Article: MIN 7, STL 1: Five Alive

[Tom Froemming]

With another victory Tuesday afternoon, the Twins are now on a five-game winning streak, putting them just a game out of first place in the American League Central division. Jake Odorizzi gave up a home run to the third batter he faced, but it was all Twins from there. The Twins tallied seven unanswered runs to blow out the Cardinals in a nice little afternoon at the ballpark.Snapshot Info

Record: 15-17

Odorizzi: 56 Game Score, 65.6 Strike%, 5.0 P, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

Bullpen: 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 IR, 0 IS, 4 K, 0 BB

Hitters: 4-for-10 w/RISP, 8 LOB, 4 K, 3 BB

Top 3 per WPA: Grossman .287, Odorizzi .164, Garver .154

 

Win Expectancy Chart (via FanGraphs)

Download attachment: chart.png

This was the ninth consecutive game in which the Twins’ starting pitcher went at least five innings. That streak has really aided the bullpen in finding its footing. As an added bonus, the Twins have a day off tomorrow before they start a four-game series at Anaheim.

 

Odorizzi kept things pretty simple, pounding four-seam fastballs up in the zone while mixing in the slider outside to right-handers and the splitter low to lefties. It was an effective plan of attack, as after that first inning homer Odorizzi only gave up one more hit.

Download attachment: chart (1).png

The bats had a tough assignment in Carlos Martinez, but they passed with flying colors. Martinez had given up just three earned runs over his previous six starts. He’d also gone at least six innings in each of those starts. The Twins scored four runs against Martinez and bounced him from the game after five innings. Two of those runs were unearned, as the St. Louis defense committed three errors.

 

Eddie Rosario has been an absolute monster. He entered today with a 1.032 slugging percentage over 31 plate appearances in May. That’s not a typo, we’re talking just slugging percentage, not OPS. Today, he was 2-for-5 and scored three runs.

 

That Eduardo Escobar has been lighting it up all season. He also had two hits, including a two-run homer. Robbie Grossman has also been heating up of late. He had a big two-run double and drew a pair of walks.

 

The bullpen was perfect. Ryan Pressly for two innings, Taylor Rogers for one, then an inning from Phil Hughes. No hits, no walks. Absolutely beautiful way to finish up this brief two-game series at St. Louis.

 

Up Next

Wed OFF

Thu at LAA, 9:07 pm CT

Fri at LAA, 9:07 pm CT

 

Last Three Games

MIN 6, STL 0: Fernand0 R0mer0!!!!

MIN 5, CHW 3: Rosario Lifts Twins to Third Straight Victory

MIN 8, CHW 4: Rosario Drives in Five

 

More From Twins Daily

Top Twins Prospects Are Performing

The K Brigade: Twins Pitchers on a Strikeout Binge

What's Gotten Into Kyle Gibson?

 

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[70charger]

The Eddies are just ridiculous right now. I love it.

[yarnivek1972]

I have a hard time getting excited about starters going 5 innings. Sure, it’s better than not doing so. Let me know when the team rattles off 4 in a row (hell, 7 of 10 games) with 6 from the starter.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

We came, we saw, we conquered

[OldTimeTwinkie]

Hmm mm, Sano Gets hurt in 2017 Escobar fills in and Twins take off. 2018 Sano gets hurt and "Mighty Mouse" fills in again and Twins take off. Correlation or causation?

[Dantes929]

 

I have a hard time getting excited about starters going 5 innings. Sure, it’s better than not doing so. Let me know when the team rattles off 4 in a row (hell, 7 of 10 games) with 6 from the starter.

Romero went 6 yesterday.   Gibson went 6.2 the day before that.  Lynn went 6 the day before that.   Berrios went 6 the day before that.    That is 4 in a row.     You did want us to let you know.    I also have no complaints about Odorizzi today even though he only went 5.    

[jkcarew]

Hmm mm, Sano Gets hurt in 2017 Escobar fills in and Twins take off. 2018 Sano gets hurt and "Mighty Mouse" fills in again and Twins take off. Correlation or causation?

 

Well the Twins were 2-4 in the first 6 games without Sano, with half of those games against the likes of Cincinnati and the White Sox. But yeah. We’re a much better team when we replace Sano in the lineup with Ehire Adrianza.

[Nine of twelve]

In one week this team has gone from totally dysfunctional to totally unstoppable. As many have said, that's baseball.

[ashbury]

Trade Lance Lynn for a SS (probably not)?

29 other teams had a chance to sign him. The Twins made the best offer. He's off to a mediocre start. No one gives up much to get some of that. It's possible no one takes him on even if he were waived, at least until pennant races get clarified a little.

[VATwinsFan]

Totally off topic, but I see that the Royals put up 10 runs (and 4 HRs) up in the first inning against the Orioles so I go look for the equivalent of TwinsDaily for O's fans.

