The Minnesota Twins are closing the gap on the Cleveland Guardians for the top spot in the American League Central.
On Saturday, the Twins hope to pull within a half-game of first place.
Minnesota is coming off a doubleheader sweep against Cleveland on Friday in the first two matchups of a four-game weekend series. The Twins won the opener 4-2 and took the second game 6-3 to pull within 1 1/2 games of the division lead.
Louie Varland, who started the nightcap for the Twins, said jokingly that he would keep his teammates in mind during the holiday season after they bailed him out Friday night.
“Come Thanksgiving, I’m going to tell everybody I’m thankful for Matt Wallner and Cole Sands,” Varland said.
Wallner hit a three-run homer to lead the Twins, and Sands earned the win in relief. Varland, meanwhile, was done after allowing three runs in 4 2/3 innings.
The Guardians hope to be the ones telling jokes after Saturday. Cleveland is looking to snap a season-worst, seven-game losing streak.
Gavin Williams (1-4, 4.91 ERA) is set to make his eighth start of the season for the Guardians. He is hoping to bounce back after a rough outing in which he allowed six runs on eight hits in four innings during a loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday.
Williams is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in two career starts against the Twins, with both outings occurring last year.
Minnesota will counter with right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson (3-2, 3.87 ERA), who is set to make his 20th start of the season. He is looking for his first victory since June 26 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Woods Richardson is coming off a no-decision against the Chicago White Sox on Sunday, when he gave up three runs on six hits in four innings.
He has faced the Guardians once, on May 17, when he permitted one run in 5 1/3 innings during a no-decision.
The Twins are aiming for their third win in a row despite the absence of pitchers Joe Ryan and Brock Stewart, both of whom were placed on the injured list Friday. Ryan has a right teres major strain that might end his season. Stewart is set to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery next week.
Meanwhile, Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase hopes to continue to inch closer toward the franchise’s all-time save record. Clase has 143 saves for Cleveland, six shy of Cody Allen’s career record.
“I’m very happy we’re close to that milestone,” Clase said. “But the focus remains the same. To keep working to try to get there.
“I don’t like to talk about it much. The reality is the most important part is my health and being healthy. That’s what I care about. When it comes, it comes. The focus is being healthy to pitch.”
Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez had a five-game hitting streak end in the opener of the doubleheader, but he bounced back to go 2-for-4 in the nightcap.
Minnesota’s Ryan Jeffers boosted his team-leading homer total to 17 with a long ball in the first game on Friday.
The Twins are 34-21 at home this season. The Guardians are 32-29 on the road.
–Field Level Media