Cleveland Guardians at Minnesota Twins

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
CLE	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	1
MIN	0	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	—	3	10	0

First pitch went off at 6:40 PM CT with Joey Cantillo (7-3, 3.73 ERA) on the mound for Cleveland against Taj Bradley (7-3, 3.82 ERA) for Minnesota — two nearly identical resumes squaring off in a game that meant more to the standings than the record book. Bradley was coming off an 11-strikeout outing against Houston, clearly his best of the two starts on paper, while Cantillo needed 93 pitches to get through 5 innings against Texas and walked 5 in that last look.

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ML

Total

Guardians(47-44)

LLWWW

1

+1.5-203-102o8.5-100

Twins(44-47)

WWLWL

3

-1.5+199-100u8.5-100

Best BetGuardians -100

Postgame

Guardians lost 3-1 as Minnesota's offense got out early and Cleveland's shorthanded lineup never found an answer.

Pregame

We backed Cleveland at plus money before first pitch, banking on Cantillo's sub-4 ERA and a Guardians lineup that had been rolling before the recent skid. The price has since tightened toward even money on both sides, which tells you the book never saw this as a clean mismatch either way.

Minnesota's lineup took a hit hours before first pitch when the Twins placed All-Star center fielder Byron Buxton on the 10-day injured list with the hip issue he aggravated over the weekend, which also knocks him out of next week's All-Star Game. Cleveland, meanwhile, is still without Jose Ramirez and Angel Martinez, so neither club sent out its ideal lineup on a Tuesday night both teams badly needed.

Joey Cantillo

(8-5)·3.74 ERA

Jul 1 vs Rangers

W

5.0IP

2ER

4K

5BB

93P

07/07 Lineup

Taj Bradley

(9-4)·3.85 ERA

Jul 1 @ Astros

W

5.0IP

1ER

11K

3BB

97P

07/07 Lineup

None of that stopped Minnesota from doing damage early. The Twins scored twice in the second inning and never trailed, riding a pitching staff that's been without half its rotation to a clean, efficient win.

Bradley and the bullpen made it hold up. Minnesota out-hit Cleveland 10-3, an error compounded the Guardians' problems, and the Twins tacked on an insurance run in the 7th to put it away at 3-1.

Cleveland Guardians

(47-44)

Jul 5Lvs White Sox6-7

Jul 4Lvs White Sox1-3

Jul 3Wvs White Sox4-3

Jul 2Wvs White Sox6-5

Jul 1Wvs Rangers9-4

Minnesota Twins

(44-47)

Jul 5W@ Yankees6-1

Jul 4W@ Yankees11-4

Jul 3L@ Yankees2-5

Jul 2W@ Astros8-3

Jul 1L@ Astros4-6

Cleveland's offense had life two weeks ago, winning 3 straight during last week's stretch against Chicago, but the bats have gone quiet since dropping the final two games of that set, and Tuesday's 3-hit output looked like a continuation of that slide rather than a blip.

Cleveland Guardians

(2)

• 10-Day-ILJose Ramirez (3B) — Ramirez (hand) has been hitting off a tee and is expected to face overhand pitching soon, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.07/05
• 10-Day-ILAngel Martinez (LF) — Martinez (foot) took batting practice Saturday for the first time since landing on the injured list, MLB.com reports.07/05

Minnesota Twins

(10)

• Day-To-DayZebby Matthews (SP) — Matthews was removed during the fifth inning of Saturday's start against the Yankees due to a right foot laceration, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reports.07/04
• 10-Day-ILByron Buxton (CF) — The Twins placed Buxton (hip) on the 10-day injured list Tuesday, Aaron Gleeman of AaronGleeman.com reports.07/07
• 10-Day-ILRyan Jeffers (C) — Jeffers (hand) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul on Friday, Aaron Gleeman of AaronGleeman.com reports.07/03
• 15-Day-ILCole Sands (RP) — Sands (forearm) threw a bullpen session June 27, MLB.com reports.07/06
• 15-Day-ILMick Abel (SP) — Abel underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow Wednesday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.07/06
• 15-Day-ILBailey Ober (SP) — Ober (elbow) struck out five and allowed four earned runs on six hits and no walks across five innings in a rehab start Saturday with Triple-A St. Paul.07/06
• 15-Day-ILAnthony Banda (RP) — The Twins placed Banda on the 15-day injured list Monday with a left lat strain.06/29
• 60-Day-ILGarrett Acton (RP) — Acton (shoulder) was expected to resume facing hitters last week, MLB.com reports.07/06
• 60-Day-ILDavid Festa (SP) — The Twins announced June 1 that Festa (shoulder) has started a throwing progression, MLB.com reports.06/11
• 60-Day-ILPablo Lopez (SP) — The Twins placed Lopez (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.05/08

Both clubs sit within a few games of .500 in a crowded middle of the pack, so nights like this one matter more than the box score suggests. Minnesota heads toward the break with some momentum behind it, while Cleveland goes home searching for answers with two regulars still weeks from returning.