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AL Central drama: Cleveland Guardians, Minnesota Twins set for showdown

By Kevin Henry

May 14, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Cleveland Guardians first baseman Owen Miller (6) completes a bases loaded double play as Minnesota Twins third baseman Gio Urshela (15) is forced out at first base during the fifth inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
May 14, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Cleveland Guardians first baseman Owen Miller (6) completes a bases loaded double play as Minnesota Twins third baseman Gio Urshela (15) is forced out at first base during the fifth inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /
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After Tuesday night’s 6-5 win by the Cleveland Guardians over the Minnesota Twins, the two teams are now tied atop the American League Central. The extra-inning thriller set the tone for what will be a very interesting end of June between the two teams.

The Cleveland Guardians and Minnesota Twins will see plenty of each other over the next eight days in a stretch that could shape the American League Central race

Between now and the end of June, the Cleveland Guardians and Minnesota Twins will square off seven more times, putting the leaders of the AL Central both in a position to make a statement on which team is the best in the division before the All-Star break. Cleveland is certainly making a statement of its own with its recent play, going 16-4 over its last 20 games to pull into a tie with the Twins, a team that led the AL Central by five games over both Cleveland and the Chicago White Sox on June 1.

Cleveland will finish its three-game series in Minnesota with games on Wednesday and Thursday, then host the Twins for five games (including a Tuesday double-header) from Monday through Thursday of next week. Following that flurry, the two teams do not meet again until Cleveland returns to Minnesota on September 9-11.

The Twins do have a bit of recent history on their side during this important stretch as, since May of last season, they have won five of their last six series against Cleveland.

In between meeting each other in these pivotal series, the Twins host the Colorado Rockies for three games this weekend while Cleveland gets a weekend visit from the Boston Red Sox, a team that has gone 28-12 over its last 40 games.

And while Cleveland and Minnesota are doing battle, don’t forget about the Chicago White Sox, a team that has won six of its last eight games to pull within 3.5 games of the division lead and reach .500 on the season (33-33).

dark. Next. Where the teams stand in our most recent Power Rankings

Can Cleveland or Minnesota do enough by the end of the month to separate itself at the top of the division? It will be a fascinating few days to watch in the Upper Midwest.

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