GAME THREAD: Twins @ Orioles, 5/2/22, 6:05 CT

[Mill1634]

Roster moves: With the expanded 28 man rosters being cut to 26 following the games yesterday, the Twins were forced to make some decisions. C Jose Godoy was optioned to AAA STP, along with RHP Cole Sands, who made his big league debut yesterday closing out the Twins win. However, things were not done. The Twins added 1B Miguel Sano to the 10 day injured list, as well as OF Kyle Garlick, who had a monster series in Tampa. To fill the holes on the roster, the Twins recalled RH IF Jose Miranda, who is one of the Twins top prospects. Miranda will play primarily 3rd and 1st base, and will certainly be in the lineup against LHP, and will split time against righties. They also recalled LHP Jovani Moran, who appeared in a few games last year. The lefty has mixed results at AAA, with a WHIP over 2, but a K/9 of 18. Moran has a nasty changeup and a chance to be the top lefty in the pen if he shows signs of life with the struggled of Thielbar and Danny.

 

The Pitchers: RHP Chris Paddack (0-2, 3.68 ERA, 13 K's, 14.2 IP) vs RHP Tyler Wells (0-2, 5.54 ERA, 10 K's, 13 IP)

Chris Paddack gets another start for the Twins after being pushed back yesterday to allow Josh Winder to slide into the rotation. Paddack was very good last time out against the Tigers, going 5.2 innings and allowing just one run and striking out 6. He has walked only one in 57 ABs. The 4S has shown improvement early, despite the average velo being down. The changeup is still really good, and the curveball is coming along nicely. Paddack has a real chance to have success once again tonight against a poor Orioles lineup. On the other side, Tyler Wells, former Twin minor leaguer, has gotten roughed up in 4 starts. Wells made 44 appearances out of the pen last season, but has been worked as a starter in 2022. He has completed less than 3 innings in half his starts, and only 5 in his most recent start against the Yankees. Wells 4S will sit between 92-96, but has gotten hit pretty hard. He also works in a slider, changeup, and curveball. The slider has a BAA of .385, and a slugging percentage over .600 despite being his 2nd most used pitch. The changeup has a 40% whiff rate, and will be used to putaway LHH. The curve has had success, but isn't thrown often.

 

The Lineups

Twins

1. Byron Buxton (R) CF
2. Luis Arraez (L) 1B
3. Carlos Correa (R) SS
4. Jorge Polanco (S) 2B
5. Max Kepler (L) RF
6. Jose Miranda (R) 3B
7. Trevor Larnach (L) DH
8. Ryan Jeffers (R) C
9. Nick Gordon (L) LF

Orioles

1. Cedric Mullins (L) CF
2. Austin Hays (R) LF
3. Anthony Santander (S) RF
4. Ryan Mountcastle (R) 1B
5. Tyler Nevin (R) DH
6. Rougned Odor (L) 2B
7. Ramon Urias (R) 3B
8. Robinson Chirinos (R) C
9. Jorge Mateo (R) SS

Buxton is in CF for the second straight day, with Arraez at 1st once again with the injury to Sano. I expect this to be common against RHP while the big man is out. Correa, who has 4 straight multi-hit games, is at SS. The big change is at the hot corner, where top prospect Jose Miranda will get the start. Miranda struggled early, but has been crushing the ball late and had 2 homers and 12 RBI's in 86 ABs for Saint Paul. Larnach gets the start at DH tonight, with Jeffers behind the plate. With Larnach DH'ing, we see Nick Gordon in left over Celestino. The Orioles lineup isn't great, but the top half is a lineup that is capable of doing damage. Mullins had a breakout 2021, but is hitting only .221 thus far. Hays has been the best hitter with an average of .275 and 2 bombs. Santander has been a machine with a team leading 3 homers and 11 RBI. The only player after Mountcastle in the lineup hitting over .200 is SS Jorge Mateo, who is batting .246, who also has 7 steals.

 

Vegas Odds: Twins -152, Orioles +132, O/U 7.5

On This Day: 1954 - Stan Musial hits five home runs in a doubleheader with the Giants in St. Louis. In attendance is eight-year-old Nate Colbert, who will eventually be the only other player in history to match this feat. The Cards win the first game 10-6 and the Giants win the nightcap 9-7.

Pick to Click: Correa gets his second and third homers of the year

Prediction: Twins 8, Orioles 4

Go Twins!!
 

