Make it Official! Twins 4, Guardians 2: Bailey Continues to Dominate the Competition

[Ted Schwerzler]

The Minnesota Twins welcomed the Cleveland Guardians to Target Field for a doubleheader. In the afternoon tilt, Bailey Ober continued his stretch of dominance while his offense provided just enough to get the job done.

Image courtesy of © Jordan Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Box Score
SP: Bailey Ober 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K (106 pitches, 70 strikes)
Home Runs: Carlos Santana(15), Ryan Jeffers(17)
Top 3 WPA: Bailey Ober (.301), Carlos Santana (.085), Griffin Jax (.074)

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

Manny for MVP
Bailey Ober started Game 1 for the Minnesota Twins and made quick work of the Cleveland Guardians. Of course Rocco Baldelli’s team had yet to beat Stephen Vogt’s this year, and the rescheduled rainout would be a great place to change that. Manuel Margot led off, against a lefty, which basically means he’ll play like an All-Star. Stepping in against Joey Cantillo, Margot doubled. Byron Buxton moved him over and Royce Lewis cashed him in. Jose Miranda looked to extend the inning with a single to right center, but a big turn at first base got him thrown out.

Carlos Santana found lift-off against his former team in the second inning. He took Cantillo deep for his 15th home run of the season. The solo shot made it a 2-0 game early.

Bailey Dominates
Ryan Jeffers gave Bailey Ober some additional breathing room when he launched his 17th home run of the season in the fourth inning to make it 3-0 Twins. Minnesota needs to see their star catcher to rake once again and he has shown signs in recent weeks. Ober wrapped up his day going six innings, allowing just two hits, and no runs. He walked a pair and struck out nine. With a myriad of pitching issues currently in play, the start was a necessary one.

Brayan Rocchio drove in Andres Gimenez with a seventh inning home run, but that brought Cleveland to within just a single run. Kyle Farmer, who returned to the lineup following a stretch on the injured list, scored Max Kepler with a sacrifice fly in the bottom half to make it a 4-2 game.

After Griffin Jax worked his 18th hold of the season, Jhoan Duran came on and grabbed his 16th save while striking out the side.

Notes
The morning couldn’t have been busier with roster moves. Unfortunately Brock Stewart’s once minor shoulder injury now will require surgery. He is set to undergo that on Tuesday, and will miss the rest of the season. A 5-6 month rehab should have him back for spring training.

As expected, Joe Ryan is also going on the injured list with a grade 2 teres major strain. Brooks Lee will join him there. The news for Ryan is crushing as it likely takes him out for the regular season, if not ending his year. Kyle Farmer completed his rehab assignment with St. Paul and rejoined the roster, starting at second base in game one. Lee was originally announced as the game one starter at second base, so hopefully his injury is not serious.

Scott Blewett joins the roster and is back in the big leagues for the first time since 2021. He has a 3.66 ERA in more than 50 innings for the Saints this season. It is curious he was the addition to the bullpen rather than Justin Topa. The build up may still be a work in progress though.

With the injuries to the bullpen, Griffin Jax’s dominance becomes that much more imperative. He has been one of the best relievers in baseball for a while now. Given his pitch mix, there continues to be chatter about him moving back to the rotation, but that would be an offseason move if considered at all.

Remember that through both AL Central series the Twins are offering fee free tickets.

What’s Next?
Back to just a single game on Saturday, Simeon Woods Richardson gets the pearl for Minnesota. He will be opposed by Gavin Williams with the series on the line. Continued strong starts from the rookie are a must given the latest pitching injuries.

Postgame Interviews

 

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

 

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[Peter]

Huge game 1 win!!! Let get another win tonight!!! Go twins!!!!

[gregens]

7 minutes ago, Peter said:

Huge game 1 win!!! Let get another win tonight!!! Go twins!!!!

Yes indeed!  I wonder if Jax or Duran are available for game 2?

[LA Vikes Fan]

9 minutes ago, gregens said:

Yes indeed!  I wonder if Jax or Duran are available for game 2?

Doubtful. Most likely only available Saturday or Sunday, not both. 

[BH67]

Jhoan Duran closed out a win over Cleveland.

"Nuff said. 

[USAFChief]

Bailey ******* Ober, ladies and germs!!

[Blyleven2011]

Ober keeps pitching towards pitcher of the month award ...

Jax and Duran  did there MOJO  in today's game ...

Nice win over Cleveland  , let's swim and Cleveland  sinks the rest of the way ... 

 

Injuries , they suck ....

Ryan most likely out for the season  , Stewart  I never thought he would make it back , when he goes on IL list  it's always months before he returns  , fix this guys arm  and have him ready for spring ...

I hope Scott blewett  doesn't blow it tonight ...

Go Louie  , do that voodoo  you do so well ..

Who's the 27th man , varland I'm sure took Ryan's spot ....

