Indians at Twins
The Cleveland Indians are beginning to pull away in the American League Central and look to give themselves even more cushion on one of the top challengers when they visit the Minnesota Twins on Thursday to open a four-game set. The Indians (29-25) have won five straight contests, combining for 43 runs in the process, after rolling past the Chicago White Sox 9-1 on Wednesday.
Cleveland’s Michael Brantley looks to extend his hitting streak to a major league season-high 20 games after recording a single and scoring twice Wednesday while Edwin Encarnacion is 11-for-24 during a six-game hitting streak with three homers and eight RBIs in that stretch. Shane Bieber makes his major league debut for the Indians on his 23rd birthday after tossing a rain-shortened, seven-inning no-hitter in his last minor league start and will face fellow right-hander Jake Odorizzi in the series opener. The Twins open an 11-game homestand after losing five of six on a road trip, capped by an 11-8 loss at Kansas City on Wednesday night in which they allowed nine runs in the first two innings. Left fielder Eddie Rosario recorded two hits in the latest loss and has led the way for Minnesota (22-29) in May with a .366 batting average, 11 doubles, six homers, 19 runs and 20 RBIs - including 10-for-23 during a current five-game hitting streak.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, STO (Cleveland), FS North (Minnesota)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Shane Bieber (NR) vs. Twins RH Jake Odorizzi (3-2, 3.34 ERA)
Bieber has shined in the minor leagues this season and is making a quick rise through the organization after getting selected in the fourth round of the 2016 draft. The UC Santa Barbara product is 5-1 with a 1.10 ERA in 10 starts combined at Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus in 2018. Bieber, who boasts 61 strikeouts over 65 1/3 innings this year, is 15-6 with a 2.60 ERA in parts of three seasons in the minors.
Odorizzi recorded his third straight no-decision last time out at Seattle while allowing three runs on seven hits (two homers) over 5 1/3 innings with three strikeouts. The 28-year-old Illinois native gave up one run on nine hits with 17 strikeouts in his previous two outings spanning 11 2/3 innings. Brantley is 4-for-12 with a homer versus Odorizzi, who is 1-2 with a 4.63 ERA in five career games against the Indians
WALK-OFFS
1. Minnesota INF Eduardo Escobar had a pair of hits and an RBI on Wednesday after going 2-for-29 in the previous seven games.
2. Cleveland 1B Yonder Alonso is 13-for-28 with two homers and nine RBI during his seven-game hitting streak.
3. The teams split a pair of games in Puerto Rico to start the season series and the Indians won 12 of 19 in 2017.