Minnesota @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 24, 2013 ) Minnesota 2, Cleveland 7

The Cleveland Indians look to build momentum going into a critical two-city road trip next week when they host the Minnesota Twins on Sunday in the rubber match of a three-game series. The Indians broke out with five extra-base hits in a 7-2 victory over the Twins on Saturday to remain 2 1/2 games behind Oakland for the second American League wild card spot. Carlos Santana has two homers and six RBIs in his last six games for Cleveland, which visits Atlanta and Detroit next week.

The Indians trail first-place Detroit by six games in the AL Central and are 8-6 against the fourth-place Twins this season. Minnesota need a victory to finish its six-game road trip with series wins against the top two teams in the division. Twins rookie slugger Oswaldo Arcia returned to the lineup Saturday after missing four games with a wrist injury. He went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, FSN North (Minnesota), STO (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Mike Pelfrey (5-10, 5.19 ERA) vs. Indians LH Scott Kazmir (7-6, 4.39)

Pelfrey pitched well in his first two career starts against the Indians this season, going 1-0 while allowing three runs over 11 2/3 innings. The veteran right-hander is coming off two quality starts, including a victory over Detroit on Tuesday. Michael Bourn is 3-for-9 with a pair of RBIs against Pelfrey.

Kazmir has struggled in his last two outings, yielding 10 runs and 16 hits in eight innings to suffer a pair of losses. However, the left-hander has gone 2-0 in three starts against the Twins this season while surrendering three earned runs over 19 innings. Trevor Plouffe is 4-for-8 with two doubles versus Kazmir, who is 4-4 in nine career starts against Minnesota with a 3.32 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. Minnesota 1B Justin Morneau needs one home run to tie Tony Oliva (220) for third on the club’s all-time list.

2. Cleveland is 27-16 in games played on Saturday and Sunday in 2013. The Indians finished 17-35 on those days last year.

3. The Twins struck out eight times Saturday, increasing their season total to 1,094. The franchise record is 1,121 in 1997.

PREDICTION: Indians 6, Twins 4