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Indians-Twins Preview

Jun 4, 2009 - 6:27 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Cleveland (23-32) at Minnesota (26-28), 1:10 p.m. EDT

With some key bats missing from their lineup, the Cleveland Indians need the others to start contributing more.

One of those is Jhonny Peralta, who hopes to keep breaking out of his power slump and help the banged-up Indians take two of three from the Minnesota Twins when their series ends Thursday at the Metrodome.

Before the start of the season, Cleveland (23-32) was expected to contend for the AL Central title, but a slew of injuries has left the Indians last in the division, seven games back of first-place Detroit.

After falling to Minnesota 4-3 in Tuesday's series opener for its fourth loss in five games, Cleveland bounced back with an impressive 10-1 win Wednesday. The Indians, who totaled 15 hits, had averaged 3.0 runs in their previous six.

While five Cleveland players had multihit games Wednesday, Peralta's three-hit performance was probably the most encouraging.

After hitting 23 homers with a .473 slugging percentage last season, Peralta has gotten off to a slow start in 2009. He's slugging just .352 and his three-run homer Wednesday was only his second of the season and first extra-base hit since May 21.

Peralta is going to be counted on to help carry more of the offense after middle infielder Asdrubal Cabrera was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a sprained shoulder that will keep him out four to six weeks.

Cabrera, batting .316 with 13 doubles, 27 RBIs and a team-high 38 runs, was filling the leadoff spot vacated by three-time All-Star Grady Sizemore, who was sent to the disabled list last weekend. Cleveland also has been missing slugger Travis Hafner since April and he's among nine players on the team's DL, tied for most in the majors with Tampa Bay.

"All things considered, it could've been a lot worse," Indians manager Eric Wedge said after learning of Cabrera's injury. "With where we're at, you can't complain about it."

The Twins (26-28) lost for the fourth time in six games Wednesday behind another poor offensive outing. Minnesota has scored 14 runs over its last six games, batting .143 (6 for 42) with runners in scoring position.

Justin Morneau, who had a season-high 11-game hitting streak end Wednesday, looks to bounce back Thursday as he faces the struggling Fausto Carmona (2-5, 6.60 ERA).

After allowing five runs, three hits and five walks in 1 1-3 innings in an 11-10 win over Tampa Bay on May 25, Carmona was tagged for seven runs - four earned - and eight hits with three walks in four innings of Saturday's 10-5 loss to the New York Yankees.

"I need to keep my head up and keep working," Carmona told the Indians' official Web site. "I need to be ready for the next time."

The right-hander, who leads the majors with 38 walks, has given up at least four runs in four straight starts.

Against the Twins on April 24, Carmona allowed five runs and eight hits with seven strikeouts in six innings of a 5-1 loss. In two starts versus Minnesota since the start of last season, he's yielded 14 runs in 8 1-3 innings to lose both.

The Twins counter with Scott Baker (2-6, 6.32), who allowed four runs and seven hits - including two home runs - in 5 2-3 innings of Friday's 5-3 loss to Tampa Bay. The right-hander has given up an AL-worst 14 homers in 52 2-3 innings.

Baker hasn't faced the Indians since last season, when he was 1-1 with a 3.42 ERA in four starts against them.