Know Thine Enemy: Let's Go Tribe
Magic Number: 4
Theoretically, this is a classic end-of-season series; you've got your team that's counting the days until season's end so that they can go home against the team that's more or less wrapped everything up and is trying to get ready for the postseason. Everybody's just hoping to stay healthy and rest up for October.
This theory, frankly, would hold more water if the Twins hadn't just dropped a series, at home, to Oakland. Single-digit magic numbers and possible best records in baseball aside, it'd be nice for Minnesota to build some confidence for the postseason.
Probable Pitchers
You might remember Gomez from the beginning of August, when he held the Twins to a run on four hits over five and a third. The righty was 3-1 with a 1.84 ERA through his first five major-league starts. Since then, he's 0-3 with a 7.64 ERA, and he didn't get out of the fourth inning last time out against the Angels. He's struggling, then. But he's a semi-unknown pitcher for Cleveland, which means he'll probably shut the Twins down hard.
SHHH! Don't look! Somehow Brian Duensing is dominant again, and I think if we actually stare too hard at how he's doing it, we'll see the wizard behind the curtain and then it won't work any more. If you go to tonight's game, or have the TV on, please do us all a favor and watch only out of the corner of your eye. Don't let on that you know what's going on. Whistle, in a carefree manner. Converse with your loved ones in loud tones. Don't make eye contact. It's for the best.
Lineups
Denard Span returns for the Twins, who are missing Joe Mauer. Jose Morales does the catching, and Jason Kubel - who could return tomorrow - sits in favor of Jason Repko.