More games! AL teams switch dugouts!
Marlins vs Braves, 1:08 p.m.
Pablo López vs Ian Anderson
Athletics vs Astros, 2:35 p.m.
Jesús Luzardo vs Jose Urquidy
Rays vs Yankees, 6:10 p.m.
Charlie Morton vs Masahiro Tanaka
Padres vs Dodgers, 8:08 p.m.
TBD vs Clayton Kershaw
ALL FOUR GAMES TODAY
Miami - Atlanta
Houston - Oakland
NYY - Tampa
San Diego - LA
Houston versus Oakland now
Yankees versus Tamp later
TBS or your favorite baseball playing radio station
For the 3rd time in four years the Twins are in the playoffs and somehow this time it feels different. Sure we are living in a pandemic, just had a 60 games season and eight teams made the playoffs, so of course it feels different. But this year the Twins just seem to have a shot, especially if Byron Buxton and Josh Donaldson are able to play. EDIT: Bux in, Donaldson out.
The hated Astros are in town and you just know just about everyone outside of the Houston area will be rooting for the Twins to easily dispatch of those cheaters. Rich Hill has been especially outspoken about his disdain for the Astros and what they did to baseball and even though he probably won't pitch this series I hope his hatred rubs off on his teammates.
Kenta Maeda on the mound for the Twins (another guy who may have some thoughts on the Astros) and easily the Twins ace this year and richly deserves the opening slot. Zach Grienke pitching for the Astros and while he started strong this year, has labored recently. Let's hope it's a trend.
Game time is at 1:08p this afternoon televised on ABC and lots of radio outlets and streaming platforms. Weather should be perfect for fall baseball.
Lineup:
1. Luis Arraez, 2B
2. Byron Buxton, CF
3. Max Kepler, RF
4. Nelson Cruz, DH
5. Eddie Rosario, LF
6. Miguel Sano, 1B
7. Jorge Polanco, SS
8. Ryan Jeffers, C
9. Marwin Gonzalez, 3B
Game 6 back at Houston. Normally this would be good news for Houston but in this world series the home team has lost every game. Does that continue today or is there a regression to the normal and Houston wins this one and the World Series? Strasburg vs. Verlander so should be a doozy of a pitching match-up.
First Pitch at 7:07p on Fox.
Game 1 of the 2019 World Series, Washington Nationals versus the Houston Astros. This one promises to be a series of excellent starting pitching on both sides and will be fun to see how each dominant starter matches up. Tonight Max Scherzer (who’s given up 1 earned run in 15 playoff innings this year) v. Gerrit Cole (who’s given up 1 earned run in 22.2 playoff innings this year). Which team will get to the pitcher first?
First pitch slated at 7:08p from Houston.
So can the Twins keep the momentum going after a classic Odorizzi-Verlander barn burner last night? More importantly can the Astros recover, knowing that there is a new tough guy on the block this year? Well that's why they play the games.
Astros putting up Gerrit Cole who hasn't been super great this year, but definitely gets the SOs, averaging 1.5 inning this year. He had one bad start that has inflated his ERA but should be a pitcher this potent Twins lineup can get to. Michael Pineda up against the Astros again after seeing them last week. Pineda didn't pitch horribly against the 'stros but took the loss. Let's hope for some sweet revenge.
Rainy and cold today unfortunately. Doesn't it seem like our weather has been a month behind since February? I'm guessing they get this in as the rain shouldn't be too heavy and Wednesday and Thursday don't look super great either. First Pitch at 6:40p once again.
Twins Line up:
RF Kepler
SS Polanco
DH Cruz
LF Roasario
1B Cron
2B Schoop
3B Adrianza
C Castro
CF Buxton
Alright, boys, you have one goal tonight.
Twins up against the Astros again after a nice mashing last night. Michael Pineda up for the Twins and he has done as well as expected through four games with a 2-1 record and almost a SO per inning. Also at 6’7”, 265 lbs, I wonder if he had been born in the United States if Pineda would have played football or basketball, the dude is huge. Wade Miley on the mound for the Astros and if you’ve been forgoing anything in a Lent-like fashion until the Twins faced a lefty starter, well today is the day you can finally partake. Congratulations on getting this far with that. Miley has been serviceable but doesn’t throw a ton of strikeouts. He has held opponents to 3 earned runs or less for 20 straight starts, so he’s got that going for him. Which is nice.
Important game for the Twins to win as Verlander up for the ‘Stros tomorrow. Be nice to get a win tonight and not have to worry about Wednesday’s game. First pitch at 7:10p.
Twins Line Up:
C Garver
SS Polanco
DH Cruz
LF Rosario
1B Cron
3B Gonzalez
2B Schoop
RF Kepler
CF Buxton
The first place Twins come into Houston to play the second place Astros. Odoreater is coming off a decent start against the Blue Jays and has a decent career line against the `Stros. Will he nibble himself to death against a tough lineup? We will see.
The Twins did not have a fun visit to the Space City last year, getting swept and outscored 18-4. Let's hope their rejiggered lineup will have better results.
One last bit of randomness: after a truly half-baked search, I can't find what Peacock's middle name is. Only a middle initial of "J".
Continue reading 2019 Game 20: Minnesota Twins vs. Houston Astros
