Game Thread (8/23): Twins vs. Oakland, 7:10 pm CT

[Tom Froemming]

Twins | 60-66 overall, 38-26 at home, 6-4 last 10

Kohl Stewart, RHP | 7.71 ERA, 2.29 WHIP, 0.60 K:BB in 7.0 IP

 

Athletics | 76-51 overall, 37-25 on the road, 7-3 last 10

Trevor Cahill, RHP | 3.12 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 3.40 K:BB in 86.2 IP

 

Lineups:

 

Additional Notes:

Stewart will be making his third MLB start, first that’s not coming against the Detroit Tigers. He’s had some efficiency issues, throwing a total of 139 pitches in his seven innings of work so far. Max Kepler is hitting .258/.361/.548 (.909 OPS) in 72 plate appearances so far in August. The Twins lefty bullpen duo of Taylor Rogers and Gabriel Moya have been super this month. Moya has pitched the most innings out of the bullpen in August with 14 2/3 and has given up just three earned runs (1.84 ERA). Rogers is tied for the second-most innings out of the pen this month at 9 1/3, and he hasn’t allowed a run.

 

In his return to Oakland, Cahill has also made the rare successful transition back to starting after spending a few years in the pen. Cahill was a key reliever for the Cubs from late-2015 through 2016, went to San Diego to start last year but was injured shortly after being dealt to Kansas City. Upon his return, the Royals put him back into the bullpen. Among pitchers with at least 80 innings, Cahill ranks ninth in the AL in ERA and seventh in WHIP. Pretty incredible return on a $1.5 million investment by the A’s.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

I hope we win.

[TheMatt]

The only reason that I would want the A's to win is if it ensures that the Astros, A's, and Mariners all make the playoffs while the *hated Yankees are sent home.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

The only reason that I would want the A's to win is if it ensures that the Astros, A's, and Mariners all make the playoffs while the *hated Yankees are sent home.

Valid reason.

[Winston Smith]

I really wish they would move on from Grossman.

[Platoon]

I hope we get thought the whole game without botching a rundown. .

[Craig Arko]

I hope we win.

That’s what Fezzik said.

[Danchat]

Leading off with a Martini... that does not sound like a baseball phrase.

[slash129]

Getaway lineup to open the series ... hmm

[slash129]

 

Leading off with a Martini... that does not sound like a baseball phrase.

 

It's Martini Time is pretty good Reverend Horton Heat album though.

[Danchat]

So... this Khris Davis guy is pretty good. And I certainly don't mean Chris Davis.

[slash129]

Good to see Kohl getting some swinging strikes

 

[Crackedfungo]

 

Good to see Kohl getting some swinging strikes

Kohl has solid velocity and movement.  He reminds me a bit of Berrios when he came up (e.g. wild, but stuff was apparent).  The question will be how he adjusts, and if his desire and work ethic mirror Berrios.  His starts have been similar - leaving balls up, lacking control of some serious movement on his pitches.  

[Crackedfungo]

And high pitch counts.  He appears to have about 4 pitches to consider.  Command and control are difficult with the young pitchers with velocity AND movement.  He didn't seem to have walk problems in the minors this year either.  Gonsalves did, though he had more success by a wide margin in the minors.  Clearly the 'stuff' is why one was a 1st rounder and the other a 4th (though could have been higher).  Thank the Lord we are finally seeing the young guys vs. retreads - though it will take patience.

[slash129]

Way to work out of jam ... Now, c'mon O .... Give him some runs

 

[Crackedfungo]

Nice job working out of a jam.  This is what we need the kids up to learn when it doesn't count.  Several swinging strikes for Kohl this game, which was a knock on him in the minors.

[AlwaysinModeration]

Quite the crowd tonight.

 

Um, I meant quiet crowd tonight.

[Nine of twelve]

 

I really wish they would move on from Grossman.

They will when Buxton comes back.

[wabene]

Stewart is looking good. I see some potential there more than I expected considering the press I've seen. Liked how when he didn't get some calls that looked liked strike he didn't seem to get too emotional about it

[slash129]

Help me, Obi Rosario, you're my only hope!

[Nine of twelve]

 

It's Martini Time is pretty good Reverend Horton Heat album though.

There never has been and never will be a bad RHH album.

[LaBombo]

 

Quite the crowd tonight.

Um, I meant quiet crowd tonight.

 

And that's with the immense draw that is Logan Forsythe's late bid for the Hall of Fame. Imagine the ghost town TF would be without his phenomenal Twins career / scintillating season / nice month.

[bighat]

Stewart's all over the place.

[AlwaysinModeration]

And that's with the immense draw that is Logan Forsythe's late bid for the Hall of Fame. Imagine the ghost town TF would be without his phenomenal Twins career / scintillating season / nice month.

Well, I’d vote for him, anyway.

 

Off topic, but nice sequence by Rosario there.

[Nine of twelve]

Eeek, Wilson is limping. Do we want to see Astudillo catching major league games?

[USAFChief]

This will be unpopular, but I see very little to like about Stewart. 

 

Move him to the pen, hope his velocity upticks, and try to rescue a useful asset from that draft pick.

[LaBombo]

 

This will be unpopular, but I see very little to like about Stewart. 

 

Move him to the pen, hope his velocity upticks, and try to rescue a useful asset from that draft pick.

 

Well, we've learned at least one thing by watching him so far, which is that one answer the judges will accept to the question "How good does your fastball have to be if it's your only reliable pitch" is "Better than Kohl Stewart's".

 

That being said, I'm ok with him making a couple more starts before they consider the Trevor May career path of promoting him from starter to low-leverage middle reliever.

[Danchat]

 

This will be unpopular, but I see very little to like about Stewart. 

 

Move him to the pen, hope his velocity upticks, and try to rescue a useful asset from that draft pick.

I'm not sure why it'd be unpopular, as most here don't regard Stewart as much of a prospect. Methinks his only hope at being a MLB pitcher is in the bullpen, and that's what I was saying before any MLB starts.

[wabene]

This will be unpopular, but I see very little to like about Stewart. 

 

Move him to the pen, hope his velocity upticks, and try to rescue a useful asset from that draft pick.

Maybe I'm missing something. Seems like a much improved outing. Velocity, movement and the ump's not doing him any favors. Better than I expected. It's the opposite of berrios first starts. Berrios looked much worse than I expected and Stewart better. Pitch count is up there. If he gets through the fifth it's progress. Just happy to see the youth getting a look

[Nine of twelve]

So maybe it's a good thing Wilson got injured, eh?