Game Thread (8/14): Twins vs. Pittsburgh, 7:10 PM CT

[Tom Froemming]

Twins | 54-63 overall, 33-24 at home, 5-5 last 10

Jake Odorizzi, RHP | 4.50 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 2.45 K:BB in 120.0 IP

 

Pirates | 61-58 overall, 28-29 on the road, 5-5 last 10

Jameson Taillon, RHP | 3.63 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 3.40 K:BB in 134.0 IP

 

Lineups:

https://twitter.com/Twins/status/1029462902850371584?s=19

 

Additional Notes:

These teams should be nice and rested after a day off Monday. Taking a look at the starting pitching matchup, it wouldn’t be a complete surprise if the winner comes down to which manager has the shortest leash and decides to go to his fresh bullpen early. Both of tonight’s starters have even more extreme trouble getting through a lineup for a third time than the average MLB starter. Here’s a look at how the numbers breakdown per Baseball-Reference:

 

2018 League Average: .699 OPS first PA, .728 second, .790 third.

2018 Jameson Taillon: .626 OPS first PA, .680 second, .804 third.

2018 Jake Odorizzi: .663 OPS first PA, .687 second, 1.299 third.

 

Neither Tallon nor Odorizzi has quite as extreme of splits over their careers, but it’ll be interesting to see how this plays out in today’s game. They’ll be back at it again tomorrow afternoon, so the managers can’t completely burn through their bullpens.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Odorizzi is extremer.

 

I like our chances...

[sampleSizeOfOne]

I ain't been paying attention.

 

Is Pittsburgh still in it?

[sampleSizeOfOne]

3 divisions have one team with a losing record...

2 have 2.

 

we have 4?

 

And the Pirates are above 500, 4th in there division.

 

They are closer to contention win-loss-wise, but have more teams to... contend with.

[Tom Froemming]

 

3 divisions have one team with a losing record...
2 have 2.

we have 4?

And the Pirates are above 500, 4th in there division.

They are closer to contention win-loss-wise, but have more teams to... contend with.

It's weird. If the season ended right now, Seattle wouldn't make the playoffs in the AL, but they'd have the second-best record in they were in the NL. 

[rghrbek]

Is Rosie really playing rf and cave playing LF?  

[yarnivek1972]

Is Rosie really playing rf and cave playing LF?

If so, that’s an interesting switch.

 

Of course, it could mean nothing. I was at a game decades ago in which Matt Lawton started in CF with Rich Becker in RF. The posted lineups had that reversed and that was the typical alignment that season.

[wsnydes]

Good to see Kepler in CF instead of Cave. That's a stronger OF alignment in my view.

[Mike Sixel]

Interesting.....I view this as Buxton insurance, frankly.

[Squirrel]

Interesting.....I view this as Buxton insurance, frankly.

Nah, just working on their positional flexibility.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Nah, just working on their positional flexibility.

 

We'll know that's true if he plays 1B at all.....which he should.

 

but I appreciate the humor today....

[Squirrel]

Humour was all I was going for ... but the other is worth pondering.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Nah, just working on their positional flexibility.

Huzzah for positional flexibilty and flexible positions too!

 

No more of this "out stretching at second" if we can help it.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Anyone got a theme song for tonight's game i should listen to?

[Nine of twelve]

 

Humour

Are you posting from somewhere in the British Commonwealth tonight?

[hybridbear]

Good to see Kepler in CF instead of Cave. That's a stronger OF alignment in my view.

Why do you think it’s stronger? I am also curious about why Molitor made this change.

[VATwinsFan]

 

Anyone got a theme song for tonight's game i should listen to?

Eve of Destruction?

[Platoon]

Why do you think it’s stronger? I am also curious about why Molitor made this change.

I would try it also. Kepler certainly isn't any worse than Cave and Rosarios arm plays better in RF, IMHO. (I cannot believe I am agreeing with the reigning MOY)

[VATwinsFan]

Saw Cervelli was going to tee off on that when the ball was still halfway from home plate.

[MN_ExPat]

 

Anyone got a theme song for tonight's game i should listen to?

Five Finger Death Punch - "Just to Watch You Bleed" ?

[Han Joelo]

At 7.5 pitches per out, were Odo to pitch a complete game, that would equal 7.5 x 27!  Whatever that is.  Lets see, mental math (I'm sure whoever was at bat when I started this is still at bat) anyway 140+49+ half of 27(13.5). =189...202.5 pitches.  Somehow he gets his last out on a balk?

[Krusington]

Is watching Jake Odorizzi pitch more painful than watching Lance Lynn pitch or is that just me?

[Mill1634]

First game in a while I've been able to catch.

 

Let's go Twins!

[Platoon]

Is watching Jake Odorizzi pitch more painful than watching Lance Lynn pitch or is that just me?

Yes

[yarnivek1972]

Odorizzi true to form. 3 IP. 55 pitches.

[Mill1634]

EDDIE!

[Mill1634]

I love watching Eddie play baseball

[hybridbear]

Eddie is my favorite player! The Twins are a bit short of Eduardos now with Escobar gone, but Rosario makes up for a lot.

[hybridbear]

Let’s see Forsythe keep up his Twins hitting streak right now.

[snepp]

 

Odorizzi true to form. 3 IP. 55 pitches.

 

70 after 4 now, on the upswing, he may make it through 6 yet.