Battle for American League Central Supremacy Starts Friday

Friday night American League Central action highlights the calendar for Major League Baseball when the Minnesota Twins visit the Cleveland Indians. The current line has Cleveland favored at -180, Minnesota on +160 and the over/under run total on 10.

Entering this game, Minnesota on the season is 36-34 overall and 20-9 on the road. The Twins are 4-6 in their last 10 games played. Cleveland is 39-32 overall and 15-17 at home. The Indians are 8-2 in their last 10 games played.

Cleveland has finally started to look like the same team that reached the World Series last season and looks to win its ninth game in its last 10 on Friday. The Indians swept Minnesota in four games last week outscoring the Twins by 20 runs.

Cleveland is coming off a series with Baltimore where the Indians won three of four on the road including a 6-3 win Thursday to end their 8-game road trip with 7 wins.

Cleveland’s current stretch of success has helped the Indians to extend their lead atop the AL Central over Minnesota to 2 ½ games.

On Thursday, Minnesota was routed at home by the Chicago White Sox 9-0. However, the Twins have the second best road record at 20-9 in the majors.

Minnesota will send Adalberto Mejia to the mound on Friday. The Twins southpaw is 1-3 with an ERA of 5.53. Cleveland will counter with Trevor Bauer. The Indians right-hander is 6-5 with an ERA of 5.54.

Mejia has lost two straight starts lasting less than 5 innings in each one. Last Saturday, Mejia lost to the Indians allowing five hits and two runs, including a pair of Indians round trippers.

Bauer this season is 3-0 with an ERA of 3.25 in his three starts versus Minnesota. Last Saturday, Bauer beat the Twins allowing four hits and two runs striking out eight in seven innings of work.

Minnesota infielder Eduardo Escobar has 17 hits in his last 36 at bats during a current hitting streak of nine straight games.

Minnesota is 2-5 in its last 7 games versus opponents from the American League Central.

Cleveland is 5-0 in its last 5 games against opponents from the American League Central.

Prediction: Cleveland is hot and Minnesota is not. Indians will take this one.