Pregame
At the same time today's game kicks off--2:55 pm CST--Oakland plays host to the Chicago White Sox. While the guys on the field are playing their game, I know I'll be doing a bit of scoreboard watching.
Scott Baker's trying to pick up win number eight this afternoon after his defense robbed him of it his last time out. Apparently he made a mechanical adjustment to help him keep the ball down, and whether that helped or whether it was that the Royal offense just isn't that good, he did manage to not allow a home run for the first time in six starts. With a fresh beat down from the Mariners on August 5 still fresh in his mind, Baker should be ready to hand out a rich dish of comeuppance. That's my word of the week.
In an attempt to keep the Twins from a series victory today, the Mariners are running out Ryan Rowland-Smith. The Aussie actually spent time in the Minnesota system a couple of years ago(albeit very briefly), but now the 25-year old southpaw is about to make his fourth start of 2008 after spending most of the season in the bullpen. His numbers overall this season are pretty good, but in his three starts he's managed 14.1 innings and a 5.02 ERA, 16 hits, two homers, eight strikeouts and six walks. He throws a fastball (87-90), changeup (77-80), slider (76-78) and a curve (71-73).
The Mariners should throw out something like this versus a right-hander: Ichiro (RF), Reed (CF), Ibanez (LF), Beltre (3B), Lopez (2B), Clement (C), Balentien (DH), LaHair (1B), Betancourt (SS)
The Twins like this lineup versus left-handers: Span (RF), Punto (2B), Mauer (C), Morneau (1B), Young (LF), Ruiz (DH), Harris (3B), Everett (SS), Gomez (CF)