Series Preview: Cleveland Indians to host Twins with first place on the line

Monday Aug. 24, 7:10 p.m. EST

Probable Starters: Kenta Maeda (3-0, 2.27 ERA) vs. Aaron Civale (3-2, 2.91 ERA) 

Aaron Civale is off to a terrific start to 2020 and is coming off his first career complete game in which he allowed just one earned run in a victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. In each of his five starts this season, Civale has been able to go at least six innings.

Civale faced Minnesota during their first encounter and tossed six innings, allowed three earned runs and struck out nine.

For the Twins, they’ll look to get Civale out of his rhythm and do so by taking aim for home runs. The Twins rank eighth in baseball with 39 HRs in 2020.

Offensively, the Indians must improve in their second time seeing Kenta Maeda this season.

Maeda, who is in his first year with the Twins, Maeda, dominated Cleveland in his first matchup, pitching six innings in which he allowed just one hit and struck out six Indians.

Maeda will enter the series opener coming off a dominant start against the Brewers in which he tossed eight innings, allowed one run, on one hit and struck out 12 as he took a no-hitter into the ninth inning.

Both pitchers are off to a scorching start to 2020, outpacing just about every analytical measurement from their career performances. Therefore, to say this has all the makings of a pitchers duel is an understatement. Both pitchers can be susceptible to the long ball, however, so the game may come down to which team can leave the yard first.