Article: MIN 4, HOU 10: Springer and Bregman and Altuve... Oh My!

[Seth Stohs]

Eddie Rosario put himself in the Twins record books again and gave the Twins a nice boost with a first inning home run, but the bats then went silent and the bullpen was unable to stop the bleeding. The Twins got a big win in the series’ first game, and the Astros got the big win in the second game. On Wednesday night, the team’s will face off one more time.Box Score

 

SP: Michael Pineda: 5 1/3 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 65.5% strikes

Home Runs: Eddie Rosario (10)

Multi-Hit Games: Jonathan Schoop (2-4)

WPA of +0.1: Eddie Rosario (0.189), Max Kepler (0.147)

WPA of -0.1: Michael Pineda (-0.309), Trevor Hildenberger (-0.213), Jorge Polanco (-0.117)

 

(chart via FanGraphs)

 

For the second straight night, the Minnesota Twins jumped out to a fast start in Houston. Leadoff hitter Mitch Garver got on with an infield single. One out later, Nelson Cruz reached. Eddie Rosario went opposite field to give the Twins a 3-0 lead just four batters into the game.

 

 

He became the fastest player in Twins history to reach double digits in homers, in just his 21st game of the year.

 

 

At that point, Wade Miley took over. Now, he barely reached 90 mph in the game, but he worked the bottom of the strike zone very well and retired the next 15 batters before leaving the game after the sixth inning.

 

George Springer went to work for the Astros with his bat. In the third inning, he put Houston on the board with an RBI single. Then he hit an RBI double in the fifth inning. Later in the inning, Alex Bregman took a 3-0 fastball and drilled a ball to left field that scored two runs and put the Astros ahead 4-3. Fortunately, Rosario threw Bregman out at second base.

 

The Twins were probably glad to see Miley’s night come to an end. With two outs in the top of the seventh, 17 straight Twins batters had been retired, the Twins had three straight hits, the third an RBI single by Max Kepler. It marked the 200th RBI of Kepler’s young career.

 

But Trevor Hildenberger had to pitch with the bases loaded again, this time his own doing. He got Alex Bregman to line out to right field, but the go-ahead run scored. Adalberto Mejia was brought in to face lefty Michael Brantley, and the veteran with one of the sweetest swings in the game hit an RBI single to left to give the Astros a two-run lead after seven innings.

 

Ryan Pressly shut the Twins down in the eighth inning. However, the bottom of the eighth got off to a bad start and Tyler Duffey was unable to stop the bleeding. The inning started with an error by Jorge Polanco and it just went downhill from there. Duffey fielded a bunt and threw errantly toward second, allowing a runner to score. And later Jose Altuve crushed a three-run homer that pushed the score to 10-4. All four runs were unearned.

 

Former Twins All Star reliever Glen Perkins chimed in on twitter with his thoughts on the Duffey performance tonight.

 

 

Michael Pineda worked well through the game’s first four innings, but you just can’t hold off the Astros lineup for very long. George Springer, Alex Bregman and Jose Altuve combined for eight of the Astros ten RBI.

 

Following the game, the Twins announced that Kohl Stewart will be called up to make the start on Wednesday night against Justin Verlander. The corresponding roster move will be made on Wednesday.

 

The clubhouse remained closed to media for quite some time after the game (obviously due to a transaction happening), so FSN did not air the Rocco Baldelli post-game press conference. Here it is:

 

 

Bullpen Usage

Here’s a quick look at the number of pitches thrown by the bullpen over the past five days:

 

Next Three Games

 

Wednesday - 7:10 @ Houston - Kohl Stewart (1st start of season) vs Justin Verlander (3-0, 3.00 ERA)

Thursday - Twins Day Off

Friday - 7:10 Home vs Baltimore - Jose Berrios (3-1, 2.97 ERA) vs Dan Straily (1-1, 8.59 ERA)

Saturday - 1:10 Home vs Baltimore - Martin Perez (2-0, 5.31 ERA) vs Alex Cobb (0-1, 11.88 ERA)

 

Last Game

MIN 9, HOU 5: Bats Thrive, Bullpen Survives

 

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[Channing1964]

I didn't catch why we are starting Stewart tomorrow? That seems like raising a red flag to me. Is it a trickle down effect from the double header Saturday? Gosh it seems a little early for nobody to pitch on 3 days rest. Im assuming the one they are protecting is Berrios? Whoever was supposed to go on Friday i guess is who is being bumped up.

