Doubleheader gives Guardians two shots at climbing standings

Already charging toward first place in the American League Central, the Cleveland Guardians get two chances to gain ground on Saturday when they face the Minnesota Twins in a day-night doubleheader in Minneapolis.

The Guardians (82-71) are coming off a 6-2 win in the series opener on Friday. The victory moved them within 2 1/2 games of the Detroit Tigers (85-69) for first place in the Central -- a division in which the Tigers led the Guardians by as many as 15 1/2 games on July 8.

The Twins (66-87) know they have zero chance at the playoffs and are facing a long offseason.

Still, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt wants his team engaged.

"It doesn't matter who we're playing," Vogt said. "We know that we have to play flawless baseball to win. And it's a Major League Baseball game. Records are not indicative of how good or poor a team is, so our guys are ready to go in there.

"They're excited, they're fired up, and we know we have to come out and play really well to win a game."

The afternoon game is a makeup contest from a May 20 postponement.

Guardians right-hander Slade Cecconi (6-6, 4.39 ERA) will take on Twins right-hander Joe Ryan (13-8, 3.35) in the first matchup. Cecconi needs two more strikeouts to reach 100 on the season, and Ryan has 180 strikeouts in 161 innings.

Cecconi, 26, never has faced the Twins in his career.

Ryan, 29, is 3-4 with a 2.62 ERA in 11 appearances (10 starts) against Cleveland. He has no decisions and a 4.09 ERA in two games (one start) vs. the Guardians this year.

In the nightcap, Guardians left-hander Logan Allen (7-11, 4.36 ERA) will go up against Twins right-hander Bailey Ober (5-8, 5.12).

Allen is seeking his first victory since July 29 against the Colorado Rockies. He is 0-2 with a 5.30 ERA in seven starts since then.

The 27-year-old Florida native has faced the Twins four times in his career, going 2-0 with a 2.61 ERA. He got a no-decision vs. Minnesota on May 19 after yielding two runs on four hits in three innings.

Ober is looking to bounce back from a loss against the Arizona Diamondbacks in his latest start. He gave up four runs on four hits in six innings on Sunday.

In 11 career starts against Cleveland, Ober is 3-2 with a 2.52 ERA, including a 1-0 mark with a 3.45 ERA in three starts this year.

Vogt offered a simple explanation for why he chose to start Cecconi first and Allen second.

"They're both going to pitch (Saturday), so it doesn't really matter," Vogt said. "Slade's going well in day games, but there's really no rhyme or reason."

One recent bright spot for the Twins has been the improved performance from southpaw reliever Kody Funderburk. He pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings on Friday to lower his ERA to 3.89.

In his past seven outings, Funderburk has allowed no runs and three hits in seven innings, with 10 strikeouts and one walk. He is making a case to be a key member of the team's bullpen in 2026.

"He's got the stuff to do it," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. "He's got the head to do it. He can consistently make good pitches and throw strikes to both right-handers and left-handers."

--Field Level Media