CLEVELAND — It's Father's Day, so both teams will be wearing blue caps and swing blue bats during today's game. That simple gesture is surprisingly meaningful to many of the Twins.
"Around here, we make sure we acknowledge [Father's Day] with everybody that has that blessing and privilege of being a dad," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "For me, I lost my dad awhile back, but I just think back to how fortunate I was to have someone who gave me the opportunity and ability and encouragement that I needed along the way."
The Twins would like to celebrate by completing a sweep of the Indians, too, and leave town having cut Cleveland's AL Central six-game lead over them in half. After beating Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco, they face someone far less experienced today in rookie Shane Bieber, whose only other MLB start came against them in Target Field. The Twins scored four runs off Bieber, but lost the game, 9-8.
"These games, the swing games in the division, are important," Molitor said. "Hopefully we make some adjustments to the things we did against [Bieber] last time."
Joe Mauer is in the lineup for the third straight game, having reached base three times on Saturday. The Twins are a relaxed bunch these days, with several players in the clubhouse intent upon watching the World Cup matches. Eduardo Escobar even bought a Brazil jersey with his number, 5, on it.
Here are the lineups for today's road-trip finale:
TWINS
Mauer 1B
