Series Preview: Cleveland Indians (50-48) vs. Minnesota Twins (44-53)

Pitching Match ups

Monday

T.J. House (1-2, 4.40 ERA, 3.29 SIERA) vs. Kris Johnson (0-1, 5.40 ERA, 4.71 SIERA)

Jul 10, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians starting pitcher T.J. House (58) delivers in the first inning against the New York Yankees at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Hopefully House can ride the minor league start he had last Wednesday, five innings of shutout ball, into a strong start on Monday when he gets recalled. I’ve liked what I’ve seen from House – he pitches under duress a lot because he’s a rook still figuring it out, but he’s shown guts if nothing else. Say what you will, sometimes that and a dash of talent is all you need. That being said, teams still have an .838 OPS against him – he gets hit because he needs to rely on contact and the defense is stinky behind him. A 3.57 ERA his last four starts is nice to see. They’ll lean on the bullpen, but this is probably the worst offense he’ll face this year, and in a nice pitcher’s park too.

Johnson having to start games for the Twins is a microcosm of their greater problem. He’s not much of a pitcher having spent nine years in the minors with a 4.12 ERA and thus far this season it hasn’t been much prettier. Four innings of five run ball his last time out in Colorado was his second start of the season and much worse than his first – 4.1 innings with six K’s and five walks but no runs against the Dodgers. He’s a sinker ball pitcher staying in the low 90’s, usingoffspeed and sliders to get K’s. Pretty generic pitcher, really. He does like that defense of his though.

Tuesday

Danny Salazar (1-4, 5.53 ERA, 3.58 SIERA) vs. TBA

It’s good to see Salazar back in the Majors. His stuff translates like no other and if he’s harnessed it this could be the move that makes the Indians’ season. He was wild as hell when he started in the rotation back in April, finding either too much or not enough of the plate and getting bombed. He was reportedly refining his mechanics in the minors so that might explain the 4.02 ERA and all the walks, but he was getting the K’s too. Did it work? Let’s find out.

I have no idea who might start this game. The Twins have a four man rotation so it’s likely just some rando from the minors that will probably shut the Tribe down for six innings before the bullpen takes it over. Ricky Nolasco is hurt, so is Brad Pelfrey, and both Hughes and Correia just pitched. Starter by committee is the likely culprit. Maybe Sam Deduno will get it – he has eight starts this year. Last time he did he lasted 2.2 innings with seven earned runs. That would be nice to see.

Jul 13, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Trevor Bauer (47) reacts in the sixth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Wednesday

Trevor Bauer (4-4, 3.89 ERA,3.83 SIERA) vs. Kyle Gibson (8-8, 4.19 ERA, 4.34) 

Bauer’s last start wasn’t as good as its previous, but three runs to the best offense in the league is no small order. He did his job and the offense did its and the Indians won. He should be better against the Twins. July has been good to him too -2.84 ERA in 25.1 innings with 23 K’s and eight walks. He can throw a lot of pitches too, so once he starts to have those quick innings I’d expect some eight and nine innings outings even before the year is over. He has yet to face the Twins as a rebuilt man.

For all their issues in the rotation the Twins have at least found a number three guy in GIbson. No, he doesn’t get a lot of K’s, but his ERA belies some decent peripherals and he takes the ball without fail. Sure, he had TJ surgery a couple of years ago but he’s made all his starts this year and he keeps the walks relatively low, with decent command. For as underwhelming as he’s seemed this season, in the 12 innings against the Tribe this year he’s allowed one run despite seven walks and only four strikeouts. He can dance out of trouble like he’s Fred Astaire, if ol’ Freddy ever got into trouble. He was too suave. It can’t hold up, but that doesn’t mean he’s not one of those guys who just weaves a spell on a certain team.