Cleveland @ Minnesota preview
Target Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 20, 2010 ) Cleveland 4, Minnesota 3
The Cleveland Indians still reside in the basement of the American League Central, but suddenly they're the tough guys of the division.
The Indians take their season-high six-game winning streak into the finale of a three-game series today against the Twins.
Cleveland, which is 6-0 since the All-Star break, swept four games at home from Detroit and took the first two games from Minnesota at Target Field. The Tigers and Twins are trying to keep pace with first-place Chicago, but the Indians aren't making it easy.
The Indians have played well in all facets of the game during the streak and have outscored its opponents 35-15. Cleveland has scored 5.8 runs a game and is batting .307. The starting pitchers have a 2.25 ERA and the relievers are even better with a 1.35 mark. Cleveland has committed only two errors.
The Indians haven't won seven straight since September 2008.
Jake Westbrook, who starts today’s game, has been the subject of trade rumors. The 32-year-old right-hander would be attractive to a contender that needs to plug a hole at the back of its rotation.
Westbrook, who missed most of the last two seasons with an elbow injury, hasn't been spectacular. He has only one complete game in 20 starts, but his consistency would help a team that's playing for something down the stretch. Westbrook has pitched at least six innings in 11 starts and has allowed four earned runs or less 13 times.
Westbrook won his first start after the break, allowing two runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings against Detroit.
Making his first start against Minnesota this season, Westbrook likely will pitch around Jim Thome, the Twins' designated hitter. Thome is batting .385 (10-for-26) with three homers and 10 RBIs lifetime against Westbrook.
It's unlikely the Twins will be able to win the division unless Francisco Liriano can start pitching better. He beat the White Sox in his first start after the break, but that was his first win since June 11. Liriano was 4-0 after beating the Indians on May 2 but has three wins since, a span of 13 starts.
Liriano has won both starts against Cleveland this season. He threw eight shutouts innings at Target Field on April 21 and then held the Indians to three runs in seven innings in Cleveland.
Not only are the Twins playing without first baseman Justin Morneau (concussion), closer Jon Rauch was unavailable Tuesday with a swollen right ankle. Rauch was hit by Trevor Crowe's ground ball in the ninth inning Monday.
The Twins have been plagued by inconsistency for the last two months, a trend that has continued since the break. After losing to the White Sox on Thursday, Minnesota won three in a row only to lose its last two.
Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, playing for the first time since breaking his left forearm on May 17, was 0-for-5 on Tuesday night.