First Pitch: 6:05pm
TV: FSN Radio: Twins Radio Network
Know Thine Enemy: Pinstripe Alley
Raise your hand if you've heard this story before. Twins come into Yankee Stadium, starting pitcher digs himself a hole by giving up two early home runs, team claws back only to be shut down by Mariano Rivera and the Yankees late inning relievers. With last night's 4-3 loss, the Twins find themselves needing to sweep the remaining three games in New York in order to return to Minnesota with a winning record for the home opener.
The stats look even worse than the 1-3 overall record:
- Twins pitchers have allowed a Major League leading 20 walks.
- When the pitchers have gotten the ball over the plate, opposing hitters have feasted to the tun of nine home runs and a .567 slugging percentage, second worst in the AL to Boston's eye-popping .775.
- Twins batters haven't fared much better, scoring only 11 runs over four games. The team OPS is second worst in baseball, at .551, and hitters have only managed 7 extra base hits (5 doubles and 2 home runs).
- Guess who leads the Majors (again) grounding into double plays? Despite a number of moves to add speed to the lineup, Twins batters have grounded into a league leading 7 double plays.
- Oh, and the fielders (3 errors and a blown rundown in the opener) and base runners (2 outs made on the base paths, including Danny Valencia being thrown out at home in Toronto) haven't been sharp either.
Other than that, the first week has been great. Let's pick it up and play like you've been there before. Starting pitchers and lineups after the jump.
I have a good feeling about Brian Duensing tonight. After facing Justin Verlander, Brad Penny, Max Scherzer and Scott Baker, maybe the Yankees will struggle against Duensing's arsenal of off speed stuff.
Rather than trot out their number five starter Freddy Garcia tonight, CC Sabathia gets his second start of the season. In his first start, Sabathia went 6 innings, giving up 3 runs (2 earned), 6 hits, walking 2 and striking out 7. Expect the Twins to throw out a few more right handers than usual...oh, right handed bats on the bench consist of Drew Butera, Matt Tolbert and Jason Repko. Here's hoping for an off night from CC.