First Pitch 1:10 pm

Kyle Gibson (1-5, 5.12 ERA, 29 K, 1.489 WHIP)
Cole Hamels (9-1, 2.60 ERA, 102 K, 1.206 WHIP)

Today's tilt marks the midway point in a season that many Twins players and fans would just as soon forget about. As such there's not a lot to say about the rest of the season. It probably can't be any worse than the first half, and it just might get better. So here's a toss away random thoughts game log just like the professionals write when they don't have a decent idea for a column.

• Max Kepler had himself a banner day at the ballpark yesterday, knocking two home runs and driving in seven, a Twins RBI record for a rookie, in the 17-run crushing of Texas. Tony Oliva, Miguel Sano and Oswaldo Arcia each have a 6-RBI game as rookies.
• Miguel Sano is looking good since coming off the disabled list, blasting a two-run homer and driving in a total of three runs yesterday.
• Eduardo Nunuz got in on the offensive fun yesterday with a four-hit game that included a sacrifice fly.
• Eduardo Escobar is listed as day to day after injuring his left hamstring sliding into home plate yesterday.
• Down on the farm, Jose Berrios takes the mound for Rochester today as he tries to extend a streak of scoreless starts to three. The Red Wings play Syracuse at 6:05 pm (MiLB.TV)
• The Braves and Marlins will play each other today in front of 12,500 service personnel  at Fort Bragg, the largest US military base in the world. I appreciate MLB's support of our military and while I sometimes feel they've become a PR wing of the Pentagon, this is a very nice beau geste.
• After his first week in the major leagues with the Mets, my friends' son Brandon Nimmo is slashing .286/.310/.393/.703. I watched the Mets-Cubs game on TV last night; Nimmo went 1-3 with a walk and run scored.

It's way too nice outside not be at a ballgame today, so I snagged some Legends Club seats on StubHub and the wife and I are going to the game.

Play ball!