First Pitch: 6:10 pm CT
TV: FSN
Radio: 1500 ESPN
Know Thine Enemy: DRays Bay
After an 0-4 start, the Twins have gone 5-5, which looks pretty darn respectable. Josh Willingham is starting to cool down a bit (6 for 27, .222 AVG, 1 BB, 8 K in last 6 games), though his hitting streak is still intact. Your California/Minnesota math and logic should tell you that a hitting streak that still exists, along with 6 hits in 6 games, suggests that Willingham has only notched one hit per game for nearly the past week. At least Joe Mauer is starting to heat up, and Justin Morneau looked good in the Yankees series.
The 'Stache That's More Like A Goatee (Carl Pavano) takes the mound today against Complete Game James Shields. I don't know if this has the potential of being a pitcher's duel, but I could easily see both starters pitching into the 7th or even 8th inning tonight. That may sound contradictory, but does 3 runs in 7 innings for Pavano really qualify him for being one half of a pitcher's duel? I think not.
Morneau returns to the lineup tonight. Will he tie Yes Pig for the team lead in homers? Lineups after the jump.
Twins
- Denard Span, CF
- Jamey Carroll, SS
- Joe Mauer, 1B
- Josh Willingham, LF
- Justin Morneau, DH
- Ryan Doumit, C
- Danny Valencia, 3B
- Clete Thomas, RF
- Alexi Casilla, 2B
SP Carl Pavano
- Desmond Jennings, LF
- Ben Zobrist, 2B
- Carlos Pena, 1B
- Evan Longoria, 3B
- Luke Scott, DH
- Matt Joyce, RF
- B.J. Upton, CF
- Jose Molina, C
- Sean Rodriguez, SS
SP James Shields