Minnesota @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 7, 2018 ) Minnesota 3, Cleveland 2

The Minnesota Twins look to keep their slim hopes alive in the American League Central when they visit the first-place Cleveland Indians on Wednesday night for the third of a four-game set. Mitch Garver’s three-run homer in the second inning held up Tuesday as the Twins earned a 3-2 victory while improving to 8-6 against the Indians this season and 24-20 in the division.

Eddie Rosario had four hits in the triumph and is 21-for-59 with six homers and 11 RBIs against Cleveland in 2018 for Minnesota, which trails the Indians by nine games in the AL Central. Jake Odorizzi will try to shake off a rough stretch when he takes the mound for the Twins on Wednesday and fellow right-hander Mike Clevinger hopes to do the same for the Indians when he toes the rubber. Cleveland had won five of six before falling Tuesday as it went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left eight on base - including one in the bottom of the ninth inning. All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor boasts three straight multi-hit games for the Indians and has hit safely in five in a row (8-for-20) after registering his 28th homer along with a single Tuesday.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), STO (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Jake Odorizzi (4-7, 4.60 ERA) vs. Indians RH Mike Clevinger (7-7, 3.48)

Odorizzi is winless in his last four starts and stands 1-5 since May 8 after allowing two runs and four hits over 3 1/3 innings Friday versus Kansas City. The 28-year-old Illinois native, who owns 120 strikeouts across 115 1/3 innings, has not completed more than six frames in a game this season. Lindor is 5-for-11 with two homers versus Odorizzi, who is 0-2 with a 9.88 ERA in three starts against the Indians in 2018.

Clevinger looks to snap a four-game losing streak, despite posting quality starts in two of his last three outings. The 27-year-old Florida native, who boasts 139 strikeouts over 139 2/3 innings, limited the Los Angeles Angels to three runs on five hits over six frames with six strikeouts last Friday. Joe Mauer is 5-for-11 with a double against Clevinger, who is 1-2 with a 4.23 ERA in eight appearances (five starts) versus the Twins.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cleveland LF Michael Brantley is batting .343 at home this year after recording a pair of hits in Tuesday’s setback.

2. Minnesota manager Paul Molitor needs one victory to pass Frank Quilici (280) for fifth on the club’s all-time list.

3. Indians C Yan Gomes (hamstring) returned after a three-game absence Tuesday and extended his hitting streak to six contests.

PREDICTION: Twins 6, Indians 5