First Pitch: 7:10pm CDT
TV: FSN
Radio: Twins Radio Network
Know Thine Enemy: Over the Monster
After last night's loss, the Twins have lost eight of their last nine games and have for all purposes fallen out of contention for a playoff spot sitting ten and a half games behind the division leading Detroit Tigers. As far as I'm concerned, beginning tonight the team's focus should be on next season, determining who should stay and who should go. That, and getting Jim Thome to 600 home runs and put at least some silver lining on an otherwise disastrous season.
Starting Pitchers
Will good Francisco Liriano or bad Francisco Liriano be on the mound tonight for the Twins?
I understand if you see the above line and conclude that the oft-injured Erik Bedard has made only one start this season. But the line includes only his single starts after being traded to the Boston Red Sox, he made an additional 16 starts for the Seattle Mariners this year, with a solid overall line of 96.1 IP, 84 H, 11 HR, 30 BB, 92 SO and a 3.55 / 3.55 / 3.36 ERA / FIP / xFIP. Bedard has been just about as tough on right handers (3.41 xFIP) as left handers (3.24), with very similar strikeout and walk rates. Bedard throws a low 90s fastball, curve ball and change up, and according to fangraphs his best pitch has by far been his fastball, and his other pitches have been around league average. Bedard made one start against the Twins at Target Field in May, getting the win with six innings of shutout ball.