 

https://www.camdenchat.com/2018/5/8/17333186/tuesday-night-gamethread-vs-royals-7-05-pm

 

The despair is as bad as it was here a week ago, but the language, as they say, leaves much to be desired.   A much higher class of fan here.   Minnesota nice or something.

 

Oh, and I checked in on the game on TV and Camden Yards is all but empty this evening.   A nasty tumble for a great franchise.

Edited May 9, 2018 by VATwinsFan

[Mr. Brooks]

It's not really Sano for Adrianza. Escobar can't play defense well enough to be the everyday Shortstop. Adrianza or someone like him has to play SS most days. The more interesting day will be when Sano is ready to play because you can't just plug him in and take out Adrianza. Soooo, Sano for Morrison at DH? Morrison, Mauer, Sano and Escobar split 3B, DH and 1B with everyone getting one day off out of 4? Escobar in, Dozier out? Escobar plays twice a week at 3rd, twice a week at 2nd, twice a week at SS and the pitchers all hope for the non-Escbar SS days when they pitch? Escobat as a Super Utility by adding the OF into the IF positions he plays so he plays 5 days a week? Trade Lance Lynn for a SS (probably not)? Interesting choices.

Escobar was the starting SS before Sano got hurt, so the swap actually was Sano for Adrianza.

[Mr. Brooks]

I have a hard time getting excited about starters going 5 innings. Sure, it’s better than not doing so. Let me know when the team rattles off 4 in a row (hell, 7 of 10 games) with 6 from the starter.

Average start in mlb is 5.4 innings. This is just the way it is now. It's not a Twins pitchers thing.

[BoofBonser]

Hello Brewers fans! 

[jorgenswest]

I have a hard time getting excited about starters going 5 innings. Sure, it’s better than not doing so. Let me know when the team rattles off 4 in a row (hell, 7 of 10 games) with 6 from the starter.

The bullpen was rested after some good starts.

 

Tomorrow is an off day.

 

The Twins had a comfortable lead.

 

Odorizzi could have gone another inning but it seems like a good move by Molitor. There was little to gain having him go through the lineup the third time and push his pitch count over 100. A week ago when the bullpen was gassed in the middle of a long stretch of games without a day off it would have made sense to keep him in another inning.

Edited May 9, 2018 by jorgenswest

[bighat]

A 6-0 win and a 7-1 win @ STL? No nitpicking from me, I'll take it.

 

Now on to LAA for a big 4-game series, where a split gives the Twins a winning road trip. Remember the Twins real turnaround last year started away from Target Field? They played much better on the road for a long stretch there.

[Old Twins Cap]

Hey Minnesota!

 

We got a team here.  Fun to watch, playing good baseball.

 

This summer will not be without entertainment after all.

 

Thank God.

[jun]

It's not really Sano for Adrianza. Escobar can't play defense well enough to be the everyday shortstop. Adrianza or someone like him has to play SS most days.  The more interesting day will be when Sano is ready to play because you can't just plug him in and take out Adrianza.  Soooo, Sano for Morrison at DH?  Morrison, Mauer, Sano and Escobar split 3B, DH and 1B with everyone getting one day off out of 4?  Escobar in, Dozier out?  Escobar plays twice a week at 3rd, twice a week at 2nd, twice a week at SS and the pitchers all hope for the non-Escbar SS days when they pitch? Escobat as a Super Utility by adding the OF into the IF positions he plays so he plays 5 days a week? Trade Lance Lynn for a SS (probably not)? Interesting choices.

What makes you think Escobar can't play defense well enough to be the everyday shortstop? Can you back up your statement with stats? If Polanco can be the everyday shortstop, why can't Escobar be? I don't understand why people still doubt Escobar when he again and again proves himself. Escobar has more than earned to be an IF starter for any position he wants to play period. He is probably an average fielder.

[Brandon]

Ckeveland just lost so we are now a half game out of first.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Half a game out on May 8th. We all called this a week ago, right?

[DocBauer]

Half a game out on May 8th. We all called this a week ago, right?

 

Sort of. (Patting myself on the back...hope I don't regret it later, lol). About .500 to start the season with so many young pkayers and new additions to begin the season before the team gels and takes off. Just so damn frustrating the injuries, bad weather, and pure poor performance against lesser teams like the Rays and Reds.

 

Great 2 game series win!

 

Little confused about Morrison batting lead instead of the resurgent Grossman.

 

Love the comments by Molitor, post game, speaking about the bullpen, when he talked about people being so anxious about results vs SSS in the early season vs past results.

 

Biggest mistake the FO made in the off season, IMO, was signing Escobar for one season.

 

This team still misses Sano and Buxton. (Long term, Polanco as well). But honestly, Buxton is missed most at this point.

 

I really think we are ready to roll about now. How much better can we be fully healthy?

[tarheeltwinsfan]

 

Half a game out on May 8th. We all called this a week ago, right?

This post made me laugh out loud...and it is 4 in the morning. I can go back to bed now.

