:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60666185/usa-today-10804712.0.0.0.jpg)
First Pitch: 7:10 pm CDTTV: FSNORadio: 830 WCCO, TIBNKnow Thine Enemy: Bluebird Banter
The Blue Jays have won three of their last ten games. The Twins have won one in their last ten. Its a battle of badness!
Aaron Sanchez is throwing for the visiting Canadians. He's a 25-year old right-hander who has been pitching pretty well, despite a 1-4 record. Just another reason that pitcher wins is a worthless statistic. The only team to score more than three runs against Sanchez this season has been the hated Yankees, who have done it twice. He's also thrown six or more innings in almost every appearance this year.
Lance Lynn will pitch in the bottom half of the first. I was really excited when the Twins signed him, but that crow is starting to look pretty appetizing. He gave up seven hits and six runs to the Yankees his last time out; and is averaging under five innings and over four runs per start. Today could be the day that he turns it around.
In other news, Tyler Duffey was optioned after yesterday's game. Probably not surprising, considering he gave up twice as many earned runs as he garnered strikeouts. Today's flavor of fresh arm is John Curtiss. Curtiss put up an 8.21 ERA last season, which is still better than what Duffey has done so far in 2018. More interestingly, his full name is John Pickens Curtiss, which is like the most "Texas" name anyone could have created. Are we sure he isn't a fictional character? When Curtiss enters a game, he will already be the 19th pitcher the Twins have used this season. That's a lot, if you were wondering.
I've rambled about the pitchers long enough. Let's take a look at the batters!
There are only a couple Twins who have succeeded against Sanchez. Eddie Rosario is two-for-two, and Robbie Grossman has hit twice in four attempts, with two RBI's. As for the others, Joe Mauer has one hit in six tries. Logan Morrison has struck out four times, and only hit once in thirteen at-bats. Brian Dozier and Eduardo Escobar are both hitless, in eight and three tries respectively. None of the other guys in the line-up today have batted against Sanchez.
Toronto will be a bit of a test for Lance Lynn. Kendrys Morales (remember the month he was a Twin?) is three-for-three with two home runs. His OPS is 4.000. Russell Martin (seven of eighteen, one home run,) and Yangervis Solarte (four of fourteen, two doubles) have also hit extremely well. Curtis Granderson is one-for-six, with his one hit leaving the park. Troy Tulowtizki is also one-for-six, but his hit was only a double. The rest of today's line up for Toronto has not faced Lynn.