Game 117: Cleveland at Twins

First Pitch: 6:10 pm CDT

TV: FSN

Radio: TIBN

It’s all tied up.

For the first time in a decade, the Twins are locked up in a first-place race in the dog days of summer. And for the first time in 132 days, the Twins are tied for first in a division that they dominated for the first half of the season.

A loss tonight would extend the Twins’ longest losing streak of the year to five games, but more importantly, it would relinquish control of the AL Central to Cleveland, who’s been on an inspiring tear over the last few weeks to reclaim their spot in the contention conversation.

Attempting to prevent that from happening is Jake Odorizzi, who’s hoping to re-summon the stuff that sent him to Progressive Field as an All-Star just last month. The Cleveland offense, while improved since we first saw them this March, is still vulnerable, still bottom-half in most offensive categories. If Odorizzi can show up, the Bomba Squad can outslug Terry Francona’s lineup.

That Squad will be facing Adam Plutko this evening. Plutko has been up and down with the big club since 2016, most recently earning another call-up after Trevor Bauer made his way to Cincinnati. He got the win his last time out in an unexceptional start against the Angels.

GO TWINS GO!