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Game 62: Twins @ Oakland

First Pitch: 2:35pm CDT
TV: MLB.tv, DirecTV - I don't see any local broadcast
Radio: Twins Radio NetworkKnow Thine Enemy: Athletics Nation

With a win last night against the Oakland Athletics, the Twins are now 3-3 to start their 10 game road trip. A win today takes the series 3-1, and gets Minnesota back to .500 entering 15 games of interleague play (historically good news for the Twins).

Starting Pitchers


W-L G GS CG SHO SV BS IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP
2009 - Trevor Cahill 3-5 12 12 0 0 0 0 66.1 67 33 31 9 26 32 4.21 1.40

Finally, the Twins get to face a RHP. Before the season, Baseball America considered Trevor Cahill to be the #2 A's prospect, calling his curve ball the best in the organization. After splitting 2008 between A+ and AA ball, Cahill jumped directly to the majors this year. With Oakland, his rookie season has been one of ups and downs. Cahill's 4.21 ERA has outperformed a bad WHIP (1.40) and below average FIP (5.17).He has been helped by a .272 BABIP (likely assisted by Oakland's foul territory). Cahill tends to induce ground balls (1.54 GB/FB), and his 32/26 SO/BB ratio is mediocre, striking out less than 4.5 per nine innings. Cahill has been much better at home (3.64 ERA, 26/9 SO/BB) than on the road (5.18, 6/17), so the Twins may be catching him in the wrong location. I expect Minnesota to load up the lineup with LH batters, who have a .306/.384/.603 line against Cahill, compared to a .227/.286/.356 line for righties. Cahill comes in red hot, giving up 9 R / 8 ER over his last four starts (25.0 IP), with a 18/4 SO/BB ratio.


W-L G GS CG SHO SV BS IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP
2009 - Nick Blackburn 5-2 12 12 0 0 0 0 76.1 80 33 28 6 21 34 3.30 1.32

Over the last month, Nick Blackburn has been the Twins' most consistent and effective starter. Since getting shelled at Detroit in early May, Blackburn is 3-0 over his last six starts, with a 1.72 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 21/11 SO/BB in 41.2 IP. Looking deeper at the numbers, Blackburn has been a little lucky avoiding the long ball (6.1 HR/FB%), but his .290 BABIP is in line with a solid 16.6 LD%, and is likely responsible for Blackburn's 3.30 ERA outperforming a 4.06 FIP.

Lineup


Lineup

Minnesota Twins @ Oakland Athletics

06/11/09 3:35 PM EDT

Minnesota Twins Oakland Athletics
Matt Tolbert - 2B Orlando Cabrera - SS
Brendan Harris - SS Adam Kennedy - 2B
Joe Mauer - C Jack Cust - RF
Justin Morneau - DH Matt Holliday - LF
Jason Kubel - RF Jason Giambi - DH
Joe Crede - 3B Landon Powell - C
Michael Cuddyer - CF Daric Barton - 1B
Brian Buscher - 1B Rajai Davis - CF
Delmon Young - LF Jack Hannahan - 3B