Preview: Minnesota Twins v. Boston Red Sox

A split with the Yankees was not the result the Twins were hoping for after winning the first two games of the four-game series, but the pitching looked solid, which made up for the lack of production from their bats. The Twins had a day off to rest, while Boston played their annual Patriots Day game in the morning against the Angels. The Twins lead the AL Central by one game, and can keep the lead provided the lineup can start scoring runs.

Fun Fact: When David Ortiz left the Twins, he was simply “David Ortiz”. When he arrived in Boston, Red Sox announcer Jerry Remy started to call him “Big Papi” after the Hall of Famer started to rake in runs for the World Series team. 

Weather Factor: It is spring in New England, but there isn’t any rain in the forecast, just cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid-50s.

Pitching Probables
Game 1 – Tuesday, April 18th, 2023 – 6:10pm CDT – For the first game of the series, the Twins are sending Sonny Gray (2-0, 0.53 ERA) to the mound to face Chris Sale (1-1, 11.25ERA), Boston's long-time number one starter. Boston is in somewhat of a rebuilding phase and (still) doesn't have any pitching that stands out as a significant threat, but Sale certainly represents their highest ceiling starter. He just hasn't pitched in more than nine games in a season since 2019. Gray has had an incredible start with his lowest ERA to start a season. Prior to an illness-shortened start last week, he allowed only one hit and a career-high 13 strikeouts against the Houston Astros. 

Starting the series against the lefty gives the Twins an opportunity to load their lineup with right-handed bats. Expect most of the left-handed hitters - Trevor Larnach, Max Kepler, Edouard Juilen and Nick Gordon - to be replaced by the likes of Kyle Garlick, Donovan Solano and maybe even Ryan Jeffers. Which lefty manager Rocco Baldelli puts into the lineup might suggest which one he has the most faith in right now.

Game 2 – Wednesday, April 18th, 2023 – 6:10pm CDT - Twins Joe Ryan (3-0, 2.84 ERA) takes the mound opposite veteran Corey Kluber (0-3, 6.92) who is looking for his first win of the season. Kluber is a veteran pitcher with 12 years of experience with two Cy Young Awards under his belt. However, he hasn't been the ace that Twins fans remember since a series of injuries starting in 2019. This year, he has a 6.92 ERA over three starts, though he still has registered 13 strikeouts in 13 innings this season. His downfall has been allowing six walks and four home runs. 

Kluber has had the Twins number in the past. Byron Buxton has struck out six times in 11 AB, and it is 2-for-11 against Kluber. Carlos Correa is 4-for-22. Nobody on the team with at least 10 plate appearances has even a .200 batting average against him. If Kluber pulls out his old magic, the Twin's lineup could be in trouble. 

Ryan has been locked in this season, leading the Twins pitching staff with 26 strikeouts until he was passed by Pablo Lopez on Sunday. He also has the lowest WHIP (0.63) in the rotation and has only allowed six earned runs in his three starts. 

He’ll be asked to control Boston's two star hitters, Rafael Devers and Alex Verdugo. Devers and Verdugo have secured 29 RBI for their team; the Twins have 58 RBI as a team. 

Game 3 - Thursday, April 20th, 2023 – 12:35pm CDT - The Twins have not announced a pitcher for Gate 3 against Boston, but it will likely be Kenta Maeda. Boston will send RHP Tanner Houck (2-0, 4.50 ERA) to the mound. Houck has two wins on the season but has struggled with his control, giving up seven walks in just 14 innings. Houck was a first-round draft pick (#24) in the 2017 draft and was a massive part of the Red Sox bullpen last season before his season ended with surgery on his back. He was thrown into the rotation due to injuries in the Red Sox rotation. Whether starting a game or in a reliever position, Houck has done a nice job. He has a career ERA of 3.39 as a starter and 2.68 as a reliever. 

Prediction Time!
What's your prediction for this series? Can Twins rotation stave off the Boston offense of Devers and Verdugo? Lots of positives this week to look forward to; what are you most excited about? Let's go, Twins Territory!