Thursday MLB preview: Indians at Twins, Phillies at Giants

MLB free play: Indians moneyline

The Twins recently breezed through a soft part of their schedule, where they took eight of 10 games from the White Sox, Marlins and Royals, but they just dropped two of three to the Braves and must now play host to the surging Indians (18-8 since the All-Star break). Mike Clevinger (6-2, 3.07 ERA) gives Cleveland the edge in the opener over Kyle Gibson (11-4, 4.02 ERA) and Minnesota.

Clevinger owns a 1.69 in his last six starts to go with a 5.44 strikeout/walk ratio. One of those starts was against the Twins (July 12), and he scattered four hits over five innings in that effort and allowed just one run. Clevinger has had great success against these Twins hitters in the past. He has limited right fielder Max Kepler, shortstop Jorge Polanco and catcher Mitch Garver to a total of five hits in 38 combined at-bats (.132).

Gibson always seems to struggle against this Indians lineup, which has plated 5.04 runs per game since the All-Star break. Second baseman Jason Kipnis, third baseman Jose Ramirez and shortstop Francisco Lindor have 38 hits combined off Gibson in 102 prior at-bats (.373).

Philadelphia Phillies (59-55) at San Francisco Giants (56-59), 9:45 p.m. ET, YouTube

MLB free play: Under

The Thursday-night series opener between the Phillies and Giants at Oracle Park promises to be low-scoring with Aaron Nola (10-2, 3.60 ERA) and Madison Bumgarner (6-7, 3.92 ERA) on the mound.

Nola owns a 2.33 ERA in his last seven starts for Philadelphia, with 10.29 strikeouts per nine innings over that span. The Giants lineup he will face has cooled off considerably since the team peaked at two games over .500 July 26. San Francisco is 3-8 over its last 11 games and has scored just 34 runs in the process.

Bumgarner's ERA over his last five starts is 2.70, excluding his outing against the Rockies at Coors Field last week (five runs over five frames). He's allowed 0.88 home runs per nine innings at home this season and holds a 5.86 strikeout/walk ratio. The Phillies' lineup is 24th in OPS (.723) since the All-Star break.