Jump to content
Twins Daily
  • Create Account

GAME THREAD: 5/19/21 Minnesota Twins vs Chicago White Sox, 12:10 CDT


Mill1634

Recommended Posts

Posted

Roster Moves: Alex Kiriloff has been sent on a rehab assignment today, and will be DH'ing for STP. If everything goes well, Kiriloff will play in the field for the Saints tomorrow, and could be activated by the weekend, which would clearly be a huge boost to the lineup, and for his development. Lewis Thorpe will also get the start for the first game of tomorrow's double header, as the 27th man. Michael Pineda, who was scratched last night, is going to be pushed back a few days, and may possibly go on the IL, as the Twins are in a position where they can't hold a starter for a few more days, with the DH approaching tomorrow, and no off day until the 27th.

 

The Pitchers

RHP Matt Shoemaker (2-4, 6.62 ERA, 34 IP, 23 K's, -0.7 WAR) vs RHP Lucas Giolito (2-4, 4.97 ERA, 41.2 IP, 50 K's, -0.2 WAR)

 

Another game thread introduction for me, and another Matt Shoemaker start. Seems never ending at this point. Some on this site have argued that Shoemaker has met expectations, but I strongly disagree that fans, or the front office, expected Shoemaker to be below replacement level after 8 starts, and if they did, they probably shouldn't have signed him. Shoemaker threw okay against the A's, but gave up 3 home runs which turned from a quality start to a bad start. It wouldn't shock me if Shoemaker is pitching for his Twins life today, as he's been bad when not facing the Pirates or Tigers. Giolito has had his struggles after a fantastic 2020 campaign, including a rough stretch over the past 24 innings where he's given up 18 ERs. He's issuing nearly 4 walks per 9 innings, and giving up the long ball frequently, at 8 in just 41.2 IPs. Giolito throws his 4-seam nearly half the time, which sits in the mid 90's, and works a fantastic changeup off the four seamer. Opponents are hitting just .197 against the uncle charlie. His third pitch is a slider, which he throws almost exclusively to right handed hitters, but is getting hit, and hit hard with 8 hits in 20 balls in play, including 5 XBH. Giolito will likely turn it around sometime, but let us hope it's after today's game. 

 

The Lineups

Twins

2B Luis Arraez (L)

SS Jorge Polanco (S)

DH Nelson Cruz

CF Max Kepler (L)

1B Miguel Sano 

LF Trevor Larnach (L)

3B Willians Astudillo

RF Kyle Garlick

C Ben Rortvedt (L)

 

White Sox

SS Tim Anderson

RF Adam Eaton (L)

3B Yoan Moancada (S)

DH Yermin Mercedes

LF Jake Lamb (L)

1B Andrew Vaughn

C Zack Collins (L)

CF Leury Garcia (S)

2B Danny Mendick

 

The Twins give Josh Donaldson and Andrelton Simmons the day off with the double header looming tomorrow, which slides Polanco over to shortstop and up to the two spot. Nelson Cruz is back in the lineup after a day off, and Miguel Sano finds himself in the 5 hole again after a huge day yesterday. Larnach gets another start against a right handed pitcher, and has been crushing the baseball as of late. The Twins will have a decision to make when AK is healthy, and I suspect Refsnyder will be sent down, and we see a lot of Kiriloff/Kepler/Larnach outfields. La Tortuga is at the hot corner, and Ben Rortvedt is behind the dish for the 2nd time in as many days, which tells me that Mitch Garver is still a little bit banged up. This isn't the best lineup the Twins can put on the field with the current available players, but neither was yesterday, and anything can happen in baseball. 

 

Vegas Odds: White Sox -125, Twins +105, O/U 9 runs

 

This Day In History: 1979 After a bitter strike, MLB umpires return to work after the MLUA and the MLB agree on in-season vacations, 401(K) plans, increased salaries, pensions, and per diems, as well as merit-based postseason assignments. The strike lasted six weeks, where amateur umpires replaced the MLUA umps. 

 

Pick to Click: Max Kepler has a 3 hit day

 

Prediction: White Sox 8, Twins 4

 

 

  • Replies 86
  • Created
  • Last Reply
Posted

Must win game against a division opponent and no Donaldson or Simmons. Was hoping that the days of Gardy's get-away line-ups were gone, but, here it is. 

Posted

That was absolutely ball 4 to Rortvedt.

Ump gave Giolitto that one, wasn't even close. Twins are struggling enough without the umps giving the White Sox more help.

Posted

C'mon Shoe just get outta the 5th tied please.

This walk just now puts two on base. This is exactly the type of pitching that has been killing the Twins all year. Instead of putting a team away, a pitcher walks a guy with 2 outs and now if the Sox get a big hit the Twins could be down by a few.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

The Twins Daily Caretaker Fund
The Twins Daily Caretaker Fund

You all care about this site. The next step is caring for it. We’re asking you to caretake this site so it can remain the premier Twins community on the internet.

×
×
  • Create New...