First Pitch: 7:10pm CDT
TV: FS-N
Radio: Twins Radio Network
Know Thine Enemy: Bucs Dugout
Starting Pitchers
Cisco's been getting better results over his last two starts, surrendering just four runs over 12 innings, striking out a batter per inning. The control is, and will likely continue to be, a problem. Liriano's walked at least two in nine of his last ten starts, with the exception being his four-inning performance against the Red Sox where he gave up 11 hits instead. Only 44.9% of his pitches have been in the strike zone (does not include pitches outside the strike zone which were called or swinging strikes). An intriguing bit: over his last three starts, Liriano has induced nine air-outs...to 23 ground-outs. Even if he continues to walk a couple per game, if he can start getting more ground balls again, in conjunction with his good strikeout rate we should see a more effective Liriano. Watch how patient the Pirates are with him tonight. If they wait for him to throw strikes, it will be interesting to see how Cisco responds to the challenge.
2007 looked like a breakout season for the 25-year old Snell at the time. Now 27, it seems like it may have been the outlier; he doesn't induce as many ground balls, the strikeouts are down, and just like Liriano the walks have been an issue. Snell has a lot of talent, throwing a low to mid-90's fastball, a mid-80's slider, with a curve and a changeup also used, but he hasn't been able to take advantage of that talent too much recently. He's gotten better results his last two times out, but the Pittsburgh offense wasn't able to get him the wins he earned; after a solid April, what's happened since has to be a disappointment for Snell and the Pirates. Again, just like the report on Liriano, the Twins should be patient with Snell and wait to see if he can find the strike zone.