Twins Announce Wild Card Roster

[Seth Stohs]

No Buxton, but Royce Lewis and Carlos Correa are back! 

Image courtesy of ​ Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

 The Minnesota Twins had to submit their Wild Card Round roster by 10:00 this morning, 5 1/2 hours before Game 1. There were certainly a lot of questions, but now we have answers. 

 

Pitchers (12)
Starters: Pablo Lopez, Sonny Gray, Joe Ryan
Bullpen: Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, Caleb Thielbar, Brock Stewart, Emilio Pagan, Louie Varland, Chris Paddack, Kody Funderburk, Kenta Maeda. 

Position Players (14)
Infielders: Alex Kirilloff, Edouard Julien, Jorge Polanco, Carlos Correa, Donovan Solano, Kyle Farmer, Royce Lewis
Outfielders: Max Kepler, Michael A. Taylor, Matt Wallner, Willi Castro, Andrew Stevenson 
Catchers: Ryan Jeffers, Christian Vazquez. 

 

For those interested, the Blue Jays roster includes 12 pitchers and 14 hitters. 

 

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[dberthia]

Don't see anything to argue with here, including leaving-off Buxton. Hopefully Lewis can contribute.

[Nine of twelve]

I don't think there is anything about this roster that I disagree with.

[Logi_Clevs]

I already let my boss know I will be at my desk but I will not be "present" from 3:30 to the end of the day.

WIN TWINS!!!!

[Battle ur tail off]

I like it. I wanted Buck rather than another pitcher, but it is, what it is. I think this is the beginning of the end for him then. 

Keuchel hurt, or would he have made it over one of the other guys?

[DJL44]

Of the infielders Kirilloff can play outfield and of the outfielders Castro can play infield so there is good positional flexibility. Stevenson makes the roster instead of Buxton.

[chpettit19]

I'd have carried Larnach over a 12th arm that has no chance of appearing in the series. Jays carrying 3 lefties that I assume they'll deploy early if there's any signs of struggles from their starters and get into the Twins bench. I think having an extra bat to be able to switch the platoon back in favor of the Twins late would be more useful than a 12th arm.

[Danchat]

6 minutes ago, Battle ur tail off said:

I like it. I wanted Buck rather than another pitcher, but it is, what it is. I think this is the beginning of the end for him then. 

Keuchel hurt, or would he have made it over one of the other guys?

Ober probably would have made it over him if Kuechel were healthy.

[Puckett34]

No notes here.  Looks good.

[BsuNemo]

I'm really afraid of Ryan as our game three starter.  I wish they would have swapped him and Maeda or Ober.  He struggled at the end of the year last year and again this year.  With a lefty probably going in game three for Toronto, runs may be hard to come by and Ryan is giving up a TON of deep balls still.

Seeing Toronto with 3 lefties makes me think teams are on to Baldelli and his early substitutions - want Julien, Kiriloff and or any other left handed hitter out of the line up early - make an early switch to a lefty.  Baldelli has done this early and often knowing that there will still be right handed pitcher in the game later on.  I hope his analytics have shown him that taking our best hitters out for one AB even though they'll get more ABs later in the game isn't the right move.

Sitting here with my Puckett jersey on - come on Kirby, shine a little game 6 magic down on us today.

[CRF]

That's as good as we can get right now. Hopefully Lewis is healed up enough and contributes. Correa too. The bats need to come to life and score some runs off of Gausman, and we need Lopez to be at the top of his game and shut the Jays down. Let's take these guys in two games!

[Karbo]

Let the games begin!

[Karbo]

4 minutes ago, BsuNemo said:

I'm really afraid of Ryan as our game three starter.  I wish they would have swapped him and Maeda or Ober.  He struggled at the end of the year last year and again this year.  With a lefty probably going in game three for Toronto, runs may be hard to come by and Ryan is giving up a TON of deep balls still.

Seeing Toronto with 3 lefties makes me think teams are on to Baldelli and his early substitutions - want Julien, Kiriloff and or any other left handed hitter out of the line up early - make an early switch to a lefty.  Baldelli has done this early and often knowing that there will still be right handed pitcher in the game later on.  I hope his analytics have shown him that taking our best hitters out for one AB even though they'll get more ABs later in the game isn't the right move.

Sitting here with my Puckett jersey on - come on Kirby, shine a little game 6 magic down on us today.

Maeda could start or open if they wanted him to. Depends on if he pitches any in relief I'd guess. Though I fully expect to see Ryan start. Probably be on a very short leash.

[Einheri]

19 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

I'd have carried Larnach over a 12th arm that has no chance of appearing in the series. Jays carrying 3 lefties that I assume they'll deploy early if there's any signs of struggles from their starters and get into the Twins bench. I think having an extra bat to be able to switch the platoon back in favor of the Twins late would be more useful than a 12th arm.

I was wondering if Larnach is hurt since they scratched him from Sunday's game?

[MplsFan]

My 8 year old is beyond excited.  He and I made a roster prediction last night and went 26 for 26!

