Twins Send Out Ace
Francisco Liriano has pitched well since being demoted to the minors earlier in the season.
The Minnesota Twins hope their young star can continue his run of success while trying to help them avoid a third straight loss when they continue their road series with the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night.
Oddsmakers from SBG Global have made Minnesota -165 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for tonight’s game, the over/under has been set at 8.5 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 85% of bets for this game have been placed on Minnesota -165 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
Minnesota (82-68) received solid pitching in Monday’s series opener, but struggled at the plate during a 3-1 loss to Cleveland. Despite the result, the Twins remained 1 1/2 games back of AL Central leader Chicago, which lost to the New York Yankees on Monday.
"We are very frustrated right now," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We know where we are and what we have to do."
The Twins play eight of their final 12 games against division opponents – including three versus the White Sox next week. Minnesota is 39-25 versus the Central, including 10-6 against Cleveland.
Francisco Liriano (5-3, 3.19 ERA) is 5-0 with a 1.57 ERA in eight games since being recalled Aug. 1 from a three-month stint in the minors after losing his first three starts with Cleveland. He began his run of success by allowing three hits in six scoreless innings of a 6-2 win over the Indians on Aug. 3.
The left-hander, who went 12-3 in 2006 before missing 2007 due to elbow surgery, is 2-2 with a 3.43 ERA in four starts versus Cleveland, and 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA in two starts versus the Indians this season.
In his most recent outing, Liriano had his slider working and allowed two runs and six hits while striking out six in eight innings of a 3-2, 10-inning loss to Kansas City on Thursday. It was his longest start since July 28, 2006.
"The beginning of the season, I was a little scared to throw it," Liriano told the Twins’ Web site of the pitch. "Now, I just feel really comfortable throwing it. I’m not thinking about getting hurt or anything like that."
Joe Mauer homered and Delmon Young had three hits Monday, but Minnesota has scored four runs in its last two contests after recording 24 in its two previous games – both wins – versus Baltimore.
Mauer has three homers and six RBIs against Cleveland this season, while Young is 5-for-7 in his last two starts against the Indians.
Kelly Shoppach and Shin-Soo Choo each homered Monday for the Indians (73-77), who snapped a three-game losing streak. Shoppach is hitting .381 (16-for-42) with four homers and 11 RBIs against Minnesota this season.
Grady Sizemore had two hits and is 11-for-21 since snapping an 0-for-25 streak.
Zach Jackson (0-3, 5.63), who came over from Milwaukee in the trade involving CC Sabathia, tries to avoid a fourth straight loss for Cleveland. Jackson makes his seventh start after allowing four earned runs and eight hits in six innings of a 6-3 loss to Baltimore on Thursday.
"He battled. He does that. He battles," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "A few pitches out and over, but he still gave us a chance to win."
In his only previous appearance versus the Twins, the left-hander allowed seven earned runs in five innings of an 8-0 loss at Minnesota on July 2, 2006. Jackson ironically also faced Liriano in that game, and the Twins starter struck out 12 in eight innings.
Did you like this article? Subscribe to our Baseball news feed for the fastest updates delivered right to you – Click here to Subscribe