Blue Jays 12, Twins 3: Berríos Bests His Former Team as Blue Jays Throttle Twins

[Matthew Taylor]

After a surprising win from a depleted roster on Friday night, the Twins team that we expected to see in Canada reared its face as the Twins got crushed by the Blue Jays.

Box Score
SP: Dylan Bundy: 2 ⅓ IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K (67 pitches, 42 strikes (63%))
Home Runs: Polanco (6)
Bottom 3 WPA: Dylan Bundy -.463, Byron Buxton -.061, Mark Contreras -.049

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

Game Notes
The Minnesota Twins’ bats picked up where they left off on Friday night as they got off to a quick start on Saturday afternoon. Luis Arraez kicked off the game with a leadoff single to set up Jorge Polanco for a 2-run home run, his sixth of the 2022 season.

Coming into today’s game, José Berríos owned a 5.62 ERA in 2022. The quick damage from the Twins in the first inning made it seem like the old friend’s nightmare start to the 2022 season would continue. Following the first inning, though, Berríos settled down in a big way and quieted the Twins’ bats in a big way. After getting two hits and two runs in the first inning, the Twins were only able to muster one more hit over Berríos’ seven-inning start right-hander turned in one of his best starts of the season, potentially turning around his disastrous start.

 

On the Twins’ side of the mound, Dylan Bundy’s start went about as poorly as possible. Bundy couldn’t even make it through the third inning as the Blue Jays pounded him at every opportunity. In just 2 ⅓ short innings, Bundy allowed eight hits and five earned runs, including home runs to Bo Bichette and Alejandro Kirk.

After a stellar night for the Twins’ bullpen on Friday, the reliever group was terrible for the Twins on Saturday afternoon. As a group, the bullpen allowed six earned runs over 5 ⅔ innings, striking out only three batters. Each of Ian Hamilton, Yennier Cano and Juan Minaya were tagged for multiple hits and at least one earned run.

 

Overall it was a day to forget for the Minnesota Twins. Every pitcher who appeared in the game for the Twins looked bad, and after a promising first inning, the bats were completely silent all game (aside from a meaningless run in the 9th), making a poorly performing José Berríos look like prime Johan Santana. In the end the Twins ended up on the losing side, 12-3, dropping their record to 31-24.

What’s Next?
The beautiful part of baseball is that the Twins get a chance at redemption tomorrow. The Minnesota Twins will wrap up their three game series against the Blue Jays in a rubber match on Sunday afternoon. The Twins will trot Devin Smeltzer out to the mound to face off against AL Cy Young candidate, Kevin Gausman. Game time is 12:37pm central time.

Postgame Interview

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

 

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[rwilfong86]

Today didn't go well, but thankfully tomorrow is a new day.

[Doctor Gast]

I didn't get a chance to follow the game. What surprised me was to see Contreras in CF, to me he isn't a CF. Am I wrong? I'd prefer Gordon or Celestino there.

[Mark G]

I don't worry too much; all 3 relievers from today probably won't be with us on Tuesday when the roster goes back to normal.  They were just there to eat the bad innings.  You think Rocco would have let them throw 42 and 39 pitches otherwise?  Having said that, notice I only said I don't worry too much.  Bundy.............

[USAFChief]

I put the over/under on future Bundy starts at 2.5.

 

 

[jorgenswest]

12 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

I put the over/under on future Bundy starts at 2.5.

 

 

I guess those next two starts include the Yankees and Mariners. A good start against the Yankees probably gets him beyond the 2.5. A poor start and they may go the IL route.

[PDX Twin]

25 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

I put the over/under on future Bundy starts at 2.5.

2.5 What? Innings? Pitches? Hours?

[Danchat]

59 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

I didn't get a chance to follow the game. What surprised me was to see Contreras in CF, to me he isn't a CF. Am I wrong? I'd prefer Gordon or Celestino there.

He's a very good LF/RF (he won a minor league gold glove award), and presumably is decent in CF, but should probably be below the two names you listed. 

