Notebook 8/16: Can the Twins Offense Bounce Back?

Saturday’s Double Header Recap:

Twins Split with Royals

TODAY

Twins vs. Royals, 1:10 pm CDT

Betting Lines: MIN -180, KC +155, O/U: 9.5

Twins Starter: Randy Dobnak, RHP 0.90 ERA

He’s back, folks. Randy Dobnak returns to the mound for Minnesota today in a game the Twins should really want to win. The Royals have won four of the first five in this season series and that is not exactly what we expected. Hopefully Randy can put the Twins back on the winning path. If today’s start is anything like his first few, everything should be alright.

Dobnak has pitched just one game against Kansas City in his young career, but it was a good one. He went 5 ⅓ innings and gave up just two runs on three hits with five strikeouts. If he can have another outing like that today then the Twins should be just fine. The Royals are the only remaining team in the division that Dobnak has not faced twice.

The chart below suggests Dobnak should not be pitching as well as he is. As a rebuttal I would say any time we have doubted Dobnak he has proved us wrong.

Royals Starter: Brady Singer, RHP 4.50 ERA

The former 18th overall pick back in 2018 is making just his fifth career start today. He had a very quick rise to the majors after playing just one full season down there in 2019. The Royals have very high hopes for him as the attempt to build their rotation for their next playoff run. He has performed fine this season, averaging five innings and more than a strikeout per inning.

Last weekend when he faced the Twins, Singer went five strong innings and gave up just two runs while racking up four strikeouts. It was a game where Twins fans were confident only to see the lineup struggle all game, ultimately resulting in another loss. Hopefully they can get him this time around.

Twins Lineup

1. Max Kepler RF

2. Jorge Polanco SS

3. Nelson Cruz DH

4. Eddie Rosario LF

5. Marwin Gonzalez 3B

6. Luis Arraez 2B

7. Miguel Sano 1B

8. Byron Buxton CF

9. Alex Avila C

News & Notes

- Zack Littell returned from the IL yesterday and looked great, He averaged just under 90 MPH with his slider and around 95 MPH with his fastball.

-After all the action around the division yesterday, the Twins remain in first place by a game over Cleveland.

-Mike Trout took a week off for the birth of his son and he somehow still leads the league in home runs. He hit another one last night against the Dodgers. We are all witnessing something we will never see again.

- The Oakland Athletics kept their electric start to the season going with a huge home run last night. Down two in the 9th with two out and two on, Mark Canha blasted a three run homer and the Athletics moved to 15-6, 4.0 games ahead in the division.

AROUND THE AL CENTRAL

-Cardinals 5, White Sox 1 (Game 1)

-Cardinals 6, White Sox 3 (Game 2)

-Indians 3, Tigers 1

1. MIN 13-8 (-)

2. CLE 12-9 (1.0 GB)

3. DET 9-9 (2.5 GB)

4. CWS 10-11 (3.0 GB)

5. KCR 9-12 (4.0 GB)

See Also:

A glimmer of 2019 the Twins lineup needed

Is Dobnak lucking out with easy competition?

The 5 best bets to win Twins MVP

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