Minnesota @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 22, 2013 ) Minnesota 7, Cleveland 8

The Cleveland Indians have taken advantage of their home games the last two months, winning 22 of their last 30 and four straight at Progressive Field. The Indians will try to improve on those numbers as they go for the three-game sweep against the visiting Minnesota Twins on Sunday. Cleveland, which embarks on an 11-game road trip Monday, could get clean-up hitter Nick Swisher (sore left shoulder) back to team with red-hot Jason Kipnis and Michael Bourn at the top of a deep lineup.

The Twins have shown to be a plucky bunch, coming back and making it difficult on the Indians before succumbing 8-7 on Saturday. Minnesota has belted 14 homers in the last seven games and is averaging 5.4 runs the last seven contests. Joe Mauer is 9-for-23 with a pair of homers over the last five games for the Twins, who are 1-4 against Cleveland in 2013.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports North (Minnesota), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Mike Pelfrey (3-6, 6.11 ERA) vs. Indians RH Carlos Carrasco (0-2, 8.40)

Pelfrey’s best start of the season was against the Indians, when he yielded one run on four hits over six innings on May 5 in a 4-2 victory. The right-hander has given his team a chance to win, allowing 13 runs over 24 2/3 innings the last four outings, but has not won since facing Cleveland for the first time. Mark Reynolds is 3-for-13 with three RBIs all time against Pelfrey.

Carrasco delivered his best performance in two years when he held Kansas City to one run over 7 1/3 innings last Monday despite getting a decision. The 26-year-old missed all of 2012 following Tommy John surgery after going 8-9 with a 4.62 ERA in 2011. Justin Morneau has a double and two RBIs in three at-bats against Carrasco, who is 1-1 with a 1.82 ERA in four career starts vs. Minnesota.

WALK-OFFS

1. Twins OF Trevor Plouffe is 10-for-27 with seven RBIs in his last seven games since returning from the disabled list.

2. The Indians have scored 151 runs and recorded 144 RBIs with two outs, both tops in the American League.

3. Minnesota LHP Caleb Thielbar has not allowed a run in his first 13 2/3 innings in the majors, striking out 12.

PREDICTION: Indians 8, Twins 4