Well that sucked. On the plus side, they are undefeated in nine innings. Unfortunately, two games took extra innings.
Kenta Maeda
vs
Matthew Boyd
Boyd had a scoreless start to open the Tiger's season. It wasn't a particular great start with more walks than strikeouts but with only three hits it was good enough.
Lineup
Garver - C
Garlick - RF
Cruz - DH
Polanco - 2B
Buxton - CF
Rooker - LF
Sanó - 1B
Astudillo - 3B
Simmons - SS
Except for one little 9th inning hiccup and a couple of GI issues (oh and Josh Donaldson), I think Twins fans can all be pretty happy the way the season has gone so far. A 3-1 record, Buxton and Cruz hitting bombas, Arraez getting on base at 6.9420 clip, great starting pitching etc. So let's keep it going.
New Twin J.A. Happ on the mound today and the Twins only lefty. Not a big strikeout guy but maybe a good veteran presence. He's certainly been around both leagues a bit. Casey Mize for the Tigers, a former #1 pick who made his debut last year but wasn't spectacular.
After scoring 15 runs yesterday big concern about saving some for today but Twins' bats should match up well against Mize so no worries there. 12:10p start.
Twins Lineup
Arraez - 2B
Polanco - SS
Cruz - DH
Kepler - RF
Rooker - LF
Cave - CF
Sano - 1B
Astudillo - 3B
Jeffers - C
Well, the Twins basically got the series sweep, if not technically (I forget what happened at the end of that first game). I'd call it a decent start to the year.
They hop over Lake Michigan for a three game set with Tigers, all DAY GAME ALERTs. Looks like we'll be spending our lunch breaks with the Twins this week.
A lot of familiar faces in the other dugout this series, including Akil Baddoo who cranked a donger on the first major league pitch he saw. I have a feeling he won't be offered back to the Twins this year...
Shoemaker makes his Twins debut facing off against Jose Urena in a battle of the righties. Nelson Cruz also debuts in his natural position, so hopefully the Boomstick can start to get into a groove. It's a nice, warm day to enjoy some afternoon baseball.
Final week of the season and the Twins start a two-gamer against the Gardy-less Tigers #pouroneoutforGardy.
No announced starter for the Twins this morning but the Tigers trot out Tarik Skubai, who has won and lost a game against the Twins this year.
UPDATE: It's Homer Bailey!!!! Who even remembers he was on the team?
Nelson Cruz appears to still be nursing a sore knee so we probably won't see him today.
There's still a chance for the Twins to win the Central so I'd hope they take these last few games seriously, especially against a team that definitely is looking forward to wrapping up and going home.
September mid-week game so 6:40p start.
Sorry, gang, Labor Dayin' it up over here so I don't have a lot of time for this. Obviously, I want the Twins to win today, but Plouffe(!) with a Dobnak beard would be pretty sweet.
If the Twins win less than 4 of 5 from the Tigers I will shave the @Dobnak_ into my facial hair.
If the Twins win 4 or more from the Tigers, @TalkinJake will shave the @EddieRosario09 lines into both of his eyebrows.
— Trevor Plouffe (@trevorplouffe) September 4, 2020
Hope you all are keeping it low and lazy!
Two wins in a row! Injuries to Kepler and Arraez! Can we have good things?
By tonight, the Twins will be two-thirds of the way through their schedule, as one of the teams still on track to play all sixty games. They’re still in third, but can erase that with a perfect day here.
After finally coming back home to WGOM, in August I went through the most stressful month of my entire life. Without getting into specifics, suffice it to say that it’s over, and it’s nice to be back to worrying about nothing but silly stuff like baseball again. Let’s win two, gang.
Dobnak starts game 1, not sure yet who starts game 2 (probably a bullpen game).
This all sort of sneaked up on me, so I don't have anything extra. Cleveland and Chicago have caught up, so it's time to put some distance between us and them again.
Get it done, Übermensch.
Last week of the season and the Twins should clinch the Central Division in the next day or so. Twins at the woebegone Tigers who have already lost 109 games. Hopefully the Twins get down to business and take at least two. Spencer Turnbull for the Tigers and has a 3-15 record, which is expected from a 109 loss team. Turnbull hasn’t had a Win since later May so here’s hoping he’s not due. Odorizzi on the mound and he’s been Twins most consistent pitcher and in 11 career starts, he's 5-1 with a 3.25 ERA against Detroit.
Game time at 5:40p and Cleveland at White Sox at 7:00p, so they will definitely be scoreboard watching in Chicago. C’mon Twins, let’s put this lousy team down so we can start chilling the Champagne.
Twins Lineup:
2B Arraez
SS Polanco
DH Cruz
LF Rosario
1B Gonzalex
3B Sano
RF Cave
CF Wade Jr.
C Castro
Hey, all. Pretty busy today as I'm guessing you are as well. The Odoreater is up against the Zimm dog, pitching better after a recent IL stint, though he's still afflicted with being on the Tigers. Hoping for a fun-filled donger fest today!
Well, this has been a fun week.
Our favorite team has rattled off a six game winning streak, and they've done it with seeming ease. Oh, and base hits -- lots and lots of base hits.
This evening, the Twins will send Martin Perez to the mound. Maybe it's the lesser quality opposition (yeah... that's probably it), but Martin's been looking a bit better lately. They don't need him to start in the playoffs, but it'd be nice if he could capably fill his spot in the rotation until we get there.
There Tigers will counter with Matthew Boyd. There was a lot of trade speculation surrounding Boyd, but the Tigers appeared to want a ton in return. Looking at what Boyd has to offer.....I don't really see it. He's been fine, and he's got a couple of cheap years left, buy to put it in perspective, his FIP and fWAR are roughly the same as...Kyle Gibson, circa 2019. Who's giving up the farm for a couple of cheap Kyle Gibson years?
In short, Boyd's got nothing, and his numbers aren't going to get any better today. Twins are going to win this one in a walk. Cron and Cruz are going yard, and we're going to have a good game.
Go Twins!
