Pitching Prospects: Guardian: Shane Bieber (1-2, 4.41 ERA, 1.22 whips, 29 strikeouts); Twins: Devin Smeltzer (0-0)
fanduel sportsbook Line: Twin-164, Guardian +141; over/under is 8 runs
Bottom line: The Minnesota Twins hold a 1-0 advantage in the latest game of the series against the Cleveland Guardians.
Minnesota has a 19–14 record overall and a 12–7 record in home games. The Twins hitters have a collective .391 slugging percentage to finish fifth in the AL.
Cleveland leads 7-5 in home games and 15-16 on aggregate. The Guardian is seventh in the AL with a total of 30 home runs, an average of one per game.
The teams will meet on Saturday for the second time this season.
Top Performer: Jorge Polanco has eight doubles, four home runs and 20 RBI while hitting .241 for the twins. Gilberto Celestino is 9-for-21 with three doubles in the last 10 games.
Owen Miller has 10 doubles and three home runs for the Guardians. Josh Naylor is 11 for 27 in the last 10 matches with two doubles and three home runs.
Last 10 games: Twins: 5-5, .258 batting average, 4.40 ERA, 13 runs outscore
Guardians: 6-4, .262 batting average, 5.14 ERA, beat opponents by three runs
Injuries: Twins: Chris Paddack: 60-day IL (elbow), Danny Coulombe: 15-day IL (left hip), John Romero: 60-day IL (biceps), Carlos Correa: 10-day IL (finger), Trevor Larnach: 10-day IL (groin), Dylan Bundy: 10-day IL (Covid-19), Kyle Garlick: 10-day IL (calf), Miguel Sano: 10-day IL (knee), Bailey Ober: 10- DE IL (groin), Jorge Alcala: 60-day IL (elbow), Randy Dobnak: 60-day IL (finger), Kenta Maeda: 60-day IL (elbow)
Guardian: Josh Naylor: 10-Day IL (Covid-19), James Karinchak: 10-Day IL (Shoulder), Carlos Vargas: 60-Day IL (undeclared), Cody Morris: 60-Day IL (Shoulder)
