First Pitch: 3:10pm CDT
TV: FOX
Radio: Twins Radio Network
Know Thine Enemy: Royals Review
Here we are, with just two games left in the season, and we're still in this thing. Scoreboard watching is a reality at this point, but because the Tigers and White Sox won't be playing until this evening hopefully the boys can have 100% of their focus on the field. It's not going to be easy; the pressure, the must-win situation, and the the 800-pound gorilla in the room that comes in the form of a 6' 2", 190 lb right hander.
Joe C. asked Gardy if he was encouraged by how his team performed versus the immortal Greinke last weekend. The reply?
“Listen, we’re encouraged because we’re swinging the bats well, we scored some runs last night, scored runs in Detroit off pretty good pitchers, too. We’ve faced [Roy] Halladay and beat him. We’ve battled against [Justin] Verlander, Greinke — we’ll take our chances. We’ll do the best we possibly can. This team’s got a lot of gumption about it, so we’ll just see what we can do. He’s pretty good.”
I love it.
Nick has returned to early-season form over his last three starts, literally money in the bank as he's allowed just three earned runs in 20.1 innings. Today he's rising to the challenge of pitching on just three days rest, when the only way to guarantee that tomorrow means something is to win. That's as complicated and as simple as it is today. Win, tomorrow means something. Lose, and it could be over tonight.
If anyone but Zack gets the AL's Cy Young award this year, it will be a crying shame. Having said that, he needs to be denied his 17th win today. We'll leave it at that.
This is Minnesota's A-Team. Against a right-handed pitcher, these are the nine guys you need on the field. Once again, Mauer is behind the plate; nothing can be held back today.