Twins-Cleveland series preview
May 21, 2021 at 2:24AM
All games on BSN and 830-AM
6:10 p.m. Friday: TBA vs. RHP Triston McKenzie (1-2, 5.79)
3:10 p.m. Saturday: RHP Kenta Maeda (2-2, 5.26) vs. RHP Shane Bieber (4-3, 3.17)
12:10 p.m. Sunday: LHP J.A. Happ (2-2, 5.35) vs. LHP Sam Hentges (1-1, 6.46)
Twins update
The Twins lost two of three in Cleveland on April 26-28. … Maeda had his start pushed back because of a groin strain. … Happ gave up six earned runs in 3⅔ innings Monday in a 16-4 loss to the White Sox. … The Twins are 7-13 on the road and 7-10 against the AL Central. … CF Byron Buxton (hip) and P Michael Pineda (abscess) are on the injured list.… OF Alex Kirilloff, on a rehab assignment in St. Paul, could be recalled Friday. … 1B Miguel Sano has five homers in the past six games.
Cleveland update
Bieber, the defending AL Cy Young winner, set an MLB mark this season by striking out at least eight hitters in 18 consecutive games. He leads the majors with 92 K's. … An off-day Thursday while the Twins played two could benefit Cleveland (23-18). It has won 15 of 22. … 3B Jose Ramirez has the most extra base hits in the majors since 2017 (286) and, with 12 homers this season, has the most home runs (29) over the past two seasons as well. … Hentges, a Mounds View grad, will be making his third start. He lasted only 1⅔ innings and gave up six earned runs in a loss to the Angels on Monday. … Progressive Field will be at full capacity by June 2.
Chris Miller
about the writer
The eight Twins headed for arbitration are Royce Lewis, Joe Ryan, Jhoan Duran, Bailey Ober, Ryan Jeffers, Willi Castro, Griffin Jax and Trevor Larnach.