[ThejacKmp]

 

29 other teams had a chance to sign him. The Twins made the best offer. He's off to a mediocre start. No one gives up much to get some of that. It's possible no one takes him on even if he were waived, at least until pennant races get clarified a little.

 

You're correct that you won't get a quality shortstop for him but it's erroneous to think he'd make it through waivers. Teams have injuries to starters, teams have young guys who need more seasoning, teams are suddenly competitive . . . there are openings. The Giants would take him in a heartbeat with Cueto and Madison down already.

 

I think the big point is that Lance Lynn will almost certainly improve. He's young enough that it's unlikely the wheels fell off and he has a consistent track record. I know nothing about baseball but maybe starting spring training late hurt him. Give him May and if he hasn't turned it around, then we know who Ervin replaces.

[Number3]

Twins are still 2 games under the .500 mark and only in the AL Central does that have you anywhere near first place. Unless they at least split with LA they will leave there 4 games under. No time to celebrate yet especially since Chicago and St Louis were willing accomplices. The fact is that the Twins have managed to avoid disaster in the past 2 series thanks to a rookie pitcher and timely hitting from a patch work lineup that may be a blessing in disguise. I think the Twins have a bunch of ball players on the field now instead of athletes playing baseball.

Bottom line...if they can hang around the .500 mark Aug and Sept should mean something. So far wild card looks unattainable this year so its Central or bust.

[ashbury]

 

You're correct that you won't get a quality shortstop for him but it's erroneous to think he'd make it through waivers. Teams have injuries to starters, teams have young guys who need more seasoning, teams are suddenly competitive . . . there are openings. The Giants would take him in a heartbeat with Cueto and Madison down already.

 

I think the big point is that Lance Lynn will almost certainly improve. He's young enough that it's unlikely the wheels fell off and he has a consistent track record. I know nothing about baseball but maybe starting spring training late hurt him. Give him May and if he hasn't turned it around, then we know who Ervin replaces.

Okay, you buy the premise, but you take issue with a bit of hyperbole I offered (and "possible", not "probable", at that) in order to make the point. If perhaps a team in desperate need would take Lynn off our hands without our even needing to cover part of the salary, that is still a far cry from him being a significant trading chip to acquire someone that fills a need of our own.

[Possumlad]

 

Twins are still 2 games under the .500 mark and only in the AL Central does that have you anywhere near first place. Unless they at least split with LA they will leave there 4 games under. No time to celebrate yet especially since Chicago and St Louis were willing accomplices. The fact is that the Twins have managed to avoid disaster in the past 2 series thanks to a rookie pitcher and timely hitting from a patch work lineup that may be a blessing in disguise. I think the Twins have a bunch of ball players on the field now instead of athletes playing baseball.

Bottom line...if they can hang around the .500 mark Aug and Sept should mean something. So far wild card looks unattainable this year so its Central or bust.

Incredible post. Reusse himself couldn't produce such a harmonious blend of old-school MN cynicism, parade raining, "real ball players" mumbo jumbo, and hyperbolic early-season doom & gloom. Hopefully they get back to losing so Number3 cheers up a little bit! 

[ThejacKmp]

 

Okay, you buy the premise, but you take issue with a bit of hyperbole I offered (and "possible", not "probable", at that) in order to make the point. If perhaps a team in desperate need would take Lynn off our hands without our even needing to cover part of the salary, that is still a far cry from him being a significant trading chip to acquire someone that fills a need of our own.

 

Agreed. Though I also think that Lynn has more value than you'd think (capped at maybe a lottery ticket prospect). He's been bad but teams know he's not that bad, he has a track record. And he costs less and less (though of course you get less and less) as time goes on. Just because the Twins won at $12 million doesn't mean other teams weren't in for less (or that Lynn didn't choose the Twins over an equal offer due to playoff potential, reputation, rotation role, Midwest love etc.)

 

I don't think it's a desperate need thing either. Lance Lynn is a solid MLB starter, terrible Twins start not included. In spring training, everyone has their own plans. By the end of May, some of those plans have fallen through. Lynn would be a safe low ceiling, low floor move for a lot of teams with a spot to fill in the rotation.

[Circus Boy]

Love winning streaks. But the absolute best five-game streak will be winning the seventh game of the ALC at Yankee Stadium, then sweeping the Cubs in the World Series.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Ckeveland just lost so we are now a half game out of first.

Cleveland loses 3-2 after Kluber surrenders home run to Brewers relief pitcher.

 

Things you can't make up.

Edited May 9, 2018 by Hosken Bombo Disco

[slash129]

 

The despair is as bad as it was here a week ago, but the language, as they say, leaves much to be desired.   A much higher class of fan here.   Minnesota nice or something.

 

Not sure the fans are classier ... It's just SB Nation doesn't really moderate and allows for a lot more than TD

[Circus Boy]

 

Not sure the fans are classier ... It's just SB Nation doesn't really moderate and allows for a lot more than TD

Yep. I got a stern talking to from the TD moderators for one too many gosh-darns.