Game XV: Blue Jays at Twins

The Game will be rain delayed. Updates when available

First Pitch: 6:40 Central maybe 7:30?
TV: FSNorth
Radio: TIBN
Know Thyne Enemies: Bluebird Banter

The Twins have dropped two games in a row, for the first time all season. Both losses have sat squarely upon the shoulders of the bullpen, as both Martin Perez and Kyle Gibson did enough to keep the team in the game, the bats scored enough to win most nights. Toronto just scored more. In fact, it took a perfect relay throw by Toronto to keep the game out of extra innings last night.

Toronto has hit well from the sixth inning on, both throughout the year and especially during this series. It will be incumbent upon Jake Odorizzi to keep them off the board early, and the bats to jump out to an early lead. If the Twins can build a cushion, perhaps the overtaxed bullpen can hold. Even better would be a strong six-plus from Odorizzi, as it will allow the bullpen an inning or two less than they’ve been called upon for the previous games.

Toeing the rubber for Toronto will be Trent Thornton. During our Q&A with Tom at Bluebird Banter, we got the following scouting report

Trent’s first two MLB starts were excellent, far better than any of us expected. His third start, against the Rays, was a disaster, 8 hits, 3 homers in 3 innings. There was a suggestion that he was tipping pitches. His curve rates near the top of the MLB for spin rate.

No one from the Twins has ever batted against Thornton.

Odorizzi is a former AL East pitcher (with the Rays,) and therefore has faced the Blue Jays a few times. He has kept the Birdies mostly under control, with a total line of .192/.250/.346 and nine strikeouts. Justin Smoak has two hits in 21 at bats against Gibby, but has hit a dong and a double. Eric Sogard is 1-for-3, Freddie Galvis is 1-for-3 with a double, and Devon Travis (whoever that is) is 6-for-18 with a double and a “show-off double.” No other Blue Jays have collected a hit off Jake, until tonight (probably.)