The Indians begin a three-game series against the Twins tonight at Progressive Field.
View full sizeTwins catcher Joe Mauer is batting .325 this season.When: Tonight through Sunday.
Where: Progressive Field.
TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio all games, WKYC Channel 3 on Sunday; WTAM AM/1100.
Series: Twins lead, 7-5. Indians lead, 359-337, overall.
Pitching matchups: RHP Fausto Carmona (11-14, 4.05) vs. RHP Carl Pavano (16-10, 3.52) tonight at 7:05; RHP Carlos Carrasco (0-0, 3.38) vs. RHP Nick Blackburn (9-9, 5.85) Saturday at 7:05 p.m.; RHP Mitch Talbot (9-11, 4.40) vs. RHP Kevin Slowey (11-6, 4.39) Sunday at 1:05 p.m.
Indians update: Indians had off-day Thursday after losing at the Angels, 4-3, in 16 innings. . . . Carmona has lost six consecutive starts. He is coming off complete game at Seattle in which he gave up one run on four hits, walked five and struck out six. . . . Carmona is 0-2 with 7.43 ERA against Twins this season; 1B Matt LaPorta is 13-for-35 with two homers in 10 games. . . . Closer Chris Perez has a 0.65 ERA in 27 games since June 28. . . . Columbus Blue Jackets winger Jared Boll and defenseman Mike Commodore will sign autographs in concourse before tonight's game.
Twins update: Twins had off-day Thursday after three-game sweep of Royals at home. They have won six straight and eight of nine. . . . DH Jim Thome has homered in three straight games -- first player age 40 or older to do so since Barry Bonds in 2006. Thome did not play Wednesday because of a mild abdominal strain. . . . Thome is 6-for-19 with three homers against Cleveland this season; Slowey is 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA. . . . C Joe Mauer, three-time AL batting champion, is hitting .325 with eight homers and 70 RBI. He hit .344 in July and .380 in August.
Injuries: Indians -- RHP Anthony Reyes (elbow) is on disabled list. OF Grady Sizemore (left knee) and C Carlos Santana (left knee) are out for season. Twins -- 1B Justin Morneau (concussion), LHP Ron Mahay (shoulder), INF Nick Punto (left hamstring) and LHP Jose Mijares (right knee) are on DL. RHP Joe Nathan (elbow) and RHP Clay Condrey (elbow) are out for season. DH Thome (abdomen), LHP Brian Fuentes (back) and INF Danny Valencia (hamstring) are day-to-day.
Next for Indians: Homestand concludes with three-game series against Angels beginning Tuesday.
-- Dennis Manoloff