First Pitch: 7:10pm CDT
TV: FS-N
Radio: Twins Radio NetworkKnow Thine Enemy: Camden Chat
Pavano's been exactly who the Twins have needed him to be through five starts: reliable in four and roughed up in one. If he can keep up that ratio for the rest of the season, he'll be an All-Star. His results have been as good as you could reasonably (or unreasonably) ask for: the man sports a ridiculous 7.33 K/BB ratio, a 2.88 FIP and is on pace to give up about 13 home runs this season.
What will be important for Pavano, and for every Twins pitcher that will appear in the series over the weekend, is that they don't just go into cruise control. Baltimore has a couple of guys that are hot right now, and a veritable list of guys who could heat up at any time. I'd rather not our pitchers were the ones who helped them get on track.
I'm not sure what makes Bergesen a Major League pitcher. I'm not trying to be mean, but I can't. The one thing that gave him some credence--his sinking fastball--apparently hasn't been sinking. As a result hitters are posting a .378 BABIP, en route to six homers in 15.1 innings and a plethora of base runners.
Which all means, naturally, that's he's just the kind of pitcher who can throw the Twins into a slump. The offense needs to stay patient, make Bergesen throw strikes and that alone should ensure there'll be good pitches to hit. This will be his fifth start of the season, and his second since being recalled from triple-A.