Minnesota @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 14, 2019 ) Minnesota 9, Cleveland 5

The Minnesota Twins took a big step toward winning the American League Central title Saturday and can put the hammer down Sunday afternoon when they go for a three-game sweep of the host Cleveland Indians. The Twins used five pitchers for a shutout in the opener of a doubleheader Saturday and rallied from three runs down in the nightcap for a 9-5 victory to extend their lead to 5 1/2 games over the Indians in the division.

Miguel Sano had the big blow with a grand slam in the eighth inning of the second game and Jorge Polanco had a two-run homer in a 2-0 victory Saturday afternoon before going 3-for-5, including his 100th career double, with three runs scored in the nightcap for Minnesota. The Twins decided to move Jose Berrios back a day and open Sunday's game with reliever Randy Dobnak while the Indians counter with Shane Bieber, who is 3-0 in seven appearances (six starts) against Minnesota in his brief career. The Indians received another quality start from Mike Clevinger in the first game but left nine on base and went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position before coughing up a 5-2 lead through five innings of the nightcap to fall 2 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay for the AL’s second wild card. Rookie Oscar Mercado had five hits, including a two-run homer, in the doubleheader for Cleveland and is 10-for-27 during a six-game hitting streak.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), STO (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Randy Dobnak (0-1, 2.25 ERA) vs. Indians RH Shane Bieber (14-7, 3.17)

Dobnak makes his third start as an "opener" after giving up one run on a home run in one frame of relief against Washington on Sept. 11. The 24-year-old Pennsylvania native is 0-1 while allowing two runs on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts in a starting role. Yasiel Puig is 2-for-2 versus Dobnak, who has permitted two runs on nine hits across six total innings with four strikeouts in two appearances against Cleveland this year.

Bieber has won both of his starts this month after holding the Los Angeles Angels to one run and five hits with eight strikeouts over seven innings Tuesday. The 24-year-old California native boasts 241 strikeouts to go along with just 38 walks across 195 2/3 innings this season but has served up 27 homers - four versus Minnesota. Eddie Rosario is 4-for-14 with a pair of homers against Bieber, who is 2-0 with a 3.22 ERA in four appearances (three starts) versus the Twins in 2019.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Twins need one homer from Rosario or two from Sano to become the first team to have four players with 30 in a season since the 2009 Philadelphia Phillies.

2. Santana needs one homer and one RBI to top his career highs in 2016 when he finished with 34 blasts and knocked in 87 runs.

3. The teams have each won nine games in the season series and the Twins can win it Sunday for the first time since 2015.

PREDICTION: Indians 4, Twins 2