[Channing1964]

I wonder who's going down ...

[Seth Stohs]

 

I didn't catch why we are starting Stewart tomorrow? That seems like raising a red flag to me. Is it a trickle down effect from the double header Saturday? Gosh it seems a little early for nobody to pitch on 3 days rest. Im assuming the one they are protecting is Berrios? Whoever was supposed to go on Friday i guess is who is being bumped up.

 

Berrios was supposed to pitch last Friday but there was the rain out, so he pitched Game 1 on Saturday. He would be pitching on three days rest if he went on Wednesday. No way they would do that to him. So he's pitching Friday. Martin Perez then pitches on Saturday. If things had gone differently tonight, they may have done more of a bullpen game of sorts on Wednesday. 

[Aerodeliria]

I am curious as to why Rocco didn't bring in the Jolly Roger if his intent was only to get the one out against one of the better left-handed hitters around...Nevertheless, when your team plays the Astros, I just feel like you have to keep scoring. When we couldn't muster another run after scoring three early, it was like the tension on the rope was ever increasing with each and every pitch. (And of course, the Astros made us pay for walks and errors. You're rarely going to stave off disaster when those two are combined against a team like the Astros.)

[jokin]

 

I wonder who's going down ...

 

No you don't.

[killertwinfan]

This bullpen will always struggle to hold down productive offenses like the Astros. 

[wsnydes]

It's awfully difficult to beat good teams when you shoot yourself in the foot, especially late in the game. Too many quick innings with the bats, errors and poor decision making (Duffey) simply aren't going to get it done against a team like Houston.

 

It doesn't get any easier tonight versus Verlander. Stewart is going to have his hands full too.

[bighat]

Stewart has surprised before. Didn't he pitch a great game against Houston last year, in fact? He just can't walk guys.

 

The walks. The walks. The walks. Enough already. Twins pitchers should not be walking guys ike Tyler White or Yuli Gurriel. Goodness.

 

Gibson, Odorizzi, Pineda and Perez...a couple of average veterans, a guy coming off a major injury, and a rebuilding project. Good grief it looks like the staff of a team like the Orioles or Royals.

 

Gio Gonzalez is available now...what do you all think of that guy?

 

Seriously that Houston lineup is stacked. I don't know how you can win a playoff series against them without elite pitching.

[Old Twins Cap]

People complain about trading Pressly and what an awesome pitcher he is.

 

Well, it may be that Houston knows how to coach pitching.

 

Jesus, Wade Miley looked like Cy Young last night. Wasn't he rubbish in Boston and other cities before Houston?

 

 

[yarnivek1972]

Not sure I understand the logic of Stewart over Littell. Stewart’s first start of the year was good. The last two were terrible. By contrast, Littell’s first start was bad but his most recent two were pretty good. His last start was 5 2/3 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K.

[rdehring]

Really liked what the FO did last July, picking up many very good prospects.  The one trade that bothered me a bit was the Pressley deal.  There is a chance Alcala could be special and this deal may look good for the Twins in the long run.  But today, Pressley would take away a lot of the question marks from our pen.

[Dantes929]

 

People complain about trading Pressly and what an awesome pitcher he is.

 

Well, it may be that Houston knows how to coach pitching.

 

Jesus, Wade Miley looked like Cy Young last night. Wasn't he rubbish in Boston and other cities before Houston?

2.57 ERA with Milwaukee last year.   Sometimes its just guys figuring stuff out.    Twins seem to do just as well against guys throwing 96 as they do against guys throwing 89.       Walks, multiple errors generally contribute greatly to 3 run homers.   Its not a good recipe no matter who you play.   Not the end of the world losing to Houston but would prefer it be more their doing than our own undoing.   

[USAFChief]

Duffey completely lost his composure in that inning. Embarrassing. Not big league.

