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Twins face Indians in finale of four-game series

Aug 6, 2007 - 1:16 PM Cleveland (62-49) at Minnesota (57-53) 8:10 pm EDT

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Twins hope to draw closer in the American League Central Division on Monday when they face the Cleveland Indians in the finale of a four-game series.

Minnesota has won two of the first three contests in this series to pull within 4 1/2 games of first-place Cleveland. Less than two weeks ago, the Twins were 9 1/2 games.

The Twins have won six of their last eight games.

Carlos Silva (9-11, 4.61 ERA) takes the mound for the Twins. The righthander has won three of his last four starts, working into the sixth inning in each contest.

Silva was not involved in the decision against the Indians on April 23 after allowing three runs and seven hits in five innings. He is 4-4 with a 5.11 ERA lifetime against them.

While the Twins are surging, the Indians have dropped 10 of their last 15 games.

The Indians counter with Paul Byrd (9-4, 4.43), who is 2-0 in his last four starts. The righthander is riding the unbeaten streak despite allowing four runs in three of those contests.

Byrd has had little trouble handling the Twins in his 14 lifetime starts, going 8-3 with a 3.94 ERA against them.