Article: MIN 8, TOR 0: Perez Impresses, Bats Bounce Stroman Early

[AJ Condon]

Martin Perez, the bullpen, and the bats were hot tonight as the Minnesota Twins cruised through the Toronto Blue Jays in the series opener tonight.

 

With the bats coming out right away in the first couple of innings, as well as some defensive errors, the Twins were able to scare Marcus Stroman out of the game before finishing five innings. After dropping a four-game series earlier in the season to the Blue Jays, the Twins got off to a hot start and Perez pitched a solid seven innings in a 8-0 win.Box Score

Perez: 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K, 64.7% strikes (66 of 102 pitches)

Home Runs: Castro (4), Rosario (12), Polanco (6)

Multi-Hit Games: Polanco (3-for-4, 2B, HR, BB), Cruz (3-for-5), Castro (2-for-3, HR), Schoop (2-for-4, 2 2B)

WPA of +0.1: Perez .216, Castro .153

WPA of -0.1: None

Download attachment: Win56.png

(chart via FanGraphs)

 

In the first inning, the Twins were able to score an early run with back-to-back hits, an error on an attempted pickoff, and a Rosario RBI. Jason Castro was able to continue his strong hitting performance with a two-run home run in the next inning to extend the lead to 3-0. Perez was able to retire his first six batters with two strikeouts.

 

In the top of the fourth, Castro was able to pick up his third RBI of the game on a sacrifice to second that scored Marwin Gonzalez after a Jonathan Schoop double. Byron Buxton was able to follow that up with his MLB-leading 15th double of the season to extend the lead to 5-0. Perez finally gave up his first hit of the game in the bottom of the fourth, and after a walk found himself in a little pickle with one out. Perez was able to get Vlad Guerroro Jr. to ground to third, and Gonzalez was able to make a nice throw across the diamond to complete the double play and get out of the inning.

 

Rosario was able to end a 2-for-30 stretch, with no home runs, with a solo home run in the fifth and to take back his American League lead in home runs with 12.

After the sixth inning, Perez had given up only two hits and eight strikeouts with a shutout. Polanco was able to pick up his second hit of the game with a solo shot in the seventh to make it 7-0. Perez ended his night in a 1-2-3 fashion in the bottom of the seventh, striking out one to bring his total on the game to nine. His final stat line was seven shutout innings, two hits, two walks and nine strikeouts as he improved to 5-0 on the year with a 2.83 ERA.

Ryne Harper came in for the eighth and continued the good pitching day with a 1-2-3 inning of his own which included one strikeout. The Twins added an insurance run in the top of the ninth to extend the lead to 8-0 with Eddie Rosario’s third RBI of the game.

 

Matt Magill got the ninth inning for the Twins and gave up just one hit as he closed up the ninth and held the shutout for the Twins. With this win, the Twins move to 21-12 on the season

 

Jose Berrios (5-1, 2.91 ERA) is set to start tomorrow’s game. He'll look to continue his dominance and secure a series win in Toronto.

 

Postgame With Baldelli

Bullpen Usage

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

Download attachment: Bullpen56.png

Next Three Games

Tue at TOR, 6:07 pm CT (Berrios-Sanchez)

Wed at TOR, 6:07 pm CT (Gibson-Thornton)

Thu OFF

Fri vs. DET, 7:10 pm CT (TBD)

 

Last Game

NYY 4, MIN 1: Twins Fizzle, Bronx Drizzles

 

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[TheLeviathan]

Helluva nice win.

[Cglidds]

Nice!!!

[Cglidds]

Nice!!!

[Dman]

Perez sure throws his fair share of balls out of the zone but I guess I can't complain with the results he is getting.  He is making me a believer and really strengthening the starting core of Odo and Berrios. If Gibson and Pineda come around this team is dangerous.  

 

Still would be nice to solidify the pen but I am fine giving the guys they have a chance until June to prove themselves.

 

The hitters have been outstanding.  This is a very tough lineup to keep quiet.  Any player can take a mistake pitch out of the park.  I have been waiting a long time for a team like this.  If we stay healthy it is gonna be a fun year.

