INF Matt Carpenter was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts Tuesday and is batting .140 - the lowest mark among qualified hitters in the majors.
2. Twins 1B Joe Mauer is 7-for-24 during a six-game hitting streak.
3. Minnesota OF Eddie Rosario is batting .337 with 10 doubles, seven homers, and 18 RBIs in his last 21 games against National League opponents.