Border Battle Begins: Breaking Down the Twins' Interesting Lineup vs. Brewers

[Nick Nelson]

Image courtesy of Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

1. No Correa, No Buxton Amid Concussion Concerns
Neither Carlos Correa nor Byron Buxton is in the lineup after Thursday’s scary outfield collision, and both remain in concussion protocol. Their absences loom large, especially with Matt Wallner on the injured list and Harrison Bader apparently still not available (but on the active roster). Ryan Fitzgerald is on standby via the taxi squad, as the Twins' depth continues to get stretched. 

"Players can remain in the league’s concussion protocol for multiple days, even if they haven’t been diagnosed with a concussion," reports Bobby Nightengale of the Star Tribune. "Correa said he felt fine when he walked around downtown Milwaukee on Friday morning, but he wasn’t visible in the clubhouse when it opened to reporters in the afternoon."

UPDATE: Correa has officially been placed on the 7-day injured list and Fitzgerald has been activated. Buxton remains in the protocol. 

2. Clemens Over Lewis? Believe It.
Kody Clemens hitting sixth, Royce Lewis seventh. That sentence alone would’ve broken a few brains back in March. But it says a lot about both players’ current trajectories. Clemens — a fringe big-leaguer by most evaluations — has delivered in big moments, with multiple clutch, game-altering homers during this win streak. Meanwhile, Lewis has struggled to regain form since coming off the IL and, truthfully, has looked lost at the plate dating back to last August. Talent favors Lewis long-term, but right now, Clemens is the more dangerous bat. The lineup reflects that.

 

With all of these injuries to key players piling up, now would be a GREAT time for Royce Lewis to remember who he is.

3. Larnach Leads Off (Again)
For the third time this season, Trevor Larnach finds himself in the leadoff spot. With Edouard Julien down in St. Paul, Buxton in limbo, and Wallner still likely weeks away, the Twins are without a trio of players who've led off in 40 of their 44 games. Now it looks like Larnach has emerged as the next man up, and to his credit, he’s earned it. His left-handed approach plays well at the top, and he's been swinging a hot bat lately with an .856 OPS during the win streak.

4. Brooks Lee, #3 Hitter: Ready or Not
Lee batted eighth when he made his season debut for Minnesota back in mid-April, coming off a rookie season where he looked very much like a hitter who belonged at the bottom of the order. In just over a month with the Twins, he has worked his way up into the heart of the lineup, batting cleanup in each of the past six games and tonight moving into the #3 spot. He's come through with some big hits to earn the vote of confidence from Rocco Baldelli.

Personally, I'm still not fully sold on what I'm seeing. Lee has shown flashes at the plate, but his plate discipline remains a work in progress — a 12-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio and .250 OBP in May don’t exactly scream “middle-of-the-order anchor.” But with injuries piling up and bats slumping, Lee gets a chance to hit in a premium spot. The tools are there — the consistency needs to catch up. Ready or not, he’s got a chance to prove something. 

Plagued by attrition, the Twins need Lee and other players like him to step up and carry the load. So far over the course of this streak, guys have been answering the call.

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[DocBauer]

Considering beat up the team is currently, the lineup.makes sense.

Fully agree Lewis remembering who is can help offset the injuries. This would be a good time! But Clemens has been somewhat warm lately monitor makes sense to have him slotted higher. It also breaks up thr RH bats some.

Vasquez has shown SOME signs of life lately, so I'm curious about him hitting 9th behind Keirsey. I'm thinking if Keirsey gets on base it might allow a SB opportunity, or a bunt or productive out from Vazquez to move him over.

It's going to be up to the top 4 to score runs, and get anything you can from 5-9.

[Baumer67]

The Twins have been getting big at bats from everybody during this win streak and they are going to need to continue with 3 of our hottest hitters currently out of the lineup.

[High heat]

Got another win with a St Paul Saints line up.

 

Lets hope we don’t loss Castro now as well.

[Rod Carews Birthday]

This all made sense given the (ridiculous) constraints on the personnel situation -- and they won!  Wow!  Thank goodness for solid pitching right now.  Otherwise they might be in the middle of a losing streak instead of a winning streak.

Seems like a good time to buy lottery tickets. . .

[LambchoP]

With Bader and Castro banged up and now Buxton and Correa both down for at least a week, we're going to be looking for offense wherever we can get it. I'd think now would be the time to give Mccusker his chance. We can easily move Keaschal to the 60 day IL which opens up a 40 man spot. Who knows, what if he continues his tear at the plate in the majors? He could be a huge boost to our lineup until we get everyone healthy.