Game Thread: Twins @ Blue Jays, 7/25/18 @ 3:07 PM CT

[Respy]

_{Photo by Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images}

 

Following the All-Star break, the Twins find themselves in a bear market, poised to sell. Hot going into the break on July 16, the Twins ‘boosted’ their playoff odds to 3%. Any last glimmer of hope is largely gone, losing 2 of 4 games out of the break and seeing their playoff odds diminish to 1%. The Twins are at 7 games under .500, and 7.5 games back of the Cleveland Indians in the AL Central with 63 games remaining.

 

On a positive note, the Twins finally welcome back Ervin Santana from the disabled list for his first start/appearance of 2018! Santana had surgery in early February on his right middle finger. After 7 rehab starts, there were mixed reviews on Ervin’s performance. But, he posted a respectable 3.72 ERA with a .183 BAA and only 5 walks in 29 innings.

 

Series Recap:

 

The Blue Jays (46-54, 4th in AL East) are hosting the Twins (46-53, 2nd in AL Central) for game 3 of a 3-game series. The Twins won the first two games of the series against the Blue Jays. Yesterday Jose Berrios spun a 7-inning scoreless gem, and Eduardo Escobar hit his 15th homerun and MLB-leading 37th double.

 

1. Notable Baseball Birthdays

• Billy Wagner (47): 6th on the all-time closers list with 422 saves.
• Larry Sherry (1935-2006): Won World Series MVP for the Dodgers in 1959 as a reliever.
• Alex Presley (33): Currently a minor league free agent, spent part of 2013 with the Twins. Had a solid bounce-back year with the Tigers in 2017 by hitting .314.
• Santiago Casilla (38): T-87th on the all-time saves list with 144.  Recently released by the Athletics.
• Doug Drabek (56): 155-134 career record, and once victim of a baseball prank over stolen clubhouse equipment:

• Kevin Kouzmanoff (37): Became the third player in MLB history to hit a grand slam in his first at-bat (and on first pitch seen, at that):

 

2. Starting Pitchers and Key Matchups

 

Ervin Santana (RHP, Minnesota): 0-0 (first start of the season)

• 6-7 with 3.84 ERA career vs. Blue Jays
• Curtis Granderson vs. Santana: 13 for 54 (.241 BA) with 5 homeruns.
• Yangervis Solarte vs. Santana: 1 for 15 (.067 BA) with 2 strikeouts.

Sam Gaviglio (RHP, Blue Jays): 2-3 in 12 starts, 4.59 ERA, 8.5 K/9, 2.6 BB/9

• 1-0 with 4.35 ERA career vs. Twins
• Joe Mauer vs. Gaviglio: 3 for 5 (.600 BA)
• Eddie Rosario vs. Gaviglio: 0 for 5 with 2 K’s.
• Brian Dozier vs. Gaviglio: 0 for 6 with 1 K.

3. Our Twins: Who’s Hot and Cold?

 

 

Hotter than a Casserole Hotdish

• Eduardo Escobar: 7 for 17 (.412 BA) with 1 HR, 6 RBI, 4 walks last 7 days
• Joe Mauer: 8 for 22 (.364 BA) with 4 runs last 7 days
• Mitch Garver: 4 for 10 (.400 BA) with 1 double, 1 triple, 2 walks last 7 days
• Ryan Pressley: 0.96 ERA (13 K’s in 9.1 innings) in July

 

Colder than Embarrass

• Brian Dozier: 2 for 19 (.105 BA) last 7 days
• Bobby Wilson: 1 for 10 (.100 BA) last 7 days
• Jake Cave: 0 for 6 with 4 K’s last 7 days

4. OBP (One Bad Pun)

 

Our middle child just celebrated his third birthday. Right now he’s obsessed with the We’re Going on a Bear Hunt book, so we had a bear hunt birthday. Our son kept his favorite bear, Teddy, at his side the whole party. Teddy played games, Teddy went out on our trail for the bear hunt, and Teddy joined us for lunch. After lunch we of course had a bear-themed cake. We asked Teddy if he wanted to have a slice of cake, but he said ‘no’ because he was already stuffed.

