First Pitch: 7:10 pm CT
TV: FSN
Radio: Twins Radio Network
Know Thine Enemy: DRays Bay
Two starts ago Niemann was slapped with a no-decision after tossing seven innings of three-run baseball against the Twins, who tagged him for just eight hits and a walk while striking out six times. If game one of today's double header is anything to go by, the Twins will need to put together a better performance than they did last time if they want to salvage something from today.
His command was nowhere to be seen in his last outing, throwing a wild pitch and hitting a pair of White Sox (hooray!), so I'd like to see the Twins get a feel for him early. If they think he's wild, be patient. But if he looks like he's going to try and attack the zone to establish his command, then be aggressive, take him out of his game plan and try to force him to be too fine.
Rays
Fuld, LF
Damon, DH
Upton, CF
Joyce, RF
Zobrist, 2B
Kotchman, 1B
Rodriguez, 3B
Jaso, C
Brignac, SS
Twins
Span, CF
Tolbert, SS
Kubel, DH
Morneau, 1B
Cuddyer, RF
Tosoni, LF
Valencia, 3B
Butera, C
Hughes, 2B