Game 114: Astros vs. Twins

First Pitch: 7:10 pm CST
TV: FSN
Radio: Go 96.3 FM, TIBN
Know Thine Enemy: The Crawfish Boxes

So long, Carlos Gomez, it's a shame that you were DFA'd before the game.

After watching Hector Santiago pitch well for five innings only to get knocked around in the 6th, the Twins send Ervin Santana to the mound tonight. He has been the best pitcher for the Twins this season with a 3.62 ERA, and though his strikeout rate has been a little low, he's found success in allowing an acceptable number of walks, hits, and home runs. It's amazing how just being average in most facets can spit out a good pitcher, no?

Facing him is Houston ace Dallas Keuchel whose results have painted the picture of anything but an ace this year. In many respects he's been practically a similar pitcher to Santana, but the difference has been an increase of home runs (he's already matched last year's total of 17 allowed) and a slight inability to strand runners on base. He still has maintained his extreme groundballing ways so the Twins will either have to find some holes in the infield or hit the ball in the air in order to beat Keuchel.

Joe Mauer gets the day off, but I feel that Paul Molitor has been resting him more and more against lefthanded pitchers over the past month or so. Plus, Eduardo Escobar has mashed LHP for his career so it's smart to get him in the lineup.

I have the game over at Inside Edge tonight so this will be fun. Maybe.