On the Twins website today, the top story is about Bailey Ober's complete futility against the Royals. Ober has a 7.71 ERA in nine career starts against KC, and a 3.36 ERA against everyone else. So Jeff A is not the only one to notice that the Royals just seem to own Ober.
Today Chris Paddack takes the mound for the Twins, countered by Brady Singer for the Royals. Paddack has been a fairly reliable mid-rotation starter this year, pitching to a 4.39 ERA in ten starts. Singer has been quite good this season, sporting a 2.63 ERA and a WHIP of just 1.12.
The ass bats were back on full display last night and the Twins futility at the plate was palpable. What was last year a weak division that we won fairly handily seems much more competitive this year. KC has been building up for a few years and looks like a real contender. But the team to beat to get to the top has to be Cleveland. They have been our closest competition in the division the last couple of years and this year they are playing like champions again. But there's lots of season left and we all know about the sudden reversals of fortune that can occur in sports. Hell, that's what makes it worth watching.
30-24 in 54 games is a 90-72 team. That's three wins better than last season but I'm not sure that's enough to win the suddenly competitive division this season. The #1, #4, and #5 records, by winning percentage in the AL, are in the ALC right now. Expanded postseason gives the Twins the final wild card but it's a tenuous position.
Attempting to improve that situation is Ober who was knocked out in the second inning of his March 31 start against the Royals. Now two of his earned runs happened after he left but it was still 6-0 before that. His opponent, Lugo, was scoreless over his six innings the day before with the Twins scoring five after he left to get the win. While the result was good, the way to get there doesn't seem repeatable.
Game 54 meaning, the Twins are 1/3 through their 2024 MLB season. I guess we'd take 5 games over .500 at this point but it's been a roller coaster to get there with both winning and losing streaks dominating the season. Game two of a four game series and it really feels like the Twins need to win three of four to keep pace.
Cole Ragans on the mound for the Royals and he's a big strikeout guy, so I get nervous with Twins bats being shut down. Simeon Woods Richardson for the Twins and he's buttressed the bottom of the Twins starters and one of the reasons Twins fans haven't been as nervous about the pitching staff as it was coming into the season. Should be a fun game
Timberwolves-Mavs start about an hour after Twins game starts so we can use this post as a basketball game log as well.
The surprisingly good Royals come to town for a four game series against the unsurprisingly flat Twins. Ryan has been pitching well of late, so let's hope the streak continues.
Skid over, helped in no small part by facing one of the worst starting pitchers. Irvin is not that as he's slightly above average in his second season. Nothing stands out about him so either the Twins are going to knock him around or he's going to pitch deep into the game.
Oof. What a difference a week makes. Last Tuesday, I was writing a game log basking in a 17-3 streak. Seven days later I'm staring at seven consecutive losses and the Twins have looked pretty lousy at the plate, in the field, and on the mound for most if not all of those seven losses. Good thing the Timberwolves have taken a bit of the spotlight off this team.
One would hope a visit to Washington, DC and a mediocre Nationals team would help. Maybe the team should head over to Howard University hospital and check out the Griffith Stadium plaque to remind them of the 1924 World Series winning team that is part of Twins history. Or maybe the fact that they are facing the very hittable Patrick Corbin will change the Twins luck. Joe Ryan on the mound should help too.
López takes the mound to cleanse the palate of last night's Minnesota sports.
Opposite him is Stroman with an average ERA this season but a well below average FIP. He both walks too many and gives up too many home runs. Maybe the Twins can get a few of those in the right order and manage more than a single home run.
