First Pitch: 6:05pm CDT
TV: FSN
Radio: Twins Radio Network
Know Thine Enemy: Camden Chat
Guthrie is pitching over his head in 19 innings this year. He's not getting swings outside of the strike zone, not getting swings and misses period with a fairly high contact rate, and in spite of rising flyball rates has only allowed a pair of homers. That fact, and the fact that he's stranded 75% of his base runners, have helped him to that shining ERA.
Against right-handed hitters he's almost exclusively fastball-slider, and he'll challenge hitters inside with the fastball to set them up for a slider tailing away. Against lefties he'll throw a few more changeups, although that curveball is still a bit rare.
Guthrie relies on weak contact to get by. We've already seen the Twins fall to this kind of pitcher this year, so let's be optimistic and just say that they're due and can figure it out. Tonight, the Twins will score more than five runs for the first time all year.
Baker has stranded 81% of his base runners. He's also given up four home runs. That pretty much sums up Baker's year so far. Bring it tonight, Scotty B.