Notebook 9/11: The Division Race Heats Up

[Cooper Carlson]

Here we go! The Twins start a very important series against Cleveland that will go a long way towards deciding who wins the division.Tuesday’s Doubleheader Recap:

Doubleheader Recap: Twins Split With Cardinals

 

TODAY

 

Indians @ Twins, 7:10 pm CDT

 

Twins Starter: Kenta Maeda, RHP 2.77 ERA

 

The Twins ace takes the mound for game one of the most important series so far for both teams. Both teams are just a game out of first behind the White Sox and the Twins have the guy they want on the mound. Maeda has been a Cy Young contender and hopefully his elite season will continue today.

 

Maeda has faced Cleveland twice this season and has combined for eleven total innings. In those innings he has allowed only one run and six hits while striking out thirteen batters. He has been just as good against Cleveland as any other team. Cleveland hitters have just a .452 OPS against Maeda this season.

 

Indians Starter: Shane Bieber, RHP 1.25 ERA

 

I just typed a lot of words on how good Maeda has been, but even he can’t compete with how excellent Bieber has been this season. Cleveland just keeps producing Cy Young candidates and I am not a fan of it. Bieber is leading all of MLB in ERA (1.25), FIP (1.60), K/9 (14.7), and total strikeouts (94). He has been unstoppable every time out and to beat him you just have to hope he doesn’t go nine innings.

 

The Twins have faced him twice this season and scored just two runs in 14.0 innings. He also has 23 strikeouts in those innings. Minnesota will have to find a way to get Bieber out before the sixth or seventh innings. Be patient, raise his pitch count. Easier said than done.

 

Twins Lineup:

 

1. Jorge Polanco SS

2. Josh Donaldson 3B

3. Eddie Rosario LF

4. Nelson Cruz DH

5. Miguel Sano 1B

6. Jake Cave RF

7. Byron Buxton CF

8. Marwin Gonzalez 2B

9. Ryan Jeffers C

 

News & Notes:

 

-Before coming to Minnesota, Cleveland played four games against Kansas City. They lost three of four and the offense was pretty much nonexistent. If that is the team coming to Minnesota then the Twins are in for some fun.

 

-The Twins have had two straight days off to get rested and get ready for this huge series. Hopefully they play like they are well rested..

 

-Seven of the eight teams in the AL playoff spots are basically guaranteed to make it. Keep an eye of the Yankees/Orioles series to determine who will have a shot to make it.

 

AROUND THE AL CENTRAL

 

-Tigers 2, Cardinals 12 (game 1)

-Tigers 6, Cardinals 3 (game 2)

-Royals 11, Indians 1

 

1. CWS 27-16 (-)

2. MIN 27-18 (1.0 GB)

3. CLE 26-18 (1.5 GB

4. DET 20-23 (7.0 GB)

5. KCR 17-28 (11.0 GB)

 

See Also:

 

Today’s Game could influence the MVP vote

7 Games to Decide the Division

Eddie Rosario Has Changed, but is it for the Better?

 

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[MABB1959]

Hope Buxton can play the rest of the games.  Seems he needs about every other day off right now and we seem to lose those games.  

[puckstopper1]

Twins put Arraez on the I.L. with left knee tendinitis and recalled Smeltzer.

 

https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/luis-arraez-placed-on-injured-list-by-twins

 

It would have been nice to have his bat in the lineup during the critical 7 game stretch.

 

Hopefully this break will give Arraez a chance to heal and be ready for the stretch run.

[SkyBlueWaters]

"Seven of the eight teams in the AL playoff spots are basically guaranteed to make it. Keep an eye of the Yankees/Orioles series to determine who will have a shot to make it."

 

Probably true, but note that Toronto has 7 games with the Yankees, 3 with the Mets and 4 with the Phillies, before finishing with the surprising Orioles. 

 

Unlikely for the Orioles or Tigers to get hot and take that 8th spot--but this year has been nothing but strange. (I am kind of pulling for Gardy in Detroit.)