Twins 1, Cardinals 5: Erick Fedde and Lars Nootbaar's Terror Reigns Again

[Matt Braun]

Facing prime Mariano Rivera would be preferable over Fedde, at this point. 

Image courtesy of © Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Box Score
Joe Ryan: 5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
Home Runs: None
Bottom 3 WPA: Jorge Alcalá (-.250), Carlos Correa (-.093), Louis Varland (-.078)
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

 

Thursday’s dud of an Opening Day set the stage for a redemptive episode—this time featuring an old friend unseen on a big league mound since August 7th of last year. Would Joe Ryan prove to be the catalyst needed to spark Minnesota’s first win of the season?

You’d be forgiven if you thought the start of Saturday’s match was a rerun; St. Louis scrapped their way to a 1st-inning run thanks to two well-placed singles sandwiched around a runner advanced on an out. That’s Cardinals baseball, alright. Whitey Herzog would have been proud. But that run proved to be the only score against Ryan, who—while uncharacteristically inefficient at times—worked around trouble to stymie St. Louis from advancing any further. He ended his day with five strikeouts and no walks. He did not earn a decision.

Working opposite Ryan was one Erick Fedde, a recently developed personal nemesis of the Twins. He has their number. Entering the game, Fedde had allowed just two runs across 17 frames against Minnesota, whiffing 23 with a WHIP of .824. Something about his finessing ways short-circuits Twins hitters, no matter their style.

And he continued to fool them. An early run knocked in by Willi Castro (aided by a Trevor Larnach steal!?!) served as the lone dent in his armor. The only runner to reach following Castro’s double was via a Fedde fielding error; that runner was then negated with a double play, anyways. Few were surprised. 

 

Minnesota’s defense proved adept at times. An early steal attempt was snuffed out thanks to some gold medal-level gymnastics from Carlos Correa, and Byron Buxton later made a deep flyout to center look simple with signature smoothness.

 

The wind may need an assist on that Brendan Donovan flyout, as well. 

Unfortunately, the good news ended there. Ryan’s exit after the 5th inning portended a disastrous showing from Minnesota’s bullpen. Jorge Alcalá was greeted with a line shot off his person, resulting in a rare infield double and a greeting from the athletic trainer. He was deemed fine.

Perhaps in health, but certainly not in performance: he allowed two more runners and broke the tie before being yanked in favor of Louis Varland, who nearly escaped the situation. He walked one to load the bases but struck out two to regain favor. One measly out stood between him and an impressive outing. But the man up was Lars Nootbaar, so far the main character of the 2025 MLB season, and he cracked a two-out single into center to plate a pair of back-breaking runs. 

A fifth and final run in the 8th charged to Jhoan Duran removed the necessity for St. Louis' stud closer, Ryan Helsley, to enter the game; instead, Phil Maton took the mound to quell Minnesota's bats from offering a last-minute comeback.

Post-Game Interview:

 

Notes:
Mickey Gasper earned his first career MLB hit with an infield single in the 8th inning.

 

Joe Ryan's five strikeouts give him 530 in his Twins career, good for 22nd place in team history. He's two Ks away from tying LaTroy Hawkins.

Matt Wallner, Carlos Correa, and Byron Buxton are a combined 0-for-24 to start the season. 

Trevor Larnach stole his seventh career base on Saturday. He's 269 behind Chuck Knoblauch for 1st place in Twins history. 

What’s Next?
The Twins and Cardinals finish their series with a Sunday excursion pitting Bailey Ober against Andre Pallante. First pitch is at 1:15 PM. 

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

View full article

[thelanges5]

Top of the order 0-24, Cards put balls in play, and had some web gems.
 

Twins seem unprepared and uninspired out there. Bringing up the feels from the end of 2024. 

[William K Johnson]

New year, same Alcala.

[sftwinsfan]

I'm afraid a lot of pitchers are going to have the Twins number this year. How can you take a lineup seriously with Ty France and Mickey Gaspar batting 5-6? Fedde probably thought he was unexpectedly demoted to AAA. 

[sweetmusicviola16]

Solid first start by Ryan. This team has lacked a personality for years now, aside from 6-7 weeks at the end of 2023. Poorly constructed. We'll win some this year but I don't see this team as a contender. Will be in that 76-82 win area. 