[dex8425]

11 minutes ago, BsuNemo said:

I'm really afraid of Ryan as our game three starter.  I wish they would have swapped him and Maeda or Ober.  He struggled at the end of the year last year and again this year.  With a lefty probably going in game three for Toronto, runs may be hard to come by and Ryan is giving up a TON of deep balls still.

Seeing Toronto with 3 lefties makes me think teams are on to Baldelli and his early substitutions - want Julien, Kiriloff and or any other left handed hitter out of the line up early - make an early switch to a lefty.  Baldelli has done this early and often knowing that there will still be right handed pitcher in the game later on.  I hope his analytics have shown him that taking our best hitters out for one AB even though they'll get more ABs later in the game isn't the right move.

Sitting here with my Puckett jersey on - come on Kirby, shine a little game 6 magic down on us today.

They're not going to use Bassett or Berrios out of the bullpen. Kikuchi might come in for long relief, but he's not going to start game three over Bassett or Berrios. Mayza and Cabrera are lefty relievers though who will pitch. 

[Ryan Atkins]

7 minutes ago, BsuNemo said:

I'm really afraid of Ryan as our game three starter.  I wish they would have swapped him and Maeda or Ober.  He struggled at the end of the year last year and again this year.  With a lefty probably going in game three for Toronto, runs may be hard to come by and Ryan is giving up a TON of deep balls still.

I am a big fan of Joe Ryan, but his recent penchant for giving up gopher balls is undeniable. I really think the Twins need to win this series 2-0.

Also, game 1, Lopez vs. Gausman, I'm putting the combined 'K' total over-under at 21 K's, could easily hit 25 if both pitchers are dealing.

[chpettit19]

5 minutes ago, Einheri said:

I was wondering if Larnach is hurt since they scratched him from Sunday's game?

That could be. I'd probably have carried Luplow then. Either way, I would've carried 15 bats and 11 arms.

[BsuNemo]

Just now, Ryan Atkins said:

I am a big fan of Joe Ryan, but his recent penchant for giving up gopher balls is undeniable. I really think the Twins need to win this series 2-0.

Also, game 1, Lopez vs. Gausman, I'm putting the combined 'K' total over-under at 21 K's, could easily hit 25 if both pitchers are dealing.

I was thinking that too - like 12+ k's each team.  Who can hit one out and who is on if it happens. I said yesterday that we win if our pitchers don't walk people and we strikeout less than Toronto does.

[dex8425]

I would've liked to see 15/11 and Larnach over Funderburk, but I figured they'd go with this. Do you really need two lefties in the pen when Toronto only has one good lefty hitter?

[USAFChief]

29 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

I'd have carried Larnach over a 12th arm that has no chance of appearing in the series. Jays carrying 3 lefties that I assume they'll deploy early if there's any signs of struggles from their starters and get into the Twins bench. I think having an extra bat to be able to switch the platoon back in favor of the Twins late would be more useful than a 12th arm.

No chance?

One short start or one extra inning game and there's a good chance.

So far only the Brewers and Rays are going with 11. Texas has 13 pitchers for the wild card round. 

 

[saviking]

Great decisions. I totally approve! Not that it matters

[RIP BYTO]

Feel bad for Ober, I trust him over Ryan at this point.

Hopefully we'll never see Gallo in a Twins uniform again.

 

[wavedog]

I like it - bullpen looks as solid as it's been all year!   Let's go!!

[Oldgoat_MN]

40 minutes ago, Einheri said:

I was wondering if Larnach is hurt since they scratched him from Sunday's game?

Launch went 0 for 3 with 3 KS on Sunday, lowering his BA to .213.

Not as bad as Luplow's 0 for 5 and being the losing pitcher, but not an ideal finish to the season.

[DocBauer]

Average 3 game series are you really going to use 9 pen arms?  If you do, you're probably in trouble.

IMO, you play each series and tweak each roster individually. (Not that there will be a lot of changes). I would have kept the extra bat, Luplow probably, but I can see the arguement for Larnach as well, instead of a 12th arm for greater maneuverability. 

Other than that, things look as expected.

[miracleb]

Ryan as the number 3 starter?  I would rather have Maeda or Ober.  

[BsuNemo]

Anyone know - not that this is the right thing to do but - if Lewis tweaks it again (please no) can we add Buxton at that point?  I wouldn't think we'd have to play a person short if we have an injury.  Along those same lines - if we pull Lewis, could he theoretically be added to the next series or does he have to be out for a certain amount of time?

[mickster]

53 minutes ago, RIP BYTO said:

Feel bad for Ober, I trust him over Ryan at this point.

Hopefully we'll never see Gallo in a Twins uniform again.

 

With Ober pitching on Sunday - he was of no value here.   He should be set up for Game #1 of the division series should this go 3.   Then a bat will have to go, unless they shrink the pen by 1

[TopGunn#22]

I hope Rocco doesn't fall for the LH relief pitcher coming in early and PH for Julien and/or Kirilloff early.  Leave them in.  The "leverage situation" bullpen arms for the Blue Jays are all RH.  I like how we've stacked our bullpen.  Would LOVE to win in 2 because I don't trust Ryan at this point either.  Ober should have beaten him out for SP #3.