Series Preview: Toronto Blue Jays visit slumping Twins at Target Field

In case you didn’t see enough offensive production against the Twins in the last few games, the always-dangerous Toronto Blue Jays are coming to town. Last season, the Twins were 3-4 against the Blue Jays. Minnesota hasn’t won the season series since 2014, and prior to that, 2005. This could be the year to change that trend.

Toronto has slid into third place in the AL East over the last few days, but still owns a winning record. Before winning yesterday, they had lost four in a row, and they have only won three of their last ten games. As you may have heard, the Twins have been slumping lately too. They only have one win in the last ten games, including an 8-game losing streak. During the slump, the Twins pitching has struggled, with the starters leaving games early and the bullpen giving up too many runs.

Lance Lynn hasn’t pitched terribly well in his last few starts. He looks to turn that around against a line-up that has historically crushed him. The Blue Jays have combined to hit .333/.439/.708 in 48 at-bats against Lynn. Kendrys Morales has two home-runs and a single in three at-bats. Russell Martin and Curtis Granderson both have dongs to their names as well. Opposing pitcher Aaron Sanchez has confounded most of the Twins. Logan Morrison is 1-for-13 with four strikeouts. Brian Dozier and Eduardo Escobar are hitless. In the plus column, Jason Castro has hit a homer; and Eddie Rosario is 2-for-2.

Kyle Gibson, who has somehow been one of the Twins’ most reliable starters, takes the mound in the second game. He has been alright against Toronto overall, but has been stung by the long-ball. He did earn two wins against them last season though, thanks to “magical Gibson run support.” Josh Donaldson has accounted for three home runs, and Kevin Pillar, Justin Smoak, and Troy Tulowitzki have each added one of their own. Marco Estrada will face Gibson, and has given up six home runs to the Twins. Three of those have been hit by Logan Morrison, two by Escobar, and one by Rosario.

Phil Hughes will get his second 2018 start in the final game of the series, because being a Twins fan is terrible. Hughes has given up six home runs to the Blue Jays too. Donaldson and Granderson each have two, and Tulowitzki and Morales have one. Granderson has hit Hughes especially well, with three extra-base hits in seven at-bats. To make matters worse, the Twins haven’t hit well against Marcus Stroman, Toronto’s projected starter for this game.

One of these teams will leave this series with a feeling of righting the ship. Let’s hope its the good guys.

Pitching Match-ups:

Game 1: Monday, April 30th; 7:10 pm CT — Lance Lynn RHP vs. Aaron Sanchez RHP

Game 2: Tuesday, May 1st; 7:10 pm CT — Kyle Gibson RHP vs. Marco Estrada RHP

Game 3: Wednesday, May 2nd; 12:10 pm CT — Phil Hughes RHP vs. Marcus Stroman RHP

Notes:

• Miguel Sano has missed the last couple games with a tweaked hamstring. He should be able to start in this series though.
• Roy Smalley will be the color commentator again for FSN.
• A couple “Old Friends” are with the Blue Jays this season. Kendrys Morales and Jaime Garcia were both briefly Twins. Toronto also acquired Nick Tepesch from the Twins this offseason, but he is currently in the minors.