[Guest]

“As expected, Joe Ryan is also going on the injured list with a grade 2 teres major strain. Brooks Lee will join him there. The news for Ryan is crushing as it likely takes him out for the regular season, if not ending his year. “

Is there an article somewhere on TD that explains this injury and why it would/could cost Ryan his career?

[Doctor Gast]

Ober is making a believer out of me, great game! Duran strikes out the side, nice. A must win, won. Go Twins

[CoastiePilot08]

Great win. 
 

**** the pohlads. Ryan going down is exactly why the team needed a starter at the deadline. 

[TheLeviathan]

We'd have won this game if Rocco didn't ban bun(d)t cakes during postgame meals.

[Linus]

32 minutes ago, CoastiePilot08 said:

Great win. 
 

**** the pohlads. Ryan going down is exactly why the team needed a starter at the deadline. 

Or last off season.  

[Colbeh]

Ryan's injury sucks eggs but now is the time to have faith in the pitching pipeline.

Time to see what we really have in SWR, Festa, Varland, and Zebby come late September/October.

Clinching the division or winning a playoff series would be a huge boost for next season.

[GNess]

Ober has a calm, but competitive demeanor when he pitches. He has just kept improving. 

[IndianaTwin]

5 hours ago, Blyleven2011 said:

Ober keeps pitching towards pitcher of the month award ...

Jax and Duran  did there MOJO  in today's game ...

Nice win over Cleveland  , let's swim and Cleveland  sinks the rest of the way ... 

 

Injuries , they suck ....

Ryan most likely out for the season  , Stewart  I never thought he would make it back , when he goes on IL list  it's always months before he returns  , fix this guys arm  and have him ready for spring ...

I hope Scott blewett  doesn't blow it tonight ...

Go Louie  , do that voodoo  you do so well ..

Who's the 27th man , varland I'm sure took Ryan's spot ....

Varland was the 27th man. He goes down  after the game. 

[JD-TWINS]

12 hours ago, Colbeh said:

Ryan's injury sucks eggs but now is the time to have faith in the pitching pipeline.

Time to see what we really have in SWR, Festa, Varland, and Zebby come late September/October.

Clinching the division or winning a playoff series would be a huge boost for next season.

I gotta think Zebby throws on Tuesday - don’t see any other potentially positive option? Neither guy that threw Friday can go until Wednesday. Not enough arms to try a Bullpen game after 5 games in 4 days through Monday. Maybe they have him go 1 time through the line-up?

[JD-TWINS]

9 hours ago, IndianaTwin said:

Varland was the 27th man. He goes down  after the game. 

Short lived. Seems they would stay heavy on relief arms to get through the K.C. series as Varland will have to take a regular turn in the rotation either Wednesday or Friday next week. Maybe Matthews is up to start Tuesday displacing a reliever …….then Varland replaces him the following day and slots into rotation going forward.

[JD-TWINS]

Ober’s mental capacity is getting better & better. He just grinds through mistakes and tough situations. Impressive command as well!

[jmlease1]

Ober is having an excellent year, and seems to have really figured it out. (He has to have tipped his pitches against KC right?) I like using Game Score as a way to evaluate a starter, and Ober has 12 of his 22 with a Game Score of 60 or better, only 4 with a Game Score under 40. He's really giving the Twins a great chance to win when he takes the hill. 

Excellent way to start a doubleheader and a series!

[JD-TWINS]

How about Cole Sands……3.19 ERA ……44 games & 53.67 innings, with 61 K’s. Best K to walk ratio on the Staff & 2nd to only Jax with a .913 WHIP…….shut down the Guardian’s fifth inning and then cruised through the 6th. Very impressive.

[IndianaTwin]

38 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

I gotta think Zebby throws on Tuesday - don’t see any other potentially positive option? Neither guy that threw Friday can go until Wednesday. Not enough arms to try a Bullpen game after 5 games in 4 days through Monday. Maybe they have him go 1 time through the line-up?

Zebby on Tuesday seems the most likely option. They do (and could still) have a nine-man bullpen through then, which does make a bullpen a more viable option, depending on the usage until then. 

[IndianaTwin]

42 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

Short lived. Seems they would stay heavy on relief arms to get through the K.C. series as Varland will have to take a regular turn in the rotation either Wednesday or Friday next week. Maybe Matthews is up to start Tuesday displacing a reliever …….then Varland replaces him the following day and slots into rotation going forward.

If Zebby starts Tuesday, they don’t need Varland on Wednesday or Friday. Ober Wednesday, followed by SWR, Festa, Lopez, Zebby has everyone on regular rest. 

However, if they want to give everyone an extra day, they could slot Varland in on Wednesday as you suggest, but that would be choosing Varland over Ober. More likely, Ober would still go on Wednesday and Varland on Thursday. 

[David Maro]

Ober has put himself in the running for the Cy.When he is pitching now he does with attitude.At this point he is the ace of the team.Maybe Lopez looks at Ober as competition and will get back on track.