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Indians-Twins Preview

Sep 22, 2010 - 5:28 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Cleveland (62-88) at Minnesota (90-60), 1:10 p.m. EDT

Now that they've clinched the AL Central title, the Minnesota Twins can focus on the top seed in the AL playoffs. However, they also want to make sure everyone is healthy by the time the postseason starts.

The Twins may start to give their regulars some rest as they attempt to sweep a three-game home series against the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday afternoon, with Joe Mauer already expected to miss a third straight game with a sore left knee.

Minnesota (91-60) became the first team to clinch a playoff spot after a 6-4 win Tuesday, coupled with Chicago's loss to Oakland. It's the club's sixth division title in nine years.

"I think hopefully this will give us an opportunity to think about the postseason and get ourselves mentally and physically ready," said Denard Span, who drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth.

The Twins have won 19 of 24 overall and 11 of 14 at home. Manager Ron Gardenhire, who picked up his 800th career managerial victory Tuesday, must now balance rest for his starters with challenging the New York Yankees for the top seed in the AL. Minnesota is a game behind New York for the league's best record and home-field advantage through the AL Championship series.

Mauer is certain to get a few days off. An MRI on Tuesday revealed no structural damage to the star catcher's sore left knee, but he'll probably need to miss a few more games. He's sat out the first two of this series.

"If they decide to do (the cortisone shot), then it's probably four or five games, which he could use," Gardenhire told the Twins' official website. "That would be good (for him)."

With Mauer out, there has been no shortage of contributors for Minnesota. Jim Thome hit his 589th career home run Tuesday while Danny Valencia had two hits and an RBI, and scored on Span's go-ahead RBI single.

Span is 4 for 10 with three RBIs in two games since returning from a three-game absence due to a sore right shoulder.

The Twins will hand the ball Wednesday to Nick Blackburn (9-10, 5.43 ERA), who is battling for a spot in the four-man postseason rotation.

Blackburn gave up three runs in seven innings of a 3-1 loss to Oakland on Friday. In five starts since being recalled from the minors, he is 2-3 with a 2.09 ERA as the Twins have provided him with more than one run of support in only one of those outings.

"I've been feeling great," Blackburn said. "Mechanics have been fine."

The right-hander is 5-3 with a 2.63 ERA in his career against the Indians. He gave up five hits in eight innings of a 1-0, 12-inning win Sept. 11 in Cleveland.

Rookie Carlos Carrasco (1-0, 2.70) pitched 7 1-3 innings for the Indians (62-89) in that contest, and will oppose Blackburn again Wednesday.

The 23-year-old right-hander earned his first career win Friday, giving up three runs in six innings of an 11-4 victory over Kansas City. All four of his starts this season have been quality outings.

Cleveland has lost three straight overall and five of eight this season at Target Field. Shin-Soo Choo, who leads the team with a .294 batting average, is hitting .111 in five games at Minnesota's new stadium.