KC 4, MIN 2: For Sale

Snapshot (chart via FanGraphs)

Lance Lynn: 43 Game Score, 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 K, 6 BB, 55.9% strikes

Bullpen: 3.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 K, 3 BB

Lineup: 2-for-4 w/RISP, 6 LOB

WPA of 0.1 or higher: Mauer .105

WPA of -0.1 or lower: Cave -.110, Polanco -.144, Dozier -.191

First Base

Congratulations are in order! Joe Mauer led off this game with a double, giving him 415 for his career. The significance in that number? Joe is now the Twins’ all-time leader in doubles.

https://twitter.com/fsnorth/status/1020812242525097989

The very first double of Mauer’s career came at the Metrodome on June 9, 2004. He hit it off Steve Trachsel, who was pitching for the Mets that day.

Second Base

It’s not like Lance Lynn got pummeled or anything, he gave up three runs on three hits, but he had an ugly start. I mean this one was a complete dog.

Lynn had already reached the 100-pitch mark after four innings, it took him 118 pitches just to complete five frames and he walked six batters, though to be fair one was intentional. Yuck.

Third Base

Unfortunately, the lineup performed not much better. Mauer had a great game, going 3-for-4, and Eddie Rosario was 2-for-4 with an RBI. The issue was the rest of their teammates combined to go 2-for-24 with three walks and 10 strikeouts.

Brian Dozier was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and left four men on base, but that wasn’t even the worst of it. Jake Cave was also 0-for-4, but he struck out in all four of his at-bats. Again, yuck.

Home Plate

I’ll leave you with this question: Of the 14 players who appeared for the Twins tonight, how many of them do you expect will be on the team in another few weeks? Half?

Both Brian Dozier and Eduardo Escobar’s names are floating around in trade rumors. Zach Duke seems like just the type of guy a contender would target to add depth to the left side of its bullpen. I’m sure Minnesota would love to find a taker for Lynn. If all hope of contention is dashed, it doesn’t make much sense to me why the team would keep guys like Bobby Wilson and Robbie Grossman around. That’s six guys right there. Who could be the seventh … Mauer?

And that’s not to mention some of the other guys who didn’t play in this game such as Fernando Rodney, who’s been in the rumor mill, or Matt Belisle, who has no business blocking younger relievers from getting opportunities if this is going to be a lost season anyway.

Postgame With Molitor

https://twitter.com/fsnorth/status/1020877505287385088

Bullpen Usage

Here’s a quick look at the number of pitches thrown by the bullpen over the past five days:

AL Central Standings

CLE 54-43

MIN 44-52 (-9.5)

DET 42-58 (-13.5)

CHW 33-63 (-20.5)

KC 29-68 (-25)

Next Three Games

Sun at KC, 1:15 pm CT: Jake Odorizzi vs. Brad Keller

Mon at TOR, 6:07 pm CT: Adalberto Mejia vs. Marco Estrada

Tue at TOR, 6:07 pm CT: Jose Berrios vs. Ryan Borucki