Cleveland Indians (3-6) at Minnesota Twins (3-6), 2:10 p.m. (ET)
(SportsNetwork.com) - Right-hander Danny Salazar makes his season debut on Saturday when the Cleveland Indians continue a three-game series with the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.
Cleveland needed another starter for this series because Carlos Carrasco's start was pushed back after getting hit in the jaw by a line drive on Tuesday. So in steps the 25-year-old Salazar, who was 6-8 in 20 starts for the Tribe last season with a 4.25 ERA.
Salazar made one start for Triple-A Columbus and earned the victory by pitching six scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and no walks. It was a sharp contrast to his spring performance that saw him pitch to an 8.18 ERA over four Cactus League starts.
"That's such a big word -- being 'consistent' in our game," Cleveland manager Terry Francona said of Salazar this spring. "Danny can get there, and he will. I think we all believe that, and the sooner, the better."
Minnesota, meanwhile, will turn to righty Phil Hughes, who is still searching for his first win in 2015. In Hughes' defense the Twins have managed just two runs for him in his two losses, but he hasn't helped himself any either, surrendering seven earned runs, including three home runs, over 12 innings.
Hughes, though, is 4-1 in seven starts versus the Tribe with a 2.80 ERA.
Minnesota drew first blood in this series on Friday, as Trevor Plouffe's solo shot in the 11th inning lifted the Twins to a 3-2 victory.
Plouffe crushed a 3-1 hanging cutter off Bryan Shaw (0-1) into the second deck in left field to ensure Minnesota's third straight win.
"It felt good right there," Plouffe said. "We battled all game and scored some runs off a tough pitcher tonight."
Chris Herrmann went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored and Blaine Boyer (1-0) struck out two and worked around a leadoff double in the top of the 11th to record his first win since Aug. 10, 2010 as a member of the Diamondbacks.
Brandon Moss homered and Cory Kluber got off to a terrific start, but allowed two runs on three hits and a walk with eight strikeouts over eight innings in a no-decision.
"I think any time you pitch and don't get a win, it's disappointing," Kluber said.
Cleveland had the upper hand in the head-to-head series in 2014, going 11-8 against the Twins.