Way to go Gasper.

[sweetmusicviola16]

7 minutes ago, sftwinsfan said:

I'm afraid a lot of pitchers are going to have the Twins number this year. How can you take a lineup seriously with Ty France and Mickey Gaspar batting 5-6? Fedde probably thought he was unexpectedly demoted to AAA. 

Doesn't help either when your top 3 guys stand at 0 for 24. Buxton seemed very disinterested his last AB. At least try.

But yeah lots of black holes on this team.

[Peter]

It’s officially panic time!!! Unacceptable start to season!!! Definitely must win tomorrow as well rest of season!!! Just livid how season has started!!!!😤😡🤬

[Nashvilletwin]

A few quick observations:

1. It’s tough when the highlight is an infield single by your 29 year old rookie. Btw, no knock on Gaspar. Congratulations - you’ve worked hard for decades to achieve that. I hope there are a lot more to follow.

2. Best bullpen in the majors? Yeah, right. 

3. Yankees hit 9 dingers today - this entire Twins team may not have that many by tax day.

4. The Cardinals hit, pitched and fielded better in both the first two games - by a lot.  

5. Fielding is not going to be strength of this Twins team.  Come to think of it, hitting won’t be either. It’s too early to tell about pitching, but the early returns are not overly encouraging.

6. This team is boring, let’s just admit it.  They exhibit as much personality and fire as their manager.

7.  We stole another base today. That’s two in two games. Hell has officially frozen over.

8. Given all that’s going on with ownership and tv, etc., the under on 1.75MM in home attendance this season looks like a solid bet.

9. Since that Texas series in August last summer, are the Twins the worst team in baseball?  They sure look it.

10.  See you tomorrow.

[DJL44]

35 minutes ago, William K Johnson said:

New year, same Alcala.

Does he usually get drilled by a comebacker?

[DJL44]

Twins.tv is great - no commercials at all

[USAFChief]

Just not much there to get enthused about. Today, or long term.

Been on the "Fire Rocco" bandwagon for some time now. Caught a lot of **** for that. But I'm still riding that wagon. 

 

[Parfigliano]

15 minutes ago, Nashvilletwin said:

A few quick observations:

1. It’s tough when the highlight is an infield single by your 29 year old rookie. Btw, no knock on Gaspar. Congratulations - you’ve worked hard for decades to achieve that. I hope there are a lot more to follow.

2. Best bullpen in the majors? Yeah, right. 

3. Yankees hit 9 dingers today - this entire Twins team may not have that many by tax day.

4. The Cardinals hit, pitched and fielded better in both the first two games - by a lot.  

5. Fielding is not going to be strength of this Twins team.  Come to think of it, hitting won’t be either. It’s too early to tell about pitching, but the early returns are not overly encouraging.

6. This team is boring, let’s just admit it.  They exhibit as much personality and fire as their manager.

7.  We stole another base today. That’s two in two games. Hell has officially frozen over.

8. Given all that’s going on with ownership and tv, etc., the under on 1.75MM in home attendance this season looks like a solid bet.

9. Since that Texas series in August last summer, are the Twins the worst team in baseball?  They sure look it.

10.  See you tomorrow.

I'd pound the under on 1.6 million attendance

[thelanges5]

20 minutes ago, Nashvilletwin said:

A few quick observations:

1. It’s tough when the highlight is an infield single by your 29 year old rookie. Btw, no knock on Gaspar. Congratulations - you’ve worked hard for decades to achieve that. I hope there are a lot more to follow.

2. Best bullpen in the majors? Yeah, right. 

3. Yankees hit 9 dingers today - this entire Twins team may not have that many by tax day.

4. The Cardinals hit, pitched and fielded better in both the first two games - by a lot.  

5. Fielding is not going to be strength of this Twins team.  Come to think of it, hitting won’t be either. It’s too early to tell about pitching, but the early returns are not overly encouraging.

6. This team is boring, let’s just admit it.  They exhibit as much personality and fire as their manager.

7.  We stole another base today. That’s two in two games. Hell has officially frozen over.

8. Given all that’s going on with ownership and tv, etc., the under on 1.75MM in home attendance this season looks like a solid bet.

