Minnesota @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( May 5, 2013 ) Minnesota 4, Cleveland 2

The Cleveland Indians have turned things around and pulled above .500 with wins in six of their last eight games. The Minnesota Twins, who visit the Indians for the start of a three-game series on Friday, are playing better as well and are hoping to mount their own charge toward the .500 mark. The Twins scored 22 runs in a three-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox this week but will be going against a strong Cleveland staff.

The Indians have allowed three runs or fewer in seven of the last eight games to spark their surge. Minnesota will try to overcome that pitching with a power display. The Twins homered four times in Thursday’s 8-4 victory over the White Sox and got Justin Morneau back into the groove with a home run on Wednesday. Prior to that shot, Morneau had gone without a blast since April 28.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports North (Minnesota), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Samuel Deduno (3-1, 3.26 ERA) vs. Indians LH Scott Kazmir (3-4, 5.89)

Deduno had a rough first start on May 24 but has gone 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA in his last four turns. The Dominican right-hander has not surrendered a home run since that first outing and has generated an average of 12.3 groundouts in the last four starts. Deduno faced Cleveland three times last season and went 2-0 with a 3.50 ERA.

Kazmir has been the exception to the otherwise strong pitching on the Indians of late. The veteran left-hander was knocked around for five runs - including three homers - in 2 2/3 innings during his last turn and has surrendered at least four earned runs in five of his last seven starts. Kazmir made a strong start against Minnesota on May 4, yielding two runs while striking out seven in six innings to earn the win.

WALK-OFFS

1. Indians RHP Chris Perez (right shoulder strain) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Friday.

2. Minnesota 2B Brian Dozier has homered in three of the last four games.

3. Cleveland 1B Nick Swisher (sore left shoulder) has missed four straight games and remains day-to-day.

PREDICTION: Twins 7, Indians 4