The next "Series of the Year" is upon us as the Twins and Indians open a four-game set at Target Field (7:10 p.m., FSN).
We all know what has happened. The Twins once were 11.5 games ahead but Cleveland has gone 39-16 over its past 55 games to climb back into the race. And now the teams are separated by a scant two games.
So this weekend should be full of spills, chills and thrills as the AL Central foes hook up. The challenge for the Twins tonight is to get off to a good start against Indians righthander Mike Clevinger, who enters the game on a roll.
Clevinger has a 1.69 ERA over his last six starts, with 49 strikeouts in 37 innings. He has helped make up for the absences of Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco and has fueled the Indians run of white hot baseball.
The Twins are still building histories against Clevinger. Eddie Rosario is 4-for-12 with a home run against him. Jorge Polanco is 1-for-10 against him. I don't think the sample size is large enough to declare an advantage.
However, the Indians have large case files against Kyle Gibson.
Francisco Lindor is batting .361 against Gibson. Jason Kipnis is batting .412 against him with a home run and 12 walks. Jose Ramirez? .344. Gibson has his work cut out for him as he tries to prove he can step up in a big spot. The Twins need to strike first in this series, so Gibson needs to be on point tonight.
Indians lineup
Francisco Lindor, SS
Oscar Mercado, CF
Carlos Santana, 1B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Jose Ramirez, 3B
Jason Kipnis, 2B
Franmil Reyes, DH
Roberto Perez, C
Tyler Naquin, LF
Twins lineup
Max Kepler, CF
Jorge Polanco, SS
Nelson Cruz, DH
Eddie Rosario, LF
Miguel Sano, 3B
Luis Arraez, 2B
Marwin Gonzalez, RF
Jason Castro, C
Ehire Adrianza, 1B
Kyle Gibson, RHP
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La Velle E. Neal III has covered baseball for the Star Tribune since 1998 (the post-Knoblauch era). Born and raised in Chicago, he grew up following the White Sox and hating the Cubs. He attended both the University of Illinois and Illinois-Chicago and began his baseball writing career at the Kansas City Star. He can be heard occasionally on KFAN radio, lending his great baseball mind to Paul Allen and other hosts.
Phil Miller covered three seasons of Twins baseball, but that was at a different ballpark for a different newspaper. Now Miller returns to the baseball beat after joining the Star Tribune as the Gopher football writer in 2010, and he won't miss the dingy dome for a minute. In addition to the Twins and Gophers, Miller covered the Utah Jazz and the NBA for six years at The Salt Lake Tribune.
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