9. Since that Texas series in August last summer, are the Twins the worst team in baseball?  They sure look it.

10.  See you tomorrow.

The answer to question number nine. Twins have the second worst record since August of last year after the Angels. 

[TheLeviathan]

Bats are cold, but the lineup is definitely my biggest concern with this team.  You aren't going to win many games no matter how good your pitching, managing, or defense are if you're only going to scrape out 3 hits.

[Linus]

The 69 Dodgers had elite pitching with Koufax, Drysdale, etc.  Their hitting was horrible.  Drysdale was on the injured list and wasnt with the team.  He was told that Koufax threw a no hitter that day.  His response: “Did we win?”

Not sure why the Twins make me think of that story.

[Linus]

1 minute ago, TheLeviathan said:

Bats are cold, but the lineup is definitely my biggest concern with this team.  You aren't going to win many games no matter how good your pitching, managing, or defense are if you're only going to scrape out 3 hits.

Somehow they have constructed a lineup that is poor defensively and struggles to hit.  That takes talent.

[shimrod]

1 hour ago, thelanges5 said:

Bringing up the feels from the end of 2024. 

I came here to say, Twins are in late-season form. 

[shimrod]

30 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

1 hour ago, William K Johnson said:

New year, same Alcala.

Does he usually get drilled by a comebacker?

Does he need to get drilled to be wild? 

Only difference this outing is an excuse. 

[Dave Borton]

1 hour ago, thelanges5 said:

Twins seem unprepared and uninspired out there. Bringing up the feels from the end of 2024. 

That was my line. 3 hits. Have seen this movie. Mercy.

[Dave Borton]

31 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

...

Been on the "Fire Rocco" bandwagon for some time now. Caught a lot of **** for that. But I'm still riding that wagon. 

 

Think of yourself as Gabby Hayes, riding shotgun for John Wayne on the stagecoach.

[h2oface]

Best bullpen in MLB. 
 

3/6 inherited runners scored for the season. Familiar. 
 

The ST routines really have the boys ready for the season. 
 

Ready for September baseball. 

[SteveLV]

Get back to me when you get to .500.

Twins 2--12 with RISP.  Team BA is .171 so far.  

Today starting pitching was excellent and bullpen imploded, supposedly our strength.

Meanwhile, Dodgers are 4-0.  Color me shocked.

[Dave Borton]

55 minutes ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

.But yeah lots of black holes on this team...

Nah. Black holes have 2 forms of energy as well as mass-energy equivalent.

[Doc Lenz]

Two things 

Why  isn’t Larnach running in hard to back up on play Alcala is hit? Standing watching? Would have saved a base.

no enthusiasm- guys not running hard to first on ground balls. 

[sweetmusicviola16]

50 minutes ago, thelanges5 said:

The answer to question number nine. Twins have the second worst record since August of last year after the Angels. 

The Twins aren't concerned cuz they have 9 this month against CWS and LAA. They showed last season they are a poorly constructed mediocre team that can't beat good teams. I'm not concerned about 0-2. It's two games. The concern is this team isn't even close to on par with the good teams.

[SteveLV]

Prediction:  Baldelli is fired by Memorial Day, if not sooner.  This team is already listless.

[mikelink45]

Still too early.  Obviously Rocco's new ST strategy does not have us sprinting, but I am still waiting for another 10 games.

[Greglw3]

1 hour ago, thelanges5 said:

Top of the order 0-24, Cards put balls in play, and had some web gems.
 

Twins seem unprepared and uninspired out there. Bringing up the feels from the end of 2024. 

Put quite simply, we’re getting Nootbarred!

Time to let DaShawn play and see if his speed can remind us why it’s not OK for one team to have the Cardinals speed and their opponent very little.

[Doctor Gast]

IMO, they should have taken Alacala out of the game after he was hit in the shoulder, no questions asked. Most players always say they're not hurt.

Cardinals fans were very down. Twins have given them hope. Maybe they'll turn things around, thanks to us.

[jkcarew]

What are the odds we’d have to start the season against the one team that has a bullpen even better than ours!???