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Apr 19, 2010 - 4:45 PM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Cleveland (6-6) at Minnesota (9-4), 8:10 p.m. EDT

Joe Mauer is off to a strong start, and he dominated the Cleveland Indians' pitching last season. The reigning AL MVP, however, might not be as hot as the Indians' Shin-Soo Choo.

The No. 3 hitters will be in the spotlight Tuesday night when Mauer and the Minnesota Twins welcome Choo and Cleveland to Target Field for the first time in the opener of a three-game set.

Mauer's career-best 2009 season included plenty of damage against Cleveland (6-6). He batted .536 - his highest average against any AL opponent - with 10 RBIs over 15 games, extending his hitting streak against the Indians to 18.

The catcher has five hits in his last two games this season to raise his average to .378. He's a career .334 hitter in March and April after missing the first month last season due to kidney surgery.

Mauer, though, isn't quite on the roll that Choo is currently enjoying. Choo was 2 for 18 with nine strikeouts in his first five games before hitting .545 with four homers and 12 RBIs since.

"Choo is more patient at the plate," manager Manny Acta said. "When he's like that he's a one-man wreck(ing) crew. He was too anxious, trying to do too much."

Choo hit a grand slam and drove in five runs Sunday in a 7-4 win over the White Sox. He has 10 RBIs in his last four games.

"I like to help the team," he told the Indians' official website. "Four-game winning streak. That's what I want."

The right fielder batted .167 with 27 strikeouts in 60 at-bats from 2006-08 against the Twins before hitting .295 against them last season.

Choo is 4 for 15 with five strikeouts against Kevin Slowey (1-1, 3.48 ERA), who will make his second consecutive start at Target Field. Slowey gave up three runs over five innings Wednesday in a 6-3 loss to Boston.

The right-hander has failed to get through the sixth inning in his last four outings. Slowey went 2-0 with a 1.84 ERA in two starts against the Indians last year.

Minnesota (9-4) will try to take advantage of any wildness from Cleveland starter Justin Masterson (0-1, 2.45), who had trouble with his control last year against the Twins. Masterson posted a 6.75 ERA in losing two starts, walking 10 over 9 1-3 innings.

Mauer has three hits in five at-bats against Masterson, who allowed four runs, struck out nine and did not issue a walk last Wednesday in a 6-2 loss to Texas.

Cleveland has won four straight heading into this road trip that includes series against Oakland and the Angels.

"We finished off a very good homestand," Acta said. "We needed that because we're going to face three tough teams on the road."

The Twins have won their first two series at Target Field, although they missed a chance at a weekend sweep of Kansas City with a 10-5 loss Sunday. Minnesota had not allowed more than six runs all season.

"Pretty disappointing as far as all-around play today," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "I guess you will have one of those every once in a while, you don't like to see it, though."

The Twins went 10-8 against the Indians in 2009.