(Sports Network) - The Cleveland Indians have lost seven consecutive games, and they will attempt to avoid a weekend sweep at the hands of the red- hot Minnesota Twins today at the Metrodome.

At this point, it would be surprising if Cliff Lee was not named the AL starting pitcher in the All-Star Game. The Cleveland hurler, who is expected to pitch today, is 11-1 this season with a 2.26 ERA. He has 93 strikeouts and only 17 walks in 111.2 innings of work and was dominant once against the White Sox on Tuesday.

Lee pitched eight shutout innings against the Twins earlier this season and is 6-2 lifetime against Minnesota.

The Twins are expected to give the ball to Glen Perkins today. He is 4-2 this season with a 4.31 ERA, and while he has more than twice as many strikeouts as walks, he has allowed 82 hits in 64.2 innings of action. Perkins pitched well against Detroit on Monday but didn't factor in the decision.

The young lefty has yet to face Cleveland this season and has only 4.1 lifetime innings of experience against the Tribe. On Saturday, Brendan Harris, Craig Monroe and Alexi Casilla each knocked in two runs, as the Twins rallied to beat the Indians, 9-6, in the middle contest of a three-game set from the Metrodome. Joe Mauer added a solo home run for the Twins, who have won four in a row and are 8-2 in their last 10 games. Kevin Slowey (6-6) was dealt the win as he was touched for five runs on five hits in six innings. Joe Nathan earned his 24th save of the year with a scoreless ninth.

Grady Sizemore hit a three-run home run and tripled in five at-bats for the Indians, who have dropped seven straight contests and are 2-10 in their last 12 contests. Tom Mastny (0-2) blew his first save and also absorbed the loss as he was hit for four runs on two hits while recording just one out in the sixth. Starter Aaron Laffey was roughed up for four runs on five hits and four walks over five frames.

The Twins have amassed an impressive 17-3 record since June 13, a surge that has vaulted them to within one game of the first-place Chicago White Sox in the American League Central standings. Most of that damage has come at home, where Minnesota has won 12 of its last 14 games and owns an outstanding 31-18 mark at the Metrodome this season

Minnesota is 5-3 against Cleveland so far in 2008, with the Twins taking two of three from the Indians in Minnesota back in April. Cleveland went 7-2 at the Metrodome during its march to the division title last year.