CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Indians and Minnesota Twins have had some innovative experiences together this season, and the rivalry between the teams atop the American League Central Division will add yet another chapter in a year full of achievements.
Thursday afternoon’s game between the Indians and Twins from Progressive Field in Cleveland will air to a worldwide audience on Facebook Watch via the MLB Live Show Page.
The MLB Network feed will be a social-driven broadcast “with elements optimized for social interaction and mobile consumption.”
The broadcast team of Scott Braun, Glen Perkins, John McDonald and Jackie Redmond will take a social-first mindset and interact with the audience throughout the game in order to “bring the ballpark experience to Facebook.”
Additionally, on-screen graphics will feature fan comments and player Instagram handles, while MLB will utilize Facebook and Instagram posts from teams, players and fans throughout the broadcast. Also, the broadcast will feature tighter camera angles and larger graphics for a more optical viewing experience on mobile devices.
Currently, the Indians (75-56) hold a 14-game lead over the Twins (61-70) for the top spot in the AL Central Division.
The Indians are expected to start Mike Clevinger, while the Twins will counter with Jake Odorizzi in Thursday’s game.
In his 26 starts this season, Clevinger has posted a 9-7 record with a 3.30 earned run average. Over 163.2 innings of work, Clevinger has allowed 146 hits, 62 runs, 60 of which were earned, and 55 walks against 163 strikeouts, which ranks him fourth on the team behind Trevor Bauer, Carlos Carrasco and Corey Kluber, all of whom have been in the discussion as contenders for the 2018 AL Cy Young Award.
Odorizzi is 5-8 with a 4.38 ERA in 27 starts for the Twins this season.
Thursday’s Facebook Watch broadcast is the latest event in a season full of unique experiences between the Indians and Twins.
Despite Hurricane Maria ravaging much of Puerto Rico last fall, the Indians and Twins renewed their rivalry in a two-game series at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in the island’s capital of San Juan in mid-April.
The teams split the two-game series, which were considered home contests for the Twins, in what was the first regular-season series in Puerto Rico since the New York Mets and Miami Marlins held a three-game set at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in June of 2010.
Additionally, the Indians and Twins played a game which aired on Facebook Watch earlier this season from Target Field in Minneapolis.
