Twins-Indians Postponed, Will Play Doubleheader Wednesday
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Twins' wild-card chase will resume Wednesday with a twinbill.
Minnesota's game on Tuesday night against the Cleveland Indians was postponed by steady rain, forcing the clubs to play a doubleheader Wednesday and adding to a tension-filled final week of the regular season.
"It's hard to win one game," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "You have to look at it as two opportunities to win. It doesn't change what we need to do."
Game 1 will start at 4:10 p.m., with the second game beginning 30 minutes after the completion of the first.
The Twins entered Tuesday's game trailing Houston by 1 1-2 games for the second wild-card opening. The Astros played a late game in Seattle.
As he met with reporters in his office following the postponement, Molitor got a phone call from Indians manager Terry Francona, who told him he would pitch Carlos Carrasco in Wednesday's opener. Carrasco had been scheduled to pitch Wednesday's regularly scheduled game.
"We get Carrasco now," Molitor said. "He's coming off a one-hitter."
Molitor was reminded that Carrasco also had 15 strikeouts in his recent gem against Kansas City.
"Thank you," Molitor said sarcastically. "Maybe there will be shadows, too."
Tuesday's game never got underway, and after a 1-hour, 10-minute delay, the umpires decided to call it, sending a sparse crowd that hung around during the delay toward Progressive Field's exits.
Twins right-hander Kyle Gibson will face Carrasco in Game 1, and Mike Pelfrey will start the second game against Indians rookie Cody Anderson.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Twins: Molitor isn't sure when LHP Trevor May (sore back) will pitch again. May has made one appearance in 10 days. ... RHP Phil Hughes, scratched from Monday's start because of a virus, was scheduled to throw Tuesday. The doubleheader has made Minnesota's weekend pitching plans uncertain.
Indians: OF Michael Brantley could miss the remainder of the season with an injured right shoulder. The former All-Star got hurt last week while trying to make a diving catch in Minnesota. He sat out four games, but was still sore, and the Indians had him examined by an orthopedist.
UP NEXT
Twins: Gibson lasted just 2 2-3 innings in a loss to the Indians last week. ... Pelfrey struck out a season-high seven in his last outing. He's 1-0 with a 4.02 ERA in three starts against Cleveland in 2015.
Indians: Carrasco seems to flirt with a no-hitter every time out. On Sept. 25, he carried a no-no into the seventh against Kansas City and recorded his sixth career complete game. ... Anderson had been scheduled to start Tuesday. In his most recent start, he allowed one run in 6 2-3 innings to beat the Twins.
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