[jtkoupal]

Great performance against a very good pitcher.

 

By the way, Trevor Bauer got knocked around by the Chi Sox, which is not good for the Indians, who need Bauer now more than ever.

 

Anyway, The Twinkies move another game ahead and now have a 3-game lead over Browntown in the Central!

[Danchat]

Wow. I'm stunned Perez has turned into this after such a poor 2018 campaign... my opinion on the Perez signing has aged as well as a ham sandwich.

[jkcarew]

I didn’t like the signing...figured the Twins were well stocked in no 5 starters, some with higher potential. Now, it’s May 6 and that’s two Pérez starts as good or better than the best start I figured he’d have for the entire year. I’ll be glad to keep track as the season continues.

[AlwaysinModeration]

Perez over his last 21IP: 12H, 4BB, 20K, 1ER.

[wabene]

Nothin but green grass and high times forever on that bullpen chart!

[jtkoupal]

You'll want to see these updated playoff odds

 

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2019-mlb-predictions/?ex_cid=rrpromo

[snepp]

 

You'll want to see these updated playoff odds

 

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2019-mlb-predictions/?ex_cid=rrpromo

 

I'll take it.

[KirbyDome89]

 

Wow. I'm stunned Perez has turned into this after such a poor 2018 campaign... my opinion on the Perez signing has aged as well as a ham sandwich.

Meh, I'll definitely take the production but facing Baltimore and Toronto 3/4 games isn't enough to change what I thought and continue to think of the signing. 

[Bickle19]

Meh, I'll definitely take the production but facing Baltimore and Toronto 3/4 games isn't enough to change what I thought and continue to think of the signing.

So the Houston game means nothing? The process and results are the same.

[ScooterDance]

We were projected to finish I think 12GB of CLE by 538. We’ve overtaken them by game 33.

 

This is as fun as I’ve had watching this team in years. Not only because they mash and Oro / Perez are SSS aces out of nowhere. But the farm is stacked and we have a GM who says we will go for it when the timing is right. How good does this team look with another legit ace dealing? Or an Andrew Miller type trade.

 

Oh and Sano coming back.

 

Squeeeeeeee

[Joe A. Preusser]

Meh, I'll definitely take the production but facing Baltimore and Toronto 3/4 games isn't enough to change what I thought and continue to think of the signing.

 

Houston's lineup is great, and Toronto's offense is aldo very good. He is throwing very well right now.

[Han Joelo]

Can't say I told you so about the Perez signing, because I didn't.  I can say I hoped you so.

 

I love big innings, but the relentless onslaught this offense put up seems like it could be the sign of something.  Hmm.  Oh yes--Summer Is Coming.  Oh, and also, these guys are staying loose and picking each other up. I think every player, including Adrianza, Cave, and maybe even Austin, have had a significant hand in at least one win.  Perfect environment for Sano to come in and just be himself.  (His new, better, improved self.)

 

My single biggest source of confidence comes from the new normalcy that is Byron Buxton.  I think I dare say he's...nope.  Not saying it.

 

It just occurred to me how much fear the three-headed bullpen monster of Taylor, Blake, and Trevor must invoke in opponents.

[rdehring]

Wasn't as down on the Perez signing as many here and elsewhere.  But didn't expect this.  Should he continue pitching as he has since becomming a starter, the Twins arguably have two ace caliber starters that will match up with other playoff teams best starters.  Add Odorizzi and a healthy Gibson and you have four starters that will match those same teams four best.  Agree that the Pen needs help, either May and Romero developing into top set-up men or from elsewhere. 

[USAFChief]

 

Meh, I'll definitely take the production but facing Baltimore and Toronto 3/4 games isn't enough to change what I thought and continue to think of the signing. 

He has legitimately pitched extremely well, no matter who he faced. This isn't Alabama vs Slippery Rock. This is the major leagues. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

Meh, I'll definitely take the production but facing Baltimore and Toronto 3/4 games isn't enough to change what I thought and continue to think of the signing.

It’s probably time to admit we were wrong, the front office was right.

 

This isn’t luck, this is change of approach. He’s throwing his fastball 2mph faster, basically ditched the slider, and added a cutter. Perez is a different guy now.

