clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Game 103: Twins at Red Sox

A win tonight gives the Twins a 2-1 series advantage.

MLB: Minnesota Twins at Boston Red Sox Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

FIRST PITCH - 6:10 pm CDT

TV: FSNO

RADIO: WCCO 830, TIBN

MLB: Minnesota Twins at Boston Red Sox
Mookie gets a cookie.
Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Last night was a little bit rough.

In the middle of a four-game winning streak, the Twins looked to have a little magic left in them when they staged a comeback against Craig Kimbrel in the top of the ninth inning, on the back of third baseman Eddie Rosario. It just wasn’t meant to be, though, as the BoSox hit a homer in the tenth and another in the eleventh to steal a comeback of their own.

Also, the Twins traded Eduardo Escobar and Ryan Pressly. So the team as a whole is quite literally falling apart.

Tonight, watch with bated breath to see who’s next on the chopping block. Brian Dozier takes a step to his right — is he adjusting his defensive positioning, or being summoned into the dugout to get his ticket to Milwaukee? Lance Lynn sneezes — interaction with a common allergen? Or a bold-faced attempt to fail a physical? Anything can happen during trading season. (“I’m Ted Allen, and this is ‘Shopped.’”)

MLB: Minnesota Twins at Kansas City Royals Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota’s Starter: Jake Odorizzi

(4-6, 4.37 ERA, 4.45 FIP, 107 IP, 3.9 BB/9, 9.5 K/9, 1.3 fWAR)

As of late, Jake has been on a revenge tour. Two starts ago, he gave up five earned runs in under five innings to his previous team, Tampa Bay. Last time out, he rocked the Royals for eight strikeouts and just one earned run over six innings. Oddly, Minnesota won that first game and dropped the second. Baseball!

Jake hasn’t faced the Red Sox yet this season, but as a veteran of the AL East he’s no stranger to the Boston organization. In his career, he has a 4.45 ERA over 85 innings against them.

MLB: Boston Red Sox at Baltimore Orioles Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

Boston’s Starter: Rick Porcello

(12-4, 3.93 ERA, 3.69 FIP, 126 IP, 2.3 BB/9, 8.6 K/9, 2.1 fWAR)

The youngest pitcher in major-league history, 13-year-old Rick Porcello is celebrating his 10th season and a full decade of Twinkie Town memery. After winning a contentious Cy Young Award in 2016, Porcello still lacks a selection to the All-Star Game, but he’s enjoying another solid season on the east caost. It’s already his fourth year in a Boston uniform.

Last time the Red Sox were at Target Field, young Rick was the only pitcher (in a field that included Chris Sale and David Price) to top the Twins, as he threw seven shutout innings in a 9-2 Boston victory. In his last start, Porcello fired six shutout innings against the Orioles, but take that with a grain of salt, because, well, Orioles. (The Orioles are not good.)

Notes

In case you missed it, Brian Dozier had this to say after last night’s transaction expo:

Moments like these have to be difficult in the clubhouse — as Brian says, not only for contention morale, but because these are friends going away, too. Not to mention that Dozier knows he could be next out the door. Both the San Francisco Giants and the Cleveland Indians have been connected to Doz within the last 24 hours.

Tonight’s Lineups

Rhett Bollinger - @RhettBollinger

As you can see, after having been recalled from Triple-A Rochester, Miguel Sano is back in the lineup for the first time since June 13th. Sano has only appeared in 37 games so far this season, but the idea is that his combined .309/.425/.468 slashline in 113 minor-league plate appearances will translate back to the bigs. He’ll hit sixth and play third.

Additionally, reliever Gabriel Moya has been recalled to fill the departed Ryan Pressly’s spot on the roster. Moya has given up six earned runs in seven innings with Minnesota so far this season.

GO TWINS GO!!!