Indians @ Twins

Who will WIN this matchup?

Cleveland Indians (4-2)

@ Minnesota Twins (3-1)

Starting Pitchers:

Bieber (CLE): 1-0; 0.00 ERA

Berrios (MIN) 0-0; 11.25 ERA

Current odds:

Cleveland Indians: (+110)

Minnesota Twins: (-120)

• Shane Bieber made quite an impression as the new ace for the Cleveland Indians on Opening Day and looks to match that performance when he takes the mound Thursday night to begin a four-game set with the host Minnesota Twins. Bieber struck out 14 over six shutout innings last Friday, setting an opening day club record and fanning the most in an opener since Seattle’s Randy Johnson whiffed 14 in 1996. “I’ve kind of been in that role and that spot a few times with other teams – back in college, back in high school and moving up the ranks with the Indians,” Bieber told reporters after beating Kansas City 2-0 in the opener. “It’s definitely something I embrace and look forward to.” Bieber, who replaced two-time Cy Young winner Corey Kluber as the team’s No. 1 starter, looks to help Cleveland avoid its first losing streak after dropping a 4-0 decision to the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.

• Minnesota will present a challenge for Bieber after conquering St. Louis 3-0 for its fourth victory in five contests to start the season as Eddie Rosario belted his first homer of the season. Slugger Nelson Cruz knocked in his American League-leading 11th run with an RBI double for the Twins, who have scored 23 times while winning three straight games and send ace Jose Berrios to the mound Thursday.

• Bieber allowed four hits and one walk in the victory over Kansas City while throwing 97 pitches – 62 for strikes – after squirming out of a first-inning jam. The 25-year-old California native won 15 games in 2019 and struck out 259 batters across 214 1/3 innings overall while going 9-5 with a 2.88 ERA on the road. Rosario has three homers against the UC Santa Barbara product and Josh Donaldson has homered in both his at-bats against Bieber, who was 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA in five games (four starts) versus the Twins in 2019.

• Berrios allowed five runs in the first two innings of his 2020 debut before settling down to blank the Chicago White Sox in his final two frames of work Friday. The 26-year-old Puerto Rico native gave up seven hits and one walk while striking out one in his first start after winning 14 games to match his career high in 2019. Greg Allen is 4-for-9 with a home run against Berrios, who went 2-0 with a 2.55 ERA in four starts versus the Indians last year.

• Minnesota 2B Luis Arraez had a single Wednesday and is 6-for-15 in the season’s first five contests.

• Cleveland placed C Roberto Perez (shoulder) on the 10-day injured list and recalled OF Daniel Johnson on Wednesday.

• The Indians won the last four season series, including 10-9 in 2019, and six of the past seven.