 

He’s likely not THIS good but he could be quite good going forward.

 

On top of helping fix Perez, this front office deserves extra kudos for having such faith in their ability to improve him that they added a second option year to the deal.

[h2oface]

I love surprises. Perez may be the best one of the season. Time will tell, but he is making a statement. AND IT AIN'T QUIET!

[tarheeltwinsfan]

I nominate Wes Johnson for MVC...Most Valuable Coach.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

 

It’s probably time to admit we were wrong, the front office was right.
 

Admitting we were wrong just means we are smarter today than we were yesterday.  But I admit I was wrong too. Really wrong.

[Drew]

 

Meh, I'll definitely take the production but facing Baltimore and Toronto 3/4 games isn't enough to change what I thought and continue to think of the signing. 

 

I really didn't expect a "meh" directed towards Martin Perez in this thread! I would be more cautious about his start if weren't for the noticeable differences in his pitching. His cutter is new this year and he's throwing it a lot. That and 2-3 mph on your fastball makes him a pretty different pitcher than the one we though we signed. 

[AceWrigley]

It is amazing what confidence in throwing quality pitches and being able to get hitters out does for your stat line.

[Dantes929]

 

It’s probably time to admit we were wrong, the front office was right.

This isn’t luck, this is change of approach. He’s throwing his fastball 2mph faster, basically ditched the slider, and added a cutter. Perez is a different guy now.

He’s likely not THIS good but he could be quite good going forward.

On top of helping fix Perez, this front office deserves extra kudos for having such faith in their ability to improve him that they added a second option year to the deal.

I am fine with giving credit but there is definitely luck involved always.   Last year we picked up Lynn, Odo, Reed and Morrison and relied on Buxton, Sano and Dozier to carry the offense.     Great moves with pretty large upside but rather bad luck that none of those moves worked out.   There was actually less reason to expect Buxton, Odo, and Perez to work out this year but they have so far in a big way.   I give them credit for seeing the potential in Perez but every year we read about a number of guys changing their approach or working on this pitch or that.    You put pieces in place and hope they work out but luck is definitely involved.   I feel like I can temper the praise for things working out because I defended them for what I thought were good moves that did not work out.

[jmlease1]

 

It’s probably time to admit we were wrong, the front office was right.

This isn’t luck, this is change of approach. He’s throwing his fastball 2mph faster, basically ditched the slider, and added a cutter. Perez is a different guy now.

He’s likely not THIS good but he could be quite good going forward.

On top of helping fix Perez, this front office deserves extra kudos for having such faith in their ability to improve him that they added a second option year to the deal.

 

This is what gives you faith that his success may be sustainable and not just SSS random factors: the change in approach. It's the same reason why (after having given up hope) I felt like Kyle Gibson's success last year wasn't a fluke year: change in approach/pitch mix.

 

Now, teams may start to get at him a little more as they put together more tape of him from this season, the out of zone pitches may start to add up...but he also may be able to make adjustments with our coaching staff to null that out. We'll see, but it's pretty clear that a) the team saw something in Perez, and they had a plan for how to maximize his performance. I like plans. Much better than hope.

 

Also, now every time Martin Perez comes to the mound, I hear Fluffy calling him "Martiiiiiiin!"

 

[gocgo]

I think one of the best things about this year is that we are still flying under the radar.  We have a 3 game lead which is the largest in the majors (granted 3 games is nothing), we are 9 games above .500, and we have a better record than Houston...and no one is talking about us.  Cleveland gets press...apparently, the writers think they just need to get healthy and then the division is theirs.  Meanwhile, we have what I think is the best OF in the majors.  Polanco is tearing it up.  Pitching staff looks great.  Bullpen is pretty solid.  Defense is pretty solid...oh yeah, and we are knocking the cover off the ball....shhhhh!  Let's keep sneaking up on them for the ambush.

[PDX Twin]

Would the title of the article be better as "Perez imperezes"?

[minman1982]

Always nice to see the leverage index at basically zero from the sixth inning on during a win.  This was a pretty one-sided affair.