 

5. Magic 8-Ball (2018 Prediction Rate: 1-2)

 

Shake 1: “Outlook not so good”
Shake 2: “Yes”
Shake 3: “Yes”

My Magic 8-ball says… Twins win today.

 

---------------------------------

 

Lineups:

 

 TWINS

 

Lineup: TBA

 

P. Ervin Santana (RHP)

 

 Blue Jays

 

Lineup: TBA

 

P. Sam Gaviglio (RHP)

 

Forecast for Toronto, Ontario: 79 degrees F (26 degrees C, eh?), Partly Cloudy, Wind 7 mph, Precipitation 15%

[Respy]

If someone would be able to post lineups later, it would be much appreciated. I plan to be oot and aboot.

[Vanimal46]

[Mike Sixel]

The lineup doesn't include Buxton or Sano, but it looks like what you'd have expected at the beginning of the year other than that. 

[Cap'n Piranha]

 Nice intro Respy.

 

Bobby Wilson is the Mayor of Embarrass, for multiple reasons.

[gocgo]

Erv just needs to keep the  ball down in the zone and keep it in the park.  The Jays either hit it out of the park or they struggle to score.

[wsnydes]

Heads up baserunning by Rosario!

[wsnydes]

..and wasted.

[Don Walcott]

 

Forecast for Toronto, Ontario: 79 degrees F (26 degrees C, eh?), Partly Cloudy, Wind 7 mph, Precipitation 15%

 

It's a beautiful day.  We're not scared!

[bighat]

Any possible trade value Santana would've had seems to be gone. He's not sharp and it looks like he's gonna need plenty of time to get his stuff back.

[Puckett34]

 

Heads up baserunning by Rosario!

 

 

..and wasted.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23kFiqFiOlA

[Circus Boy]

Mr. Santana could use a 3-up, 3-down frame.

[GCTF]

Mr. Santana could use a 3-up, 3-down frame.

Lots of hard contact is going to make that tough

[Aggies7]

Cripes, Erv is getting knocked around the park

[TwinsCD]

It seems that every batted out that Santana has gotten in this game has come on a hard hit ball.  They've got him squared up pretty nicely.

[twins_89]

I'm not encouraged by the number of balls that have been hammered by the Jays. The 3-4 mph Santana's lost really seems to make a huge difference in terms of the batters squaring him up for hard contact.

[wsnydes]

Jays playing some sloppy ball today.  Sheesh.

[mikeee]

pitch to contact...  lol

[Foghorn Leghorn]

Erv is shot. Good career but it’s near the end.

[mikeee]

cave! cave! cave!

[Mill1634]

Nice to see Erv back out there. However, looks like he is toast unless the velo ramps back up. Hope for the best though!

[TwinsCD]

I like how some have already written off Santana and he's just 4 innings into his first appearance against MLB hitting since October.  It's like y'all expected him to have a perfect game with 7 K's thru these 4 innings.  The last couple of innings he seems to have settled in a bit better.  3rd time thru the order in the 5th will be key though.  Be nice to get him a few more runs for cushion.

[Mill1634]

Great base running there Eddie!!!!

[Mill1634]

Now would be a great time for Pressly..

[operation mindcrime]

Matt Belisle's ERA. is 6.66 the number of the beast!

[TwinsCD]

 

Now would be a great time for Pressly..

 

Said not many ever.

 

I'll need a heads up if he does come in so I can change the channel.

[operation mindcrime]

Ervin did a nice job today! If he keeps this up we'll get something decent for him in August!

[mrmpls]

Seeing Ervin brought back Yankee nightmares again, But hopefully he figures it out!

[mrmpls]

GARVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mill1634]

GARVER!!!!!

 

HELL YES!!

 

He seems to always hit a homer when needed.