Series Preview: Minnesota Twins look to beat up on Red Sox (hopefully)

Ladies and Gentlemen, your Minnesota Twins are in FIRST PLACE!!! They take their fabulous road record to Boston this week to face the Red Sox. The Red Sox might have more wins than we do, but only one team is in first place (er, at least by themselves)!!! Winning 5-of-6 and sweeping the Indians has me a little excited. How has this team been winning?

• Good Pitching (while crossing fingers) from the bullpen. The Twins only gave up two runs to Cleveland. Tyler Duffey literally got everyone he faced out, and Matt Belisle is the only reliever to let a run score in that whole series (surprise?).
• Unlikely Heroes like Chris Gimenez. Apparently the Twins had some sort of illness going around, and Gimmy ended up starting in left field, because apparently he can literally do anything on a baseball diamond. He only fielded every ball hit to him, and hit a solo home run in that game. No big deal or anything.
• The Twins have also been riding some hot streaks from guys named Ed. Eddie Rosario’s stats for the last two weeks: .394/.459/.788 and 4 HR. Eduardo Escobar’s, again for the last two weeks: .378/.417/.600.

Have I mentioned, I’m excited?

For the four games coming up at “Diamond City” (I know there have to be a few other Fallout players lurking around here) the pitching match-ups should be interesting, to say the least.

Jose Berrios has never pitched against the Red Sox, but looked downright ace-like against the White Sox in his last start. Young Twins hitters have nothing to fear against Chris Sale either, as Eddie Rosario has five hits in eight at-bats, and Miguel Sano has six hits in twelve at-bats with a home run. Brian Dozier has hit three dongs against him as well.

The glorious return of Hector Santiago comes on Tuesday. He hasn’t earned a win since May 19th, but lets chalk that up to being hurt (I mean, he’s been out for awhile). Hector didn’t give up a run in his rehab start, too. Cartoon mobster Mookie Betts and generic suburban dad Mitch Moreland both have hit home runs off Hectory, but Jackie Bradley Jr. is hitless, with six strikeouts in seven attempts. Hector’s opponent is Drew Pomeranz, who makes Twins hitters look stupid. Like .158/.320/.211 and striking out in 47% of at-bats stupid. Let’s just blame that on a small sample size, and move on, though.

Following Santiago comes youthful Adalberto Mejia, who has never faced the crimson hose. He’ll be taking on Tuck Everlasting Rick Porcello. Apparently Boston is collecting former AL Central starters? Brian Dozier also has three home runs against the perennially youthful pitcher, and large human Kennys Vargas has a video-game line of .500/.545/1.200 off him too.

Did you guys know that Kyle Gibson is a year older than Rick Porcello in real life, but has only been in the MLB half as long? Gibby has also been surprisingly competent lately, earning three wins, a loss, and a no-decision in the month of June. He only gave up thirteen runs across those five starts, but on 35 hits. He’s held Boston to .190/.213/.362, but you know, small sample size. He’s pitching against the burned-out husk of David Price, who used to be good, but is a replacement level pitcher this year (0.0 fWAR, 0.2 bWAR). Brian Dozier has two more home runs (which makes eight against the starters in this series, if you’re counting) but also a .182 batting average against Price, and Joe Mauer has only hit .176 against him. Again, though, Price has not been what he once was.

Pitching Matchups

Game 1: Monday June 26 6:10 pm CT Jose Berrios RHP vs Chris Sale LHP

Game 2: Tuesday June 27 6:10 pm CT Hector Santiago RHP vs Drew Pomeranz LHP

Game 3: Wednesday June 28 6:10 pm CT Adalberto Mejia LHP vs Rick Porcello RHP

Game 4: Thursday June 29 6:00 pm CT Kyle Gibson RHP vs David Price LHP

Notes

• Old Friend Alert: Fernando Abad owns a 3.32 ERA in 21.2 innings. If he does pitch against the Twins, hopefully he has Abad time. If you remember, the Twins traded him to Boston last year for Pat Light, which totally worked out well (not.)
• The Twins will need to make a 25-man roster move to add Santiago, and with a short bench, expect it to impact a relief pitcher.
• Game four (Thursday) will be televised on ESPN