Pregame

As Cmathewson and Adamonfirst pointed out earlier, Francisco Liriano and Randy Ruiz have been promoted to the Minnesota Twins.  Losing their roster spots are Craig Monroe and Livan Hernandez.  Monroe, as an outfielder, is being replaced by Ruiz, who...well...he doesn't really play defense.  This leaves an outfield position open for Michael Cuddyer upon his return.  Who gets cut when that happens?  Boof Bonser or Mike Lamb would be the leading candidates.

Taking the hill for Cleveland will be Jeremy Sowers, who cut down the Twins in his last start five days ago--eight innings, two runs.  That, however, was an exception to his rule.  He can give up home runs in pairs and is fairly liberal in dishing out walks...although really, he just allows a lot of base runners period.  If the Twins work their counts and can manage some patience, they'll have a couple of opportunities to put up a crooked number.

For the Twins it's Nick Blackburn, who was just as effective against the Indians...also five days ago.  He went seven innings and allowed a solitary run.  While Blackburn doesn't strike out a lot of guys, he'll manage three to five, and if the Indians are lucky he'll walk somebody.  With Nick, you need to earn your way on, and for some reason people can't quite grasp that's been easier said than done this year.

In the lineup tonight at designated hitter is Ruiz, fresh off his callup.  Otherwise it's business as usual versus a left-handed starting pitcher, with Brendan Harris getting the start at third base and no sign of Jason Kubel.  That Cleveland lineup, on the other hand, looks pretty sparse.