Cleveland Indians: Previewing the series against the Minnesota Twins

Division play continues for the Cleveland Indians as they take on the stumbling Minnesota Twins for their last meeting in the 2018 season.

At the start of the season, it felt like the Cleveland Indians would be in the midst of a tight division race with the Minnesota Twins. The Twins; as we all know, made it to the wildcard game last year after the Indians edged them out for the division title. So the fact that these teams would have their final meeting in August seemed absurd considering they’d be racing for the AL Central title.

Oh how time changes things. While the Twins still sit in second place in the division, the race is anything but close. They’re 13 games behind the Tribe and all but out of the AL playoff race, while the Indians appear to have a cakewalk path to a third straight AL Central title.

It’s not like the Twins didn’t have their chances. The Indians struggled mightily in the first half giving the Twins the prime opportunity to jump Cleveland. The Indians even had a losing record against Minnesota but the Twins couldn’t jump on the Indians struggles. So they sold at the deadline and look to be a shell of the team that made the playoffs last year.

Now in this final meeting, the Indians will look to put away the Twins once and for all. Not for lack of trying; however, as the Twins have played very well at Progressive Field this year.

Projected Lineups

Minnesota Twins (61-69) vs. Cleveland Indians (74-56)

Minnesota Twins: DH Joe Mauer, 2B Logan Forsythe, SS Jorge Polanco, 3B Miguel Sano, CF Max Kepler, 1B Tyler Austin, RF Jake Cave, C Mitch Garver, LF Robbie Grossman

Cleveland Indians: SS Francisco LIndor, LF Michael Brantley, 3B Jose Ramirez, DH Edwin Encarnacion, 1B Yonder Alonso, RF Melky Cabrera, 2B Jason Kipnis, C Yan Gomes, CF Greg Allen

He’s not listed in the projected lineups, but expect to see Eddie Rosario appear in this series. He has incredible numbers against the Indians as always, with a .348 batting average and eight homers against the Tribe. Thankfully for the Indians, fellow Cleveland killer Eduardo Escobar now resides in the National League with the Diamondbacks.

MISSING: THE TOP THIRD OF THE INDIANS BATTING ORDER. IF FOUND PLEASE RETURN TO THE CORNER OF CARNEGIE AND ONTARIO IN DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND. Seriously, I know I’m beating a dead horse here (see my previous articles) but if you see how bad Ramirez, Brantley, and Lindor’s  numbers have been in the last week you might vomit.