First Pitch: 6:07pm CDT
TV: Fox Sports North
Radio: Twins Radio Network
Know Thine Enemy: Bluebird Banter
Game Notes
- Jason Kubel is starting in right today, looks like Michael Cuddyer is getting the day off.
- Roy Halladay is good.
- Joe Mauer is back in the lineup.
- Joe Crede is available off the bench and should be starting again in a few days.
- I'd just like to remind everyone that this is the Blue Jays, a team with a worse record in a better division. What kind of record would the Twins have if they were in the AL East?
- We need a huge game from Carl Pavano
Ho-hum, another Cy Young-worthy season for Doc. He won't get to the 20-win benchmark, but it shouldn't matter. If that cut fastball of his and that curve are working, it could be a long day for the offense. Halladay throws strikes whether you swing or not, but the fact is that you will. And compared to a lot of other pitchers around the league, you're going to miss a lot more often. He'll even get you to swing if the ball isn't in the zone. Doc is a beast, and as a baseball fan I'll be glad to see him pitch tonight. As a Twins fan, right now? Not so much.
Pavano's mixed good and not-so-good performances with the Twins so far, but overall I've been pleased with his performance. I wouldn't be surpised to see the Twins offer him a one-year contract after the season to help anchor the staff next year. If he can turn in another six-inning, three-run performance today, mixing in a few strikeouts, he'll have given his team a shot. And against Doc, that's all you're really looking for. A shot.