After taking two of three in the land that haunts, the Twins continue their road trip and begin a home-and-home series at Miller Park before returning back to God's country. Minnesota leads the all-time series against the Brewers, owning a record 230-215. Since the start of the decade the games have been split down the middle with the Twins and Brewers each winning 11 games. Minnesota won all four games against Milwaukee in 2013.
It will be former Twin Matt Garza taking the ball for the Brewers in Game One. Garza signed a four-year deal with the Brewers in January of 2014 and has not lived up to expectations to date. So far on the season, Garza has dangled an ERA of 4.84 and has posted his highest walk rate in five years.
The Brewers will go against Kyle Gibson, who's had a mixed bag of results this season. Gibby (your favorite nickname, right?) has six starts where he's allowed one run or less, the other four starts he's allowed 5 or more runs. Its been the starts away from Target Field where Gibby has gotten shelled, as shown here. What's really puzzled me is the lack of strikeouts from Gibson, who was never expected him to gas everyone but nevertheless pitch well, as he's had a tough time throwing strikes in general. (Get on it Tricky Ricky. That's Rick Anderson...)
Minnesota enters inter-league play with a 2-6 record in 2014. Milwaukee has had a great start to the season and still sits on top of the central division in the National League by four games. The Twins are one game out of second place and one game out of the basement in the division. We're two months into the season and June is here, so lets go Twins!
Series Schedule
Monday, June 2
Venue: Miller Park
First Pitch: 6:20pm
Kyle Gibson vs Matt Garza
Notes: The only player who has faced Gibson in the past is Lyle Overbay, who has all of six plate appearances under his belt. The Twins, meanwhile, have seen a bit more of Garza...to a miserable lack of success. Nine Twins have seen 36 at-bats versus Garza, and as a group are hitting .083/.154/.250. You know he'll be jacked up to face Minnesota, too.
Tuesday, June 3
Venue: Miller Park
First Pitch: 7:10pm
Samuel Deduno vs Yovani Gallardo
Notes: No Brewer has seen Deduno more than five times. In 26 at-bats nobody can really stand out in such a small sample size, and as a group has slugged just .346. Gallardo is having a better season, but the strikeouts are still down from when he looked like he might become one of the game's premier pitchers. Jason Kubel (1.140 OPS), Joe Mauer (1.083), and Josh Willingham (1.017) all have more than ten at-bats against him and have done well. Trevor Plouffe has also hit Gallardo hard in a smaller sample. As a team, six Twins have combined to hit .375/.424/.646 in 55 plate appearances.
Wednesday, June 4
Venue: Target Field
First Pitch: 7:10pm
Marco Estrada vs Ricky Nolasco
Notes: Estrada is having another good season, and has in his history done well against the Twins holding them to a .273 on-base percentage, striking out 11 and walking one in 44 plate appearances. Nolasco, as a former National League pitcher, has seen Milwaukee more often. Rickie Weeks in particular has liked hitting Nolasco. Nine Brewers have seen him before, and combined have posted a .337/.357/.495 triple slash against him.
Thursday, June 5
Venue: Target Field
First Pitch: 7:10pm
Wily Peralta vs Kevin Correia
Notes: In 20 plate appearances, these Twins have had no luck versus Peralta: .235/.350/.294. Correia, like Nolasco, has a higher level of familiarity versus his former National League foes. Unfortunately the results aren't any better, as Milwaukee has scorched him for a .291/.346/.535 line in 172 at-bats.
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