Here we are in Cleveland, one of the few towns where you can walk past a casino on the way to watching the local MLB team play. Yup, Horseshoe Casino is bustling. Yuck. I guess Baltimore has a casino near it's football stadium. Yuck.

On to Twins baseball...yuck.

The Twins were out for early work today. Workers around Progressive Field were stopped to watch Kennys Vargas take batting practice as I entered the ballpark early this afternoon. The Twins offense has scored a major-league high 198 runs since Aug. 1 but is 13-23 during the run. The pitching staff has been pulverized.

The Twins hope the day off gave their tired arms enough rest to bounce back this week against the Indians, who are clinging to wild card hopes.

No Danny Santana in the lineup today. We'll get an update on his return sometime today. Too bad, because Santana is batting .394 against the Indians this season.

Twins (61-82)

Jordan Schafer, LC
Brian Dozier, 2B
Joe Mauer, 1B
Kennys Vargas, DH
Trevor Plouffe, 3B
Oswaldo Arcia, RF
Kurt Suzuki, C
Eduardo Escobar, SS
Aaron Hicks, CF

Trevor May, RHP


Indians (74-68

Michael Bourn, CF
Jose Ramirez, SS
Michael Brantley, LF
Carlos Santana, 1B
Jason Kipnis, 2B
Lonnie Chisenhall, 3B
Yan Gomez, C
David Murphy, RF
Zach Walters, DH

Trevor Bauer, RNP


Here we are in Cleveland, one of the few towns where you can walk past a casino on the way to watching the local MLB team play. Yup, Horseshoe Casino is bustling. Yuck. I guess Baltimore has a casino near it's football stadium. Yuck.

On to Twins baseball...yuck.

The Twins were out for early work today. Workers around Progressive Field were stopped to watch Kennys Vargas take batting practice as I entered the ballparm early this afternoon. The Twins offense has scored a major-league high 198 runs since Aug. 1 but is 13-23 during the run. The pitching staff has been pulverized.

The Twins hope the day off gave their tired arms enough rest to bounce back this week aganst the Indians, who are clinging to wild card hopes.

No Danny Santana in the lineup today. We'll get an update on his sore lower back - and an idea on a possible return - sometime today. Too bad, because Santana is batting .394 against the Indians this season.

Twins (61-82)

Jordan Schafer, LC
Brian Dozier, 2B
Joe Mauer, 1B
Kennys Vargas, DH
Trevor Plouffe, 3B
Oswaldo Arcia, RF
Kurt Suzuki, C
Eduardo Escobar, SS
Aaron Hicks, CF

Trevor May, RHP


Indians (74-68

Michael Bourn, CF
Jose Ramirez, SS
Michael Brantley, LF
Carlos Santana, 1B
Jason Kipnis, 2B
Lonnie Chisenhall, 3B
Yan Gomez, C
David Murphy, RF
Zach Walters, DH

Trevor Bauer, RNP