[Mark G]

1 hour ago, Doctor Gast said:

I didn't get a chance to follow the game. What surprised me was to see Contreras in CF, to me he isn't a CF. Am I wrong? I'd prefer Gordon or Celestino there.

CF wasn't all of it by any means.  We had one corner outfielder who started the season there, the second baseman who started the season, and the catcher who started the season.  Otherwise there wasn't a player on the field who we expected to play that position regularly on the field.  

[mikelink45]

What a game - I have to admit I root for Berrios.  But that does not mean I wanted our team to stink.  How about a trade - Archer and Bundy for Berrios?  Never mind.

I like the way Miranda is swinging the bat.  So much for the positives.  On to the next game. 

[RJA]

Berrios was obviously highly motivated against his old club.  When he pitches like he did today, with his great stuff and good location, he is among the best.  Unfortunately, he is just as likely to follow this game up with one where he gives up 6 runs.  I always loved his passion, and how hard he worked to keep himself in shape and get better, so I am pulling for him--whenever he isn't playing the Twins.  As for the Twins staff, Bundy and Archer look like the wheels are coming off, so I expect an additional arm will be added before the deadline.  Likewise, the bullpen is going to need help, so it could be a busy summer for trades.

[Halsey Hall]

There’s a pile of money to be made on this team, as starting pitchers dictate.  Should of bet the house against Buddy.

[KirbyDome89]

4 hours ago, USAFChief said:

I put the over/under on future Bundy starts at 2.5.

 

 

Over, but only because it's the Twins...

[bean5302]

Quote

...making a poorly performing José Berríos look like prime Johan Santana...

Berrios is a good pitcher and while he's been up and down this year (they discussed him having dead arm where his fastball was at 90mph against the Angels) he certainly wasn't pitching poorly today. Movement was awesome, location was great and velocity was there.

 

[Brandon27]

I think its time cut ties with bundy 

[h2oface]

JOSE!

[Alex Wilde]

Ian Hamilton didn’t actually do that poorly. Vlad tanked a high inside fastball…tip your hat and move on because it wasn’t necessarily a bad pitch. Outside of that one swing, he looked solid in my opinion.

Cano has good stuff and he may have a chance to stick in the pen at some point, but boy does he have some work to do with pitch placement and simply throwing strikes if he wants to have any chance of staying in the majors.

[bighat]

Dylan Bundy in April: 3-1, 2.85 ERA.

Dylan Bundy in May: 0-1, 6.87 ERA.

Dylan Bundy in June: 0-1, 19.29 ERA.

If you look at his numbers last year with the Angels, they similarly got progressively worse as the season wore on.

The Twins waited until July 1 to DFA Matt Shoemaker last year, and he was released by August 3rd. He's now happily playing out his days in Japan, living the good life overseas, as MLB teams no longer have interest. I think Bundy's headed to a similar trajectory.

If the way they handled Shoe is any indication, we'll have another month at minimum of Bundy. Maybe more.

[bighat]

Over the past month we've seen more and more games where this team looks more like the 2021 squad. Close your eyes, swing hard, and miss 90% of the time. Berrios had 5 strikeouts through two innings, basically every out was a K. How's that even watchable? Speaking of strikeouts, watching Berrios dispatch Larnach in that 1st inning was embarrassing. Why would anyone bother throwing Trev a fastball if he's going to swing and miss at every off-speed pitch?

I also think it's time to start talking about Ryan Jeffers and whether or not it's time for a reset. It's perfectly reasonable for the Twins to consider sending him to St. Paul, IMO. Handing Sanchez the full-time duties and giving Godoy an opportunity to grab the reigns as a regular backup seems like something to consider.

This team needs Correa, the bad luck injuries for him have been such a drag.

 

[rwilfong86]

1 hour ago, bighat said:

Over the past month we've seen more and more games where this team looks more like the 2021 squad. Close your eyes, swing hard, and miss 90% of the time. Berrios had 5 strikeouts through two innings, basically every out was a K. How's that even watchable? Speaking of strikeouts, watching Berrios dispatch Larnach in that 1st inning was embarrassing. Why would anyone bother throwing Trev a fastball if he's going to swing and miss at every off-speed pitch?

