Series preview: Twins at Cleveland

RHP Trevor May (1-4, 9.38) vs. RHP Trevor Bauer (5-7, 4.10)

RHP Kyle Gibson (11-10, 4.27) vs. LHP T.J. House (2-3, 3.71)

RHP Ricky Nolasco (5-10, 5.87) vs. RHP Corey Kluber (14-9, 2.47)

They have lost four straight games, 12 of their last 15, and 32 of 49 since the All-Star break. Yet they have not lost more than five in a row since June, and have no losing streaks longer than that. … They are 31-40 on the road and have lost five of their last seven. … They are 3-3 at Cleveland this season, and 6-6 against the Indians overall. They already have equaled last year's number of wins against the Indians (6-13). … They are 29-31 against the AL Central, and 16 of their remaining 19 games are against the division. … DH Kennys Vargas has a hit in 30 of his 36 career games, including eight of the past nine. … Kyle Gibson owns a 3.12 ERA in three starts against Cleveland this year, while Ricky Nolasco's ERA is 6.48, also in three starts.

Their three-game winning streak was broken by the Angels in a makeup game Monday afternoon, but they are 10-5 since Aug. 23. ... They entered Monday five games out of first place in the AL Central, and 3½ games behind Seattle for the second wild-card playoff spot. … They are 43-29 at home but only 4-4 on this homestand. They have had a losing record against the Twins at Progressive Field only four times in the past 20 seasons. … Their pitching staff posted a 2.39 ERA in August, best in the majors. … Cody Allen has 19 saves in 22 chances. … C.C. Lee has allowed only one of his 24 inherited baserunners to score. … CF Michael Bourn leads the AL in triples with 10. … Carlos Santana has been walked 100 times, more than any AL hitter.

PHIL MILLER