Cleveland @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 8, 2011 ) Minnesota 3, Cleveland 2

THE STORY: If the Minnesota Twins hope to make a real push over the last few months, doing some damage this week is a must. The Twins, who owned the worst record in the major leagues through much of the first two months, have coming storming back in the American League Central and now sit just five games behind the Cleveland Indians and the Detroit Tigers. The Indians have paced the Central for much of the season but are now just barely hanging on. Minnesota will be looking to put a big dent in their deficit when they open a four-game series against the Indians with a day-night double header at Target Field on Monday.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, STO, FSNO.

GAME 1 PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Scott Baker (7-5, 3.01 ERA) vs. Indians LH David Huff (2010: 2-11, 6.21 ERA)

Baker was held out of his last start before the All-Star break due to a right elbow strain. He has not started since July 5 against Tampa Bay, when the righthander was pulled after allowing three hits in five innings. Baker had been going strong prior to the setback, allowing one or no earned runs in four of his last five turns. The 29-year old won at Cleveland on June 6 and owns an 8-7 career record with a 3.76 ERA in 20 starts against the Indians.

Huff made 38 starts in the majors Cleveland between 2009 and 2010, posting a 13-19 record with a 5.84 ERA. He was banished back to the minors last August and failed to make the rotation out of spring training. The 26-year old Huff has been solid at Class AAA Columbus in 2011, going 8-3 with a 3.86 ERA in 17 games. He has been knocked around by Minnesota in seven career starts, putting up a 2-5 mark with a 6.57 ERA.

ABOUT THE TWINS (44-49): One of the hottest teams in the majors for the better part of the last seven weeks, Minnesota opened up the second half by taking three of four from the Kansas City Royals. The series was significant in that it highlighted the re-emergence of Joe Mauer, who had four RBIs and lifted his batting average to .260 - its highest point of the season. The Twins also made a switch at closer during the series, pushing Joe Nathan back into the role and being rewarded with saves both Saturday and Sunday from the veteran righthander. Jim Thome hit his 596th homer run on Sunday, blasting a slider 490 feet for the longest home run in Target Field history. Minnesota plays four games apiece against Cleveland and Detroit this week - all at home.

ABOUT THE INDIANS (49-44): After dropping three straight heading into the All-Star break, Cleveland came out and split a four-game set at Baltimore, allowing one of the worst hitting teams in the league to average just under six runs per game. Indians pitchers have allowed four runs or more in each of the last eight games and 10 of the last 12. Adding injury to insult, Grady Sizemore had to be removed in the first inning of Sunday’s 8-3 loss after suffering a right knee contusion - the same type of injury that sent him to the disabled list in May.

FINAL PITCH: Twins manager Ron Gardenhire and Japanese infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka made a friendly wager on Sunday’s FIFA Women’s World Cup final, with the loser having to wear a T-shirt of the winner’s choosing. Japan won the final on penalty kicks.