Minnesota @ Cleveland preview
Progressive Field
Last Meeting ( Apr 22, 2010 ) Cleveland 8, Minnesota 1
If the Minnesota Twins lose one series a month, the American League Central won't be much of a race.
The Twins lost two of three in Detroit this week for their first series loss of the season. While no one expects Minnesota to maintain that pace, the Twins have been the most consistent team in the division as April heads into May.
Minnesota stays in division play with a three-game series against Cleveland starting tonight at Progressive Field.
The Twins hope first baseman Justin Morneau is back in the lineup. He left Tuesday's game when his back stiffened up and didn't play in the final two games of the series. The team has said the stiffness isn't related to the back injury that sidelined Morneau for the final three weeks and the playoffs in 2009.
Nick Blackburn, tonight's scheduled starter, left the team to deal with a family matter and will be replaced by Kevin Slowey, who was scheduled to start Saturday.
Slowey dominated the Indians on April 20 at Target Field. The right-hander held Cleveland to one run and five hits while striking out nine and walking none in eight innings. Slowey, who threw 98 pitches, was never challenged.
As effective as he was against the Indians, Slowey struggled in his last start against Kansas City. He lasted only 5 1-3 innings, giving up four runs, eight hits and three walks.
Indians starter Fausto Carmona has been one of the team’s few bright spots. After two lost seasons in which he went a combined 13-19 and was sent all the way back to rookie ball in 2009, the big right-hander finally looks like the pitcher who was so dominant in 2007.
Carmona has pitched at least six innings in each of his four starts and is coming off his best outing of the season Saturday against Oakland. He allowed one run and seven hits in 7 1-3 innings.
The best news is he didn't walk a batter for the first time all season. Carmona is doing a better job of controlling his sinker, which is his money pitch and the key reason he went 19-7 three years ago.
Cleveland's offense is at the bottom of the league in several categories. The Indians are 13th in runs scored and 12th in batting average.
Three key players have struggled all season. Grady Sizemore, who was plagued by injuries in 2009, is batting .192 with no homers and eight RBIs. Travis Hafner is hitting .190 with two homers and six RBIs and Jhonny Peralta is also batting .190 with one homer and six RBIs.