[stringer bell]

Welcome to MLB Jose Miranda! I was wondering if Arraez would play third and Miranda first or vice versa. I would expect Miranda to get starts at first against left handers. Another lineup note is that Gordon is getting a start at the expense of Sanchez, with Larnach moving into the DH slot. BTW, Urshela probably really needs a day off anyway.

It occurred to me that the Twins are building depth. There really isn't anybody on the roster on a pass. Even with the injuries (Sano, Garlick, Kirilloff), there are all major league players on this team.

[blindeke]

It's nice of Baltimore to use a AAA roster to help Miranda feel at home.

[wsnydes]

"Stan Musial hits five home runs in a doubleheader with the Giants in St. Louis."

I had to read this sentence about a dozen times before I figured out that it was the doubleheader that was with the Giants, not Stan Musial.  

I need more caffeine!

[PDX Twin]

3 minutes ago, blindeke said:

It's nice of Baltimore to use a AAA roster to help Miranda feel at home.

Yeah. I don't recognize many names, though I don't follow bad teams from other divisions closely. My initial reaction was that there was an Odor (whom I remember from Texas), and that the rest of the lineup probably stinks.

[Dave The Dastardly]

Love that batting lineup!

[AlwaysinModeration]

Seriously liking the line-up…and the fact that I’ll be sitting in LF to watch Jose’s debut….

[wsnydes]

I like Gordon hitting in the 9 hole.  Get some wheels in front of Buxton and let the running begin!

[shortround81]

Hopefully we'll score some runs this time for Paddack. 

[Vanimal46]

Wasn’t Baltimore supposed to call up their super star catcher prospect one of these days?

[Melissa]

Does 4S in the opening post mean four seamer fastball?

[jimbo92107]

That's a good hitting lineup...

[Vanimal46]

Bally Sports can’t bump a fishing show on the main channel for the Twins game tonight? 

[Game7-91]

0-3 in top of 1st increased Twins Win Probability to 53. 7 %?

[Mill1634]

Is the audio ahead of the video feed, or is it just mine?

[Vanimal46]

Just now, Mill1634 said:

Is the audio ahead of the video feed, or is it just mine?

Not just you. The Bally Sports app is genuinely terrible. 

[wsnydes]

6 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Bally Sports can’t bump a fishing show on the main channel for the Twins game tonight? 

Fishing opener is next weekend.  Gotta study up!

[PDX Twin]

1 minute ago, Mill1634 said:

Is the audio ahead of the video feed, or is it just mine?

It seems like there are double audio feeds, one on the field and one with the broadcasters. When the ball is hit, I get two clicks just an instant apart, but clearly distinct.

[Mill1634]

2 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Not just you. The Bally Sports app is genuinely terrible. 

I haven't noticed it in other games, but it's bad tonight.

[Vanimal46]

Jose Miranda on deck! 

[Vanimal46]

Boy, we’re not making Tyler Wells work this inning. 

[Vanimal46]

2 minutes ago, PDX Twin said:

It seems like there are double audio feeds, one on the field and one with the broadcasters. When the ball is hit, I get two clicks just an instant apart, but clearly distinct.

Also when the ball hits the catchers mitt. Gonna be annoying if they don’t fix it. 

[Sielk]

The Twins and Orioles are just being nice, they want to finish this game before the Wild start their playoffs!

Lots of quick PAs so far.

[Melissa]

Twins getting mowed down quickly at the plate.

[mrtwinsfan]

Gotta love the Patience our batters so far

[Mill1634]

Baltimore is not fooled here early. Twins are lucky they have one out, let alone 4. 

[Sielk]

1 minute ago, Mill1634 said:

Baltimore is not fooled here early. Twins are lucky they have one out, let alone 4. 

Absolutely. For various reasons I haven't really watched Paddack pitch yet. 

But that was some loud contact so far. Did he look like this in his other starts, too?

[RpR]

Some times I think it is best for a player to start out slow; Badoo and Hicks came on like lighting but then the bottom fell out.

[Vanimal46]

1 minute ago, Sielk said:

Absolutely. For various reasons I haven't really watched Paddack pitch yet. 

But that was some loud contact so far. Did he look like this in his other starts, too?

Are you sure you’re not just hearing the bat sound twice? Thanks Bally Sports! 

[Vanimal46]

Wells is throwing meatballs out there and our lineup is ready for Meatless Monday.