Game 47: Twins at Mariners

First Pitch: 9:10 PM CDT
TV: FSNO
Radio: WCCO 830, TIBN
Know Thine Enemy: Lookout Landing

Much like Matt LeBlanc went from "Friends" to "Joey," Seattle Mariners pitcher Wade LeBlanc went from "The Bullpen" to "The Rotation." Actually, that first one wasn't too big of an upgrade. This metaphor is kind of weak. We're off to a great start tonight, folks.

LeBlanc has been in the league for ten years as a career swingman, making at least one relief appearance in all but two of his major-league seasons. Last year, he was exclusively a bullpen man -- the first time he went a full year without starting the game as a professional, dating all the way back to Single-A appearances in the Padres' system in 2006. This season, he's started out with a 2.65 ERA, 7.2 K/9, and 1.3 BB/9, working up half a win in nine games, four of those starts. LeBlanc is on a bit of a roll -- in his last four outings (all of them starts) he's got a 1.33 ERA and 15 strikeouts in just over twenty innings. He's yet to throw more than 90 pitches, but he's also only given up three earned runs.

His opponent is Jake Odorizzi, who's enjoying a really solid month. He hasn't made it past six innings in a start all season, but that's mostly due to pitch count. In May, Odorizzi has a 2.05 ERA with 28 strikeouts and just 7 walks in 22 innings even. Last time out, he struck out 10 in five and two-thirds, holding the Brewers to a single run. He faced the Mariners about two weeks ago at Target Field and held them scoreless, but the Twins couldn't muster any offense and Minnesota wound up losing 1-0. Let's hope for some more bat action this time around!

GO TWINS GO!!!