First Pitch: 6:10 pm CDT
TV: FSN
Radio: WCCO 830, TIBN / The Wolf 102.9 FM
The Twins have built themselves up a nice little four-game roll. It’s been a half-and-half kind of stretch; first, two games were taken from an important divisional rival. Then, Minnesota won a pair of games against a team that they should be beating on a pretty regular basis.
With the taste of last week’s sweep not quite out of our mouths, though, the Twins will be looking to continue their winning ways and climb back to the front of the AL Central. At the outset of the weekend, the White Sox lay claim to the lead, with both Cleveland and Minnesota within .015 percentage points of each other.
In an effort to stay hot, the Twins will be sending out Kenta Maeda, who has been as surefire as it gets this season. Maeda has an elite Hard Hit% in seven starts this year, with a nearly-unhittable changeup headlining a tricky pitch mix.
The 32-year-old righty faced the Tigers in his last start; he struck out eight through six innings, but was tagged for his first loss of the season.
On the other side of things, you have Tarik Skubal, who’s also making his second straight start against the same opponent. Last Saturday, Skubal earned his first major-league win in a five-inning, two-hit effort.
So far in his rookie season, the young Skubal has showcased fastballs and changes that haven’t fooled too many hitters, a decent slider, and a chase curve that rarely drops above the knees. That’s brought the young prospect a 6.75 ERA in a limited number of innings (9.1 total.)
For those of you partial to Minnesota summers, enjoy your long weekend. The Monday forecast around the metro is mid-50s; but the Twins might as well get used to a chill in the air - there will be one come October, too.
The Twins made a handful of roster moves today - Matt Monitto has the roundup here.
With both Mitch Garver and Alex Avila on the IL, it will be Ryan Jeffers getting the bulk of starting time until one of them is back. He’s in the lineup hitting ninth.
Brent Rooker sticks around in the cleanup spot after a nice debut game yesterday.
GO TWINS GO!