All posts by freealonzo

2022 Game Log 76 and 77: Twins at Guardians

It's a Double Header today citizens! I'm guessing this is a makeup game from some earlier canceled game but not really motivated to confirm.

Game 1 we have Smeltzer v. Plesac and I've been pleasantly surprised at Devin Smeltzer this year. As for Plesac, he exemplifies the "Guardians have lousy starting pitchers but a lights out bullpen" vibe Cleveland has been riding this year. Let's get some early run boys.

Game 1 first pitch at 12:10p

Twins Game 1 Lineup
2B - Arraez
SS - Correa
RF - Kepler
DH - Garlick
1B - Kirilloff
C - Sanchez
LF - Gordon
3B - Miranda
CF - Celestino

Game 2 is the return Josh Winder who is pitching in the bigs for the first time since May 17. The Guardians throwing out the unfortunately spelled Konnor Pilkington. Also Jorge Polanco back in the line-up.

Game 2 First pitch at 6:10p

Twins Game 2 Lineup
CF - Buxton
SS - Correa
RF - Garlick
DH - Arraez
2B - Polanco
3B - Urshela
1B - Miranda
C - Jeffers
LF - Celestino

2022 Game Log 69 – Guardians at Twins

Twins and Guardians in the first of 8 games over a 11 day stretch to determine who is can take the reins of the AL Central Division. Cleveland always seems to be competitive even when they dump salary -- bringing in a new stable of pitchers that seem to have a MLB future. Luckily tonight may not be one of those nights as right-hander Aaron Civale on the mound for the Guardians after a stint on the Injured List. Even before his injury, Civale hasn't pitched that great and hopefully Twins bats can take advantage

Joe Ryan up for the Twins as he looks to get back to his pre-Covid form as we head into the the summer section of the season.

Looks like a nice night for baseball with first pitch at 6:40.

Twins Lineup
2B - Arraez
CF - Buxton
SS - Corea
RF - Kepler
DH - Sanchez
3B - Urshela
1B - Kirilloff
LF - Celestino
C - Jeffers

2022 Game Log 64 – Twins at Mariners

Twins back with a late night (for us Midwesterners) tilt in Seattle. Finally, after 3 weeks sidelined due to COVID, Joe Ryan back on the mound for the Twins. Yay!! We missed you Joe. Seattle goes with probably their best pitcher this year, Logan Gilbert. He's been pretty good with a 6-2 record, ERA under 2.5, and 1.08 WHIP.

Twins getting close to its "A" line up so I'm expecting to read good things tomorrow when I wake up.

First Pitch at 9:10p Central time.

Twins Lineup:
2B - Arraez
DH - Buxton
SS - Correa
RF - Kepler
3B - Urshela
LF - Larnach
1B - Miranda
C - Jeffers
CF - Celestino

2022 Game Log 57 – Yankees at Twins

You hate to say it but the Yankees have been really good this year, especially its pitching:

Team ERA: 2.74, first
WHIP: 1.04, first
Opponent average: .210, first

Twins come in feeling pretty good about themselves after winning two of three in Toronto with a depleted staff and now some players coming back from the restricted list, Covid list, and injuries. It's not a full squad yet, but getting closer.

Jamison Taillon on for the Yankees and like the rest of the staff, he's been lights out this year. Looks like the Twins will use Cole Sands with his 7.88 ERA and 1.63 WHIP tonight. Maybe both pitchers can regress to the mean and we get a Twins victory.

First Pitch at 6:40

Twins Lineup
1B - Arraez
DH - Buxton
2B - Polanco
RF - Kepler
C - Sanchez
LF - Larnach
3B - Urshela
CF - Celestino
SS - Palacios

2022 Game Log 43 – Tigers at Twins

The Twins keep rolling as they lay waste to the dregs of the AL Central. Good on them, beating the bad teams leads to Division titles my grandpappy used to say. More importantly, this Twins teams is fun! They win in dramatic fashion, they are fundamentally sound, they have great characters. Byron Buxton over the weekend and Max Kepler last night both mentioned how much better the locker room is this year compared to last -- which most are taking as a jab at Donaldson (and probably Simmons). I wasn't in the locker room this year or last so I'll take their word for it.

