First Pitch: 3:10 PM CDT
TV: WFTC 29
Radio: Twins Radio Network
Know Thine Enemy: Brew Crew Ball
Pavano's looking to bounce back from one of his two bad starts this season, and the Brewers are as good of a team to get healthy against as any.
After last night's fiasco of an extra-innings event, the Twins will be looking for Pavano to go long. Mijares will be available, as the only arm not used out of the 'pen last night. Duensing will be available as well, having thrown just nine pitches. Rauch should be availble in a closer situation as well, while Mahay (13 pitches) and Crain (18) could be used in short stints.
This morning, I mentioned this in response to Estrada getting the start today over Manny Parra:
In 24.1 big league innings spread over three seasons, Estrada has struck out 23 and walked 10, allowing 22 runs (19 earned). This will be his second career Major League start.
As a sixth-round draft pick by the Nationals in '05, Estrada doesn't have a bad minor league track record. In 516 innings he's compiled a respectable 3.84 ERA, while striking out 7.8 batters per nine innings. He's mainly just a three-pitch guy, fastball-curveball-changeup, but he uses all three of them with regularity.