After dropping the series opener to the Pirates last night 7-2, the Twins look to even the series tonight at PNC Park. Minnesota will have former ace Francisco Liriano on the mound, while Pittsburgh will have Erik Bedard starting. Bedard doesn't have the best record or ERA, but he pitches much better at home--a 2.45 ERA at home compared to a 6.27 ERA away--so the Twins will have their work cut out for them this evening. The bright side? Bedard is 2-5 against the Twins lifetime, with a 4+ ERA in 12 starts.
Minnesota
Lineups and notes after the jump.
Minnesota
Denard Span, CF
Ben Revere, RF
Josh Willingham, LF
Justin Morneau, 1B
Trevor Plouffe, 3B
Brian Dozier, SS
Jamey Carroll, 2B
Drew Butera, C
Pittsburgh
Jose Tabata, LF
Josh Harrison, RF
Andrew McCutchen, CF
Casey McGehee, 1B
Neil Walker, 2B
Pedro Alvarez, 3B
Clint Barmes, SS
Michael McKenry, C
Notes:
-This week's games are both Matt Capps and Ryan Doumit's first return to PNC Park after becoming Twins players.
-In Bedard's last start, he allowed 7 runs in just under 4 innings.
-Last night was the Twins' first loss at PNC Park. They swept the Pirates there in 2006.
-The Pirates are only 2.5 games out of first place. Isn't baseball a strange game?