Minnesota @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 24, 2011 ) Minnesota 2, Cleveland 8

THE STORY: The season can't get over quickly enough for the Minnesota Twins, who are four defeats away from their first 100-loss season since 1982. Minnesota, which has lost 16 of its last 18 games, has already clinched its first last-place finish since 2000. The Twins and Cleveland Indians play a day-night doubleheader Saturday at Progressive Field. The Indians won Friday night's game 6-5 on Carlos Santana's pinch-hit home run to lead off the ninth. Cleveland has taken nine of 15 in the season series.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS (Minnesota), STO (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins LH Scott Diamond (1-5, 4.81 ERA) vs. Indians RH Mitch Talbot (2-6, 6.63 ERA).

Diamond will be making his seventh start of the season. His only win came against the White Sox when he allowed three runs in six innings. Diamond has lost his last three starts. He kept the Twins in the game in the first two outings, but gave up five runs and 10 hits against the Yankees on Monday. Diamond lost to the Indians in his first major league start on July 18 at Target Field.

Talbot pitched himself out of the rotation with a series of poor starts in June and July. He'll be looking for his first win since May 31. Talbot hasn't started for the Indians since July 8. He was placed on the disabled list and then sent to Triple-A Columbus. Talbot will be making his first start this season against the Twins. He's 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two career starts versus Minnesota.

ABOUT THE TWINS (60-96): The Twins have had to deal with various maladies, including broken legs, sore shoulders, elbow injuries and oblique strains. Their season, however, can best be summed up by the minor fender-bender that Danny Valencia and Denard Span were involved in Thursday. Span's car rear-ended Valencia's vehicle in bumper-to-bumper traffic while they were driving to the airport following Minnesota's home win over Seattle. Both were held out of the lineup Friday.

ABOUT THE INDIANS (78-78): Jim Thome certainly knows how to celebrate a night held in his honor. He had three hits, including a two-run homer, and drove in three runs Friday on Jim Thome Night. Thome has hit 337 of his 604 career homers in a Cleveland uniform. If he decides to play next season, it's doubtful it will be with the Indians, who have Travis Hafner signed for $13 million to be their DH in 2012.

FINAL PITCH: Indians manager Manny Acta said Justin Masterson won't pitch again this season. Masterson has struggled in September and has already pitched a career-high 216 innings.