Series preview: Cleveland Indians at Minnesota Twins

After the third off day in eight days, the schedule picks up again. This road trip entails just one stop, in Minnesota, to take on the rival Twins. Here's hoping that Target Field is hospitable to the road team.

• Tuesday's game is at 8:10 PM (Bauer vs. Gibson)
• Wednesday's game is at 8:10 PM (House vs. Nolasco)
• Thursday's game is at 1:10 PM (Kluber vs. Hughes)

After Thursday's game, the Tribe head home to take on the Astros for the first time this season. After a day off on Monday, they head back on the road to finish out August with visits to the White Sox and Royals.

Division Watch: Royals at Rockies, Tigers at Rays, Mariners at Phillies, Astros at Yankees.

Team in a Box

The Tribe last saw the Twins in mid-July, where they lost two of three in Minnesota. The Twins lost three of four in Kansas City, then won a series in Chicago. They split a two gamer with the Padres at home and then lost three of four in Oakland and took two of three from Houston. They just finished losing three of four to the Royals.

The Twins have been in sell mode since last the Indians met them. They dealt Kendrys Morales back to the Mariners for Stephen Pryor. Then they sent Sam Fuld back to the A's for Tommy Milone. Kevin Correia was sent to the Dodgers for a PTBNL/cash and just last week, they unloaded Josh Willingham to the Royals for Jason Adam. They also parted ways with Matt Guerrier and claimed Jordan Schafer off waivers from the Braves.

Projected Roster

#includes stats with Braves

The offense has been in transition with all the wheeling and dealing general manager Terry Ryan has been up to. Suzuki is having a fine season, good enough in fact that he got an extension. Mauer is finally back off the DL, and just hit his fourth homer of the year. Dozier has been their main source of power this year. Both Santana and Vargas have shown promise in their first taste of MLB ball.

In the ten games so far with the Indians this year, Santana has a 1200 OPS. Arcia only played in one series, but hit 1155 OPS. Mauer as well only had one series, with a 1115 OPS. Dozier and Chris Colabello, who is in AAA, are the only two to have more than one home run. Traditional pain in the neck Plouffe has only had a 481 OPS in ten games, so he is due.

Projected Staff

#includes stats with A's

The opener features Gibson, who has had a decent 2014 season. He has been very hot and cold recently. He has a 4.09 ERA in his past five starts, 1.151 WHIP and 5.7 K/9. He has pitched well in both of his starts against the Indians. He only gave up one run in the April series and shut out them for seven innings in his May start. Nolasco just made his first start after spending a month on the DL. He gave up five runs in six innings to the Royals. He got a win in that April series although he did not pitch well and took a loss in the May series although he had a quality start with nine strikeouts. Hughes has been on a roll lately. He has a 2.45 ERA in last five starts, with a 1.090 WHIP and 9.5 K/9. The Tribe has yet to face him in 2014, but he has a career 2.61 ERA, 1.032 WHIP and 7.5 K/9 in five starts. Sadly we won't get to face May, who has 13 walks in his nine brief innings.

Burton and Duensing have combined for eleven shutout innings, allowing just four hits and striking out eight in eleven total appearances of the ten games played so far. Thielbar has alos been very effective with just one run in six innings. Swarzak is the only reliever the Tribe has had success with in 2014, six runs in 6.2 innings.

On the Shelf

• SP Mike Pelfrey [60 day DL], possible September return

Almanac

*Does not include 2014 stats

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