First Pitch 12:07 p.m. CDT

Kyle Gibson (5-8, 5.09 ERA, 75 K, 1.538 WHIP)
R.A. Dickey (9-13, 4.43 ERA, 111 K, 1.314 WHIP)

Now in his third full season as a starting pitcher for the Minnesota Twins, Kyle Gibson is thoroughly eroding any hopes I had that he would ever be more than a journeyman hurler in the back end of a rotation. Nobody doubts his stuff, except Gibson himself, it often seems. Mrs. Twayn shares my frustration with Gibson. She's coined a term for pitchers who consistently get ahead in the count only to end up walking the batter because they try to be too fine. They're Gibbynibblers, and that term is generally preceded by an Anglo-Saxon expletive.

The Twins are trying to keep their current losing streak, a match for their first one this year, from going to double digits. I thought Santana had a good shot yesterday, even against this Toronto murderers' row, but things fall apart. I do know one thing -- if the Twins don't acquire some better pitching before next year, we're going to see this season all over again next year. And I'm not so sure I'll be willing sign up for that.

Play ball!

Game in progress!
(P.S. I believe I know the origin of the image and I don't mean to be flippant, but it was too good to pass up).

First pitch 1:15 p.m. CDT

Ervin Santana (6-9, 3.43 ERA, 99 K, 1.212 WHIP)
Danny Duffy (10-1, 2.73 ERA, 143 K, 0.985 WHIP)

We could be in for a low-scoring pitchers' duel today as Santana and Danny Duffy square off on the circular mound. At the moment, Duffy is the only pitcher in the American League with a WHIP under 1.00 (and sporting an ERA+ of 162), while Santana checks in at 16th with a 1.21 WHIP. As long as he stays the course, Duffy has a legit shot at the AL Cy Young award this year. I'd like to see this game be a latter day hiccup in that eventuality, but on the advice of my physician and bookmaker I'm not holding my breath.

Play ball!

Maybe we didn’t fare so well a couple of weeks ago against our arch enemy from Atlanta.  I guess 25 years of pent up frustration over the 1991 World Series finally came to the surface and those dang Barves weren’t going to give us any quarter.  Well now it’s payback time gentlemen and it will be the Twins’ turn to look for a little revenge.  Given that it will be the last time the Twins will visit Turner Field, let’s just say the emotion’s going to be turned up to 11 on this one.

Ervin Santana on the mound versus something called Joel De La Cruz and his 0-5, 4.09 ERA.  First pitch at 6:10 Central