Category Archives: 2018 Twins Game Logs

Game 18 — Twins v. Yanks

It's young versus old, skinny versus fat, good versus evil. Berrios versus C.C. Sabbathia. Berrios for the most part has been lights out for the Twins this year, and they are going to need it given the 4 game losing streak the Twins are currently (not) enjoying. Berrios has some nice stats like a tidy 1.63 ERA but his most impressive is the 9.43 k/9 v. 0.33 bb/9 he's been tossing in April. More of that please.

C.C. Sabbathia still at it and has been pretty decent this year. It seems like a long time ago (because it was) since Batgirl referred to Sabbathia as Captain Cheeseburger.

Game is 5:35p Central time so eat early and be ready for a fun pitcher's duel.

2018 Game 16 – Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees

Fresh off getting swept for the first time in Tampa, the Twins wander into the Abattoir of the Bronx to face off against the Yankees for a four game series. The Twins have lost four straight to the Yankees, included last year's Wild Card game.

As the resident Twins optimist, here's a whole bunch more depressing stats:

  • The Yankees have won or split the last sixteen season series (14-0-2).
  • The Twins are 1-8 in their last nine regular season games in New York.
  • The Twins have not won a four game series against the Yankees since June of 1991.
  • While Tanaka is 0-2 with a 7.15 ERA in his two home starts this year, he has gotten the W in all four of his appearances against the Twins.

Hopefully typing all that will jinx it and Twins will sweep and outscore the Yanks 101-3. We'll see...

In slightly more fun stats, Mauer will tie Hrbek tonight for 3rd most games played as a Twin. After that, 36 more games to tie Kirby. Also, Dozier brings his 16 game hitting streak to New York (23 going back to last year), now the longest to start the season in Twins history.

Continue reading 2018 Game 16 – Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees

2018 Game 16 – Twins vs. Rays

In baseball, there are real-deals, wannabes, and has-beens. But some players fall into a different category, the what-could-have-beens. After nearly a year on the disabled list, Phil Hughes makes his return to a major league mound today. One can't help but wonder what his career would have been like had he not been plagued with injuries. When healthy, he's been very, very good, but his career feels like one long series of rude interruptions. 2014 was without a doubt his best year; he won 16 games with a 3.52 ERA and a thoroughly ridiculous 11.67 K/BB ratio while garnering seven Cy Young award votes. I'm too old and jaded to expect Hughes to return to his 2014 form, I don't think anyone does. But if he can stay healthy and throw 160 innings or so he can still be a significant rotation asset for this team. Tampa sends right-hander Yonny Chirinos to the hill, he's got an ERA of 2.70 and 15 strikeouts, but he got touched for five runs in his last outing after pitching 14.1 scoreless frames over his first three starts. Play ball!

Game 12(!) — Twins vs. Cleveland (In Puerto Rico)

Finally, more baseball. After a cold, wet, snowy homestand in Minnesota, the Twins go down to Puerto Rico to play to against the Cleveland [Redacted]. Besides being excited for baseball, it seems pretty cool that these two games are in San Juan. There are a number of Puerto Ricans on both teams (?? -- I didn't check Cleveland's roster) and after Hurricane Irma, any thing that brings positivity to that island is welcomed.

Jake Odorizzi versus Casey Kluber so it could very well be a pitcher's duel. Both have pitched well and have nice ERAs, Strikeouts/9 innings, etc. Couple with the fact that these two teams should be battling for the Central Division crown all year and we have a nice little series here.

Game time at 6:10p. Game on Fox Sports 1 so check your local provider for whatever channel that is.

2018 Game 11: Chicago White Sox at Minnesota Twins

The Twins kick off their 2018 Central Division campaign against a young Chicago squad, (losers of 7 of their last 9 games). They went 11-7 against the 67 win club a year ago, the first under coach Rick Renteria. Renteria and GM Rick Hahn are likely hoping that trades of Sale, Eaton*, Quintana, Kahnle, Robertson and Cabrera in 2016 & '17 will begin to bear fruit.

*Today's starter for the Sox, Lucas Giolito was part of the Eaton trade with Washington. The 23-year-old has walked 7 and given up 8 runs in 11 2/3 innings to start the year, but as a former 1st round pick (#16 overall in 2012) with decent minor league numbers (3.18 ERA, 1.248 WHIP, 9.6K/9 in 497 IP over 6 seasons), and good numbers in his (limited) MLB appearances last year (7 starts, 45.1 IP, 2.38 ERA, 181 ERA+, 4.94 FIP, 0.949 WHIP), the boys should not take him lightly.

Opposing Giolito will be the Twins' José Berríos, their very own 23-year-old , former first rounder (#32 overall in 2012). With great numbers during 6 years in the minors (2.77 ERA, 1.075 WHIP, 9.6K/9 in 591 IP), it's safe to say that the big club has high expectations for the young Puerto Rican. Berríos started 25 games for the Twins in 2017, going 14-8 with a 3.89 ERA, 113 ERA+, 3.84 FIP and 1.229 WHIP. He accumulated 139 SO in 145.2 Innings Pitched and averaged 3 BB per 9. In 2018, José has already notched a win in his first career Complete Game, and been knocked out after 4 2/3 innings (5 ER on 6 Hits) in an 11-4 loss to Seattle. Excited to see which version we get in what may be the only "nice" game of the series.

I'll leave you with this: 1,998 - not too far off 2,000. I'm hoping some Citizen is able to bring us a in-person, personal clip of this momentous occasion.