Kenta Maeda
vs
Corbin Burnes
I'm convinced the Twins cannot be more than six games above .500. If they win a bunch, then they will need to lose a bunch to never be too far above .500. They're back to +4 games so a win is again safe.
The extremely short "road" trip ends today. Texas is next on the schedule so they can bank some losses before the Guardians visit.
Sonny Gray
vs
Ranger Suárez
Donovan Solano is back in the lineup and someone named Luplow hit a home run for the Twins.
Alec Marsh
vs
Pablo López
March is making his second career MLB start. His first was against the Dodgers and it did not go so well, giving up five runs in four innings. Checking his minor league numbers and while he had decent strikeout (11.4 K/9) and walk (3.9 BB/9) numbers, the ERA was not decent at 5.72 over 245 ⅓ innings, mostly in AA. He's 25 but was drafted in 2019 so lost his first year of MiLB development in 2020. Expect all three true outcomes today as the Twins get a tiny buffer in the "above .500" category.
Fourth of July! Grab a cold beer, hotdog, drive your Chevy truck to grandmas and go watch some baseball just like Tom Jefferson told you to do some 247 years ago.
Twins play the unfortunately (for today) named Royals at Target Field. Maeda v. Grienke. Can't get any more American that that.
First pitch at 1:10
The Royals come into Minnesota for a three game series. Hopefully the Twins can get themselves back to .500 by the end of it.
Tonight the Twins continue their L.A. trip, starting a series against the Angels. They'll get to face Ohtani on Sunday, so hopefully they can pick up a few at the start of the series. They looked good against the Dodgers, even though the results didn't work out the right way.
Tonight Joe Ryan, who is good, pitches against Reid Detmers, who hasn't been as good. So that's promising.
Hey, look at that, another free MLB.tv game! And our old friend Plouffe! will be in the booth the whole road trip.
The Twins walk into Dodger Stadium while the home team maintains a nine game win streak in their arena. On top of this, the Twins have lost ten(!) games in a row against the Dodgers.
Syndergaard is not at his best this season and López is at nearly half his ERA. While the Dodgers have decent pitching overall, let's hope the Twins can get to Noah early.
The Assbats® seem to have taken the weekend off, and hopefully they didn't make the trip out to LA.
More free baseball today, if that's your thing. I kind of wish these Twins' home unis were the same color as their hats. Give your mothers a kiss!
Got in a little league game this morning despite overnight rain, and now I’m frying plantains to make pastelón for supper tonight.
Kepler is on the IL; Larnach has been recalled from St. Paul. Joe Ryan is on the bump.
Seth Lugo
vs
Pablo López
Twins starters are tied with the Mariners for first in fWAR, 5.2. The Rays are third at 4.3. The relievers unfortunately rank 17th. More unfortunately, the batters are way down at 21st. Correa is a big part of that but Miranda has been worse. The success of the starters means it has been nice to know the team will be in the game until late each time. Sure, I also know those 2-0 games very likely could end up at 2-0 or 2-1 but it's nicer than knowing last season it will not stay at only two runs given up.
