Now that the Indians have been officially eliminated in the Central Division, and now that their "tragic number" is 1 to be knocked out of the Wild Card race, it is time to zero in on trying to finish second in the division, and use that as something to build off of for next season.
On Friday night the Tribe moved ahead of the Chicago White Sox when they hung on to beat the Twins 7-6, while Chicago was losing in Kansas City, and Jeanmar Gomez will try to keep The Good Guys right where they are while at the same time looking for his fourth straight win when Cleveland faces Minnesota Saturday at 1:10 in Target Field.
Gomez has beaten the Athletics, the Royals and the White Sox in succession, and has allowed only three earned runs in 17.1 innings in that span.
Jeanmar faced the Twins on April 24, allowing a run in three innings, and for his career is 0-1 with a 6.43 ERA in 14 frames vs. Minnesota.
The Twins will counter this afternoon with Anthony Swarzak (3-6, 3.89 ERA). Swarzak lost to the Tribe on July 18, going six innings and allowing three earned runs in a 5-2 Cleveland win.
For his career, Swarzak is still winless vs. the Indians, with an 0-3 mark in 14 frames to go with a 9.00 ERA.
This series will wrap up on Sunday at 2:10, before the Indians come home to play nine games in seven days, and then it will be lights out at Progressive Field until Toronto comes to town — next April 5.