Pablo Lopez has been especially solid for the Minnesota Twins of late. Meanwhile, Matthew Boyd hasn't been too shabby since joining the Cleveland Guardians. Currently two of the American League's best pitchers, Lopez and Boyd square off Monday night in Cleveland, where these American League Central foes continue their respective pushes toward the postseason.
Minnesota (79-70) sits third in the division, 6 1/2 games behind the first-place Guardians, and owns a 2 1/2-game edge for the third and final AL wild-card spot. Since Aug. 18, the Twins are 9-17, but have won three of five after avoiding being swept by the Cincinnati Reds with their 9-2 victory Sunday.
Lopez (15-8, 3.88 ERA), meanwhile, has earned a win in each of his past four starts. The right-hander is 7-1 with a 2.
05 ERA in his past 11 starts, has allowed five earned runs in his past six and none in four of the past five. On Tuesday against the Los Angeles Angels, Lopez allowed four runs in the fifth inning, three coming on Zach Neto's homer, but all were unearned. Lopez went on to complete seven innings and strike out 10, while helping the Twins snap a four-game slide.
"Yes, our margin for error keeps shrinking, but we're just in the mindset that winners focus on winning," said Lopez, who is three quality starts shy of matching his career-high 20 set in 2023. Lopez, however, hopes to be more efficient than in his previous 2024 start against the Guardians. On April 4, he allowed four runs (three earned) and six hits .