Beau Briske for the Tigers and he has a stat line you would expect for a team playing at a .333 level. His last outing included 6 runs in 5.1 innings so not great. Sonny Gray for the Twins and he's been a good veteran presence for this team. After a slow start, he's really pitched well lately, although lots of run support (14 and 12 runs his last two games) will do wonders for your performance.

Game time at 6:40. Looks like a nice night for baseball.

Twins Lineup
CF - Buxton
2B - Arraez
SS - Correa
DH - Sanchez
RF - Kepler
LF - Celestino
3B - Urshela
1B - Miranda
C - Jeffers

2022 Game Log 37 – Twins at Oakland

Twins continue to beat up on the bad and ok teams, which is what a team needs to do in order be eligible for the playoffs. Hopefully the trend continues as the Twins head to game two against the 15-23 Oakland A's.

Dylan Bundy on the mound and he's fallen back to earth after winning his first three starts of the season (albeit with lots of run support). Last start was atrocious with Bundy giving up 9 earned runs in 3.2 innings to the Orioles. Yuck! James Kaprielian up for the A's and although he was on the losing side of a 1-0 game against the Twins ten days ago, he has not pitched well at The Coliseum.

Twins will have to do it without Byron Buxton again as we has another designated rest day.

First Pitch at 8:40p local time.

Twins Lineup
1B - Arraez
2B - Polance
DH - Sanches
RF - Kepler
LF - Gordon
CF - Celestino
SS - Lewis
3B - Miranda
C - Jeffers

2022 Game Log 30: Astros at Twins

Woo boy! We have one of those future hall of fame pitchers vs. a young up and coming ace head-to-head tonight at Target Field. Reminds me of back in 2006 when Francisco Liarano faced Roger Clemens. Verlander v. Ryan tonight and check out these stats:

xRyanVerlander
Age2539
Starts10459

2022

StatRyanVerlander
ERA1.631.93
FIP3.083.23
AVG.167.168
OPS.516.493
WHIP0.830.70
K-BB%19.8%22.9%
W-L3-13-1

Should be a humdinger and Byron Buxton should be back in the line up. First pitch at 6:40p and looks like a gorgeous night for baseball.

Twins Line up
RF - Kepler
1B - Miranda
DH - Sanchez
2B - Polanco
3B - Urshela
SS - Lewis
LF - Kirilloff
C - Jeffers
CF - Celestino

2022 Game Log 24- Twins at Baltimore

So we're back in the Minnesota men's sports abyss. Twolves out of the playoffs after coughing up three 4th quarter double digit leads. The Wild puke up a 0-4 loss in their first playoff game. Vikes look intent on winning between 7-9 games a season. Even the newest team in the market, the Loons, seem to have embraced their Minnesota mens sports team legacy of practicing competent mediocrity. But wait, what about the Twins? Could it be it's the Minnesota Twins that get us out our doldrums? After a slow start, the Twins have won 10 of 11 and look to have a pretty decent pitching staff. Perhaps it's the Twins that take us to the promise land after a 30 year wandering in the sports abyss desert.

Speaking of decent pitching staff, Joe Ryan on the mound tonight with his 1.17 ERA, 0.70 WHIP, 25 Ks versus 6 walks stat line. Ryan appears to be the real deal could be a staff ace for years to come. Bruce Zimmerman up for the Orioles but this team is already in tank mode so any numbers he or any pitcher puts up seems silly to discuss.

Game time 6:05.

Twins Lineup:
CF - Buxton
SS - Corea
2B - Polanco
3B - Urshek
1B - Miranda
DH - Shanchez
RF - Kepler
C - Jeffers
LF - Celestino