Cleveland:
The Twins have lost 6 straight to Cleveland going back to last year. They always seem to be pressing a bit when playing them. Listened to a couple of interviews with Twins players and it is in the backs of their heads that they can't beat this team...a team they feel they have to contend with if they wanna compete in the division.
The big lefty CC Sabathia gets the call for the tribe and so far this year he's been pitching very well. In 3 starts this year, he's 2-1 with an 2.79 ERA. In those 3 starts he has only given up 13 hits in the 19.1 innings worked.
Sabathia pitched well vs the Twins last year. In 4 starts he had a 3.51 ERA, but even more impressive was that in the 25.2 innings pitched vs them he only gave up 19 hits.
Sabathia has not faced the Twins this season yet and this should also give him the advantage.
The Twins who struggled quite a bit vs lefties last year are having the same troubles this year. So far the Twins are batting only .224 as a team vs Lefties.
Kyle Lohse on the other hand has been horrible this year. He's been hit hard in both starts including his start vs the Tribe where they rocked him. In that start Lohse gave up 8 Runs, 5 Hits and 4 Walks in just 3.1 innings.
Lohse's start vs the Tribe was just 8 days ago, so the advatage should be with the Indian hitters again.
Now the BIG ANGLE in this game:
LOHSE THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER CANNOT GET LEFTY HITTERS OUT!!
In his career in the Majors, Lefty batters have hit for a .354 Average along with an On Base Percentage of .430 Unreal.
This is gonna spell big trouble with this Cleveland lineup whick I expect to feast off him today. Check out the probable lefty bats in the lineup for Cleveland today:
Matt Lawton (Left)
Omar Vizquel (Switch)
Jim Thome (Left)
Russel Branyon (Left)
Milton Bradley (Switch)
Also with all the blown games that are happening this year, Cleveland continues to have one of the best if not the best bullpen so far. They are 5-0 in save opportunities and the combined ERA of the Pen is just 2.15
Minnesota's big slugger Ortiz could possibly be out for this game.
