First Pitch - 7:10 p.m. CDT
Television - FSN, FSKC
Lineups
Boolean operators are cool. I did a Google search for Game 54 and this is the picture I got. Even I am too young to remember the show when it originally aired, but I do remember it vaguely from afterschool sitcom reruns way back in the day. Sorry, I get distracted easily these days.
Diamond at Masterson.
I'll put more effort into these when I don't have to go to a sweltering common room just to get online.
Carl Pavano
v
Derek Lowe
Lowe shutout the Twins last time. Pavano was rumored to be quite jealous, as Lowe did it without a single strikeout. Lowe then did okay against Miami and followed that by giving up eight runs in 2.1 innings against the White Sox. He did strike out three that time though, giving him his highest K/9 for a game ever (probably).
However, that was then. Today, I expect dead grass leading to the infielders and tired outfielders as each pitcher continues to one-down the other with fewer strikeouts in the quest to pitch to impact.
A's: Tyson Ross (2-5 5.79) If I were an A's fan Ross's K picture would be his face on a bag of chicken.
Twins: Francisco Liriano (0-5 8.47 ERA) I'm afraid to look at advanced stats today. Maybe tomorrow.
I for one, welcome our new Dictator who, having fought his way out of the bullpen, has found himself the master of the high ground. Hold on to it for dear life Frankie. I'm also recommending everyone start Liriano in their respective fantasy leagues. Unless of course you are playing me.
DMitt caught last night. Who catches today? GO JOE. Doesn't there seem to be some sort of link between butters and Liriano? GO JOE! Butera might need to pitch, so ... GO JOE!!
The Dictator and Chairman are going to live large today.
#UPDATE:
tWINs lineup:
I had this great idea last night where I was going to do game log previewing the Oklahoma City/San Antonio game for tonight. Then I forgot about it and went to work today. You can pretend that this is a preview for both games.
...The World in this case embodied by the Oakland A's. Travis Blackley, an 0-0 lefty vs. Twins' ace Scott Diamond, 3-1 on the year. Enjoy, or die!
It's getting increasingly tough to be optimistic on these. I'd probably go high-concept on you here, but today is a moving day AND a work day so I really don't have the time.
Porcello vs. Walters.
Go get 'em, boys. Please?
Okay. This team stinks, but last week, I posted the game plan for victory - and they followed it to victory. The best part? Absolutely nothing has changed. Sure, Max Scherzer might strike out 30 more per nine innings than Carl Pavano (I think I actually saw Carl Pavano summon the ghosts of baseball players past so he could un-strike them out, lowering his k/9 to something like -4... dark magic, that), but he has no facial hair whatsoever.
Meanwhile, Morneau has parlayed his smooth Canadian charm into in actual war on the opposing pitcher - I wouldn't be surprised if he hit seven home runs today in four at bats.
Mauer's a pussy, but he'll probably whine his way on base two or three times this afternoon. A.J. would advance the runners with a leadership scowl, but walking's cool, too, I guess.
We're actually playing at Target Field today, so expect the Tigers to ground out weakly in shame when they think of where they have to play their games.
This is in the bag, people. Can we just skip to tomorrow so that we can catch a nailbiter?
My prediction: Twins 14, Tigers 8.
Drew Smyly
v
Anthony Swarzak
The Twins are doing their best to keep the number of starters used this year to a minimum. For which I'm glad of course. Resist needing more than 11 starters!
Also, the answer is:
63-1481 0.04080