I also think it's time to start talking about Ryan Jeffers and whether or not it's time for a reset. It's perfectly reasonable for the Twins to consider sending him to St. Paul, IMO. Handing Sanchez the full-time duties and giving Godoy an opportunity to grab the reigns as a regular backup seems like something to consider.

This team needs Correa, the bad luck injuries for him have been such a drag.

 

Hopefully getting healthy will give them the spark they need.

[VivaBomboRivera!]

9 hours ago, RJA said:

(Bundy and) Archer look like the wheels are coming off

How do we arrive at this conclusion when we look at his game logs? Seems like pretty steady improvement for a guy who pitched less than 20 innings last year. Last start, the guy allowed 1 ER in a 2-3 loss.  Is he the source of the Twins troubles?

6 hours ago, Brandon27 said:

I think its time cut ties with bundy

Take a look at his game logs and provide evidence for this assertion. Bundy has had four lousy starts.  He's also thrown five games in which he allowed 1 ER or less. Until a better, healthy and more reliable arm comes along, we ought to think about how we can coach more out of his.

Today was a blowout, but the fact is over the last seven games, the Twins have scored only 27 runs. RISP over those games is an abysmal: 5-35. It's easy to blame pitchers, but this spotty offense, and those cringe-worthy at bats are the real enemy.

 

[Whitey333]

Yes we got trounced yesterday 12-3.  Not unexpected.  Yes, as someone said, today is another day.  Smeltzer pitching today.  He's been very good since spring training.  He's done everything they have asked of him and then some.  With Toronto's hard hitting lineup however, I see the Blue Jays jumping on him.  I'm afraid we could be looking at another blowout loss today.  And if we don't get some of our players back I figure we will get swept by the Yankees this week 

[jorgenswest]

2 hours ago, bighat said:

If the way they handled Shoe is any indication, we'll have another month at minimum of Bundy. Maybe more.

That is a good comparison. Shoemaker’s last start was game 57. He had an ERA of 7.28 after that game. I don’t know his FIP but he pitched little after that and it was 6.57 for the year.

Yesterday was game 55. Bundy’s ERA is 5.57 (FIP 4.62).

Unless Winder, Gray and Ryan are all ready to return soon without rehab they don’t have a better option for his next start or two.

[USNMCPO]

Not going to read about that game. FLUSH! On to the next one.

[big dog]

Yet another case of an ex-Twin having a mediocre season playing his brains out against us. See Schoop, Jonathan.

Maybe if people played their hardest all the time...

[terrydactyls]

In the bullpen usage chart, what is "RL"?  I'm hoping "release" but I'm probably wrong.

[Old fox]

RL=restricted list.

It would be nice to trade for a more serviceable pitcher but who are you willing to give up in a trade for Montas, Mahle, Costillio, Kelly or Gallan. We have Ryan, Gray & Winderabout ready to come off IL. Correa will return shortly. The Twins don’t need 3 pitchers fighting for the #5 starting pitcher spot. Alcala May soon return from the IL to the bullpen & Cartinio may be called up soon. The Twins maybe should consider making Duran the closer?

[RJA]

3 hours ago, VivaBomboRivera! said:

How do we arrive at this conclusion when we look at his game logs? Seems like pretty steady improvement for a guy who pitched less than 20 innings last year. Last start, the guy allowed 1 ER in a 2-3 loss.  Is he the source of the Twins troubles?

10 hours ago, Brandon27 said:

It is really quite easy to come to this conclusion if you look at the game logs.  After three games, his ERA was .59.  Since then, his ERA has climbed to 5.57.  Since the first three games, he has given up something like 25 earned runs in roughly 25 some innings.  I am not suggesting he is the only problem, but I fear I must disagree with you that his game logs show anything other than a trend much like Shoemaker's last year.  

[Karbo]

Bundy=Shoemaker. When will this FO learn to quit buying washed up retreads and hope to transform them.

[dxpavelka]

Tough to win when your best pitcher is starting for the other guys..