Dodgers 6, Twins 3: Too Little, Too Late

Box Score
Starting Pitcher: Louie Varland 5.0 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 6 K (97 pitches, 63 strikes, 7 whiffs)
Home Runs: Ryan Jeffers(2), Carlos Correa (1), Alex Kirilloff (1)
Bottom 3 WPA: Louie Varland (-.254), Edouard Julien (-.071), Byron Buxton (-.050)

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

Varland Deals With Traffic
Wanting to set the tone after Bailey Ober put up one of the best starts the Dodgers have faced all season, Louie Varland worked around a leadoff Mookie Betts walk. Getting Shohei Ohtani on a strikeout and forcing Freddie Freeman into a ground ball double play, he escaped damage.

Following the Twins lineup going down in order during the bottom half of the 1st, Varland had to bear down again in the 2nd inning. A walk to Max Muncy and a two-out single from James Outman put Dodgers on the corners. Not frazzled, Varland got a grounder from Chris Taylor to wrap up a scoreless second frame.

The ability to battle is something that Varland will need against good lineups, but he’ll need to avoid walks and getting behind in counts to a lineup that can rake like Los Angeles. He started the third by retiring Gavin Lux, doing himself the favor of starting the second trip through the Dodger gauntlet with clean bases. Varland got Betts looking, but Ohtani then ripped a screamer to right for a double. After being ahead of Freeman with a 1-2 count, Varland ended up in a full count, but he confounded the future Hall of Fame first baseman with a curve to escape once more.

Martin Lands, Drought Extends
Austin Martin had been looking for his first major-league hit through four at-bats, and in his fifth, he found it. Martin looped a ball to center field. Outman charged in and made a dive, but came up short. The former top prospect raced into second and put another runner in scoring position for Minnesota.

As has been the case during the early going of this season, Martin found himself stranded. Looking to avenge his leadoff strikeout, Julien took ball one and then was punched out on the next three pitches. The inability to score has become a massive problem once again, and the Dodgers immediately made it hurt.

Will Smith started the 4th inning with a single, before Varland got Muncy. A Teoscar Hernández single with two strikes put runners on first and second. Then, as he did last night, Outman homered. The three-run blast broke the tie, and Minnesota was once again going to need to get to work.

Strikeouts Remain an Issue
Dave Roberts has a great team, but the trio of starters going against Minnesota this series are all beatable--aside from Glasnow. The former Tampa Bay Rays star stepped onto the rubber ready to dominate. Martin’s hit was the only baserunner he allowed through the first four innings, and the Twins' ineptitude at the dish grew increasingly maddening.

Baldelli’s lineup sent 13 hitters to the plate through four frames, of which eight went down on strikes. Glasnow produced 14 whiffs on his first 47 pitches; the Minnesota lineup had no idea what to do with him.

Of course, as they did early in the evening, Los Angeles took an opportunity to add momentum. Varland walked Betts before getting Ohtani on a flyout. Freeman singled the other way, and then Smith blasted the second three-run bomb of the evening. What started so promisingly for Varland went pear-shaped in a hurry. After completing the 5th inning, Varland’s night was done and Cole Sands took over for the 6th.

Stewart Takes Over
Sands worked two scoreless innings of relief and continued his sharp start to the season. Allowing just a single hit, and an additional runner on a walk, Sands recorded four strikeouts of his own. Following a few more strikeouts of Twins by Glasnow and a lightning-themed entrance, Stewart was on the bump for the 8th inning.

It was hardly smooth sailing for Stewart in the 8th inning. A pair of walks and a single loaded the bases with two outs. With Ohtani stepping in, and Stewart needing to get out of it, the $700-million man grounded out on a second-pitch cutter off the plate.

Still looking to avoid the shutout, and with Alex Vesia taking over for Glasnow, time was running out. Ryan Jeffers launched a one-out dinger to left field for his second of the year. While he is just 3-for-25 in 2024, two of those hits have left the yard for Minnesota’s catcher.

Alcalá Back On
Despite dealing with substantial arm issues over the past handful of years, Jorge Alcalá was asked to do a lot of heavy lifting on Saturday against the Guardians. After a postponement on Sunday and being down on Monday, Alcala got the 9th inning tonight. He looked to have turned a page on whatever the injury scare was, getting the side in order. Striking out Freeman (who went down for the third time tonight) and Muncy punctuated his outing. In 5 2/3 innings this year, Alcalá owns a 6/2 K/BB.

Needing to erase a five-run deficit, Correa was up first against Connor Brogdon in his Dodgers debut, and he welcomed him with a big fly. Not to be outdone, Kirilloff made it back-to-back jacks, sending a ball over the left-field wall. Buxton and José Miranda couldn’t keep the run going, though, and Wallner went down on strikes for the fourth time to end the night.

Notes
The Minnesota Twins shuffled a few different players around before their game on Tuesday. Max Kepler was placed on the 10-day injured list with a knee contusion, and Michael Tonkin was acquired from the New York Mets for cash considerations. To put Tonkin on the roster, Minnesota transferred Zack Weiss to the 60-day injured list.

A couple of reinforcements could be on the way for the bullpen as well. Both Caleb Thielbar and Josh Staumont are starting rehab assignments with Triple-A St. Paul.

Last year, the Twins strikeout woes produced 12 games with 13 or more strikeouts and three or fewer runs scored. That was the highest number of such games in team history. After doing it again tonight, they have accomplished the feat three times through their first nine games in 2024. Going 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position, the Twins are 0-for-28 over their past four games.

What’s Next? 
Chris Paddack gets the ball against a former divisional foe on Wednesday afternoon. It was during his rookie season that he posted his best performances, and three of his 26 starts came against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Minnesota will be looking to end the homestand on a high note as they hit the road for a series against both Detroit and Baltimore.

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