[wsnydes]

 

Not sure I understand the logic of Stewart over Littell. Stewart’s first start of the year was good. The last two were terrible. By contrast, Littell’s first start was bad but his most recent two were pretty good. His last start was 5 2/3 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K.

Are both on regular rest? Perhaps it would be Stewart's regular day to pitch and that's not the case with Littell?

[KFEY93]

I think im going to use tonight to finish cleaning up and mowing my back yard. As it stands now this game is going to be a blow out that wont even be worth turning on. Astros 10 - T-ins 3   with us scoring 2 meaningless runs in the 8th. At least we got one out of them! 

[Number3]

Losing this game was absolutely no big deal and better 10-4 than 5-4. Just chalk it up as one of the 60 guaranteed losses that you can count before the season even starts. All they have to do tonight is pretend that Verlander is still with Detroit. 7 of 10 games are against Astros and 4 of next 5 at Target. 4 of those 7 in the W column would be great but I'll take 2 of 3 vs Os and a home split with the Stros even if Twins lose today. So far they are right on track.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Are both on regular rest? Perhaps it would be Stewart's regular day to pitch and that's not the case with Littell?

Yes, both are on 4+ days of rest.

[PharmerJack]

Duffey was rooouuugghhhh, looked shook out there. Hildy had an uncharacteristically bad inning as well... But those things will happen to a middling bullpen like ours, I'm kind of glad they fell apart against a team like Houston instead of a much more beatable squad like anyone in the AL Central.

[nokomismod]

I'm guessing Duffey is sent down to make room for Stewart? I'm not ready to give up on DuffMan yet, but what happened to that nice breaking ball that he used to be able to get swings and misses on?

[PharmerJack]

 

I am curious as to why Rocco didn't bring in the Jolly Roger if his intent was only to get the one out against one of the better left-handed hitters around...

Perhaps he was still thinking today would be a "Bullpen day" and wanted to save Rogers arm to get a few innings out of him? Not sure bringing him in to face one batter would affect that though...

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I'm guessing Duffey is sent down to make room for Stewart?

Yes. Likely Duffey goes down today, Stewart comes up for the start. Then Stewart goes down tomorrow, and Magill is activated.

[Mike Sixel]

I never would have guessed this pitching staff wasn't all that good..... Can't wait for next year when the starters are Berrios and four random guys.

[yarnivek1972]

I never would have guessed this pitching staff wasn't all that good..... Can't wait for next year when the starters are Berrios and four random guys.

Five Guys Burgers and Fries

[yarnivek1972]

Are both on regular rest? Perhaps it would be Stewart's regular day to pitch and that's not the case with Littell?

Stewart pitched on the 18th. He would be on 5 days. Littell pitched on the 19th. He would be on 4.

[MMMordabito]

Angel Hernandez should be fired.  I'm sure Houston would agree too.  

[Mr. Brooks]

Not sure I understand the logic of Stewart over Littell. Stewart’s first start of the year was good. The last two were terrible. By contrast, Littell’s first start was bad but his most recent two were pretty good. His last start was 5 2/3 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K.

My guess would be that Stewart is a groundball pitcher, in a flyball hitters park.

[yarnivek1972]

My guess would be that Stewart is a groundball pitcher, in a flyball hitters park.

Stewart has allowed more flyballs than groundballs this year.

 

For their respective careers, Littell has a GO/AO ratio of 1.3. Stewart’s is 1.7.

[howieramone2]

 

I never would have guessed this pitching staff wasn't all that good..... Can't wait for next year when the starters are Berrios and four random guys.

A member of Twinkie Town just predicted what our pitching staff will look like in the next few years. You'll recognize all the names. Doesn't look like we are going to sign one of those free agent starting pitchers to a terrible contract.

Edited April 24, 2019 by howieramone2

[Mike Sixel]

A member of Twinkie Town just predicted what our pitching staff will look like in the next few years. You'll recognize all the names. Doesn't look like we are going to sign one those starting pitchers to a terrible contract which you are so fond of.

Good luck with that next year, which was what the post was about. You think four new pitchers are likely to create a good staff?

 

No great team builds only thru the draft or trades.