Mill1634

Well, that probably does it for this game. Goal coming into this 15 game stretch was 9-6 at a minimum, with 10-5 being the goal. Had a chance to gain ground on that, but we're still on pace. Losing this game was fairly likely throwing out the C lineup and Ober making his first MLB start in a while.

Cano is being treated as if he's eating this inning and getting sent to STP tomorrow, which is probably fair.

Again, the Twins have 2 relievers who can absolutely be trusted in high leverage. One throws like a softball player, and the other cannot/will not be allowed to throw on b2b days. Jax, Duffey, and Pagan are all fine medium leverage options, but they have too many guys who don't really have business throwing in a close game. The front office cannot afford to sit on their hands until the last week of July to address the issue. Eventually we won't be facing the A's, Royals, Tigers, and Orioles every single week.

When you rest your best two hitters (fine, we already won the series and they're both going to get days off), you can not afford to waste opportunities and the Twins have done that twice in the 1st and 5th innings.

This assistant NCCAA coach couldn't be anymore arrogant. Must not be from the midwest.

Much, much better 2nd inning from Ober. Should get him back on track to potentially get through 5 innings.

Danny Coulombe completed a rehab "start" for AA-Wichita, throwing the first inning, allowing 1 runner on a walk but allowing no runs or hits. He didn't strike anyone out. I assume he gets one more appearance, but maybe not. I assume he will replace Megill or Cano on the active roster sometime next week. Matt Canterino is following Danny.

Not ideal to have Ober throw 25 pitches in the first inning. Command just not there yet.

uh, i don't think that was a swing, but thanks home plate ump.

Sigh. Can't be giving away opportunities like that with this lineup.

I too doubt that the Twins 4th OF will continue to hit .355,

Obviously not a very good lineup (on paper) but was to be expected after Buxton played 2 straight in CF and the Twins won both games. Playing with house money now, as the kids say. Interested to see Gordon at short (not in a good way, though). And obviously very glad to have Larnach back. He was crushing the ball before his injury. Royas 5, Twins 2

Twins win! Joe Ryan didn't get a ton of swings and misses, but he pounded the strike zone against a fairly powerless lineup. The lineup made the Royals pay for walking so many leadoff hitters, and the defense was clean once again. The bullpen was mainly clean besides Thielbar giving up a solo shot (but getting a much bigger out earlier), and the lineup added on against bad relievers. Always good to have the series won with another game remaining. Until tomorrow, Enjoy your chicken!

While what Dick just said about pitchers not being pushed to their max in the their 1st start back is true, Ober threw 72 pitches at STP last weekend. I would imagine he's given around 80 pitches, which isn't much less than the Twins usually let him throw.

It's splitting hairs, but kind of surprised we didn't see Megill in the bottom of the 9th. He is (hypothetically) your worst reliever and there won't be a better spot to ease him into his first MLB appearance of the year.

C4!! I think Whit could've caught that but didn't know how far he was from the wall

Arraez slapping hits to the opposite field is a thing of beauty

I love when other teams play bad defense.

Joe Smith remains NAILS. Really hope they let him take the 8th, but I don't think we've seen him go up and down once this season. If he doesn't, you're probably looking at Cano or Stashak, or throwing Duran/Pagan/Duffey/Jax on b2b days. One of those guys is likely going to be tasked with the 9th if the lead holds, and I imagine that'll be Duran.

What a fantastic play by Correa

And now Arraez. Great job by the bottom of the order, and then the top of the order doing their job.

Walk, single, SAC, SAC fly RBI. It's beautiful.

Yeah, instead of GIDP he's only hitting into fielder's choices. /s

Roster Moves: The Twins have placed RHP Josh Winder on the 15-day IL with a shoulder issue. They have also optioned LHP Devin Smeltzer to AAA-STP after last nights start. Bailey Ober has been activated from the injured list and will start tomorrow's game. He has thrown a rehab game, so his pitch count shouldn't be too limited. To replace Winder, the club has purchased the contract of RHP Trevor Megill, a 28 year old. He is 0-2, with an ERA of 3.27 at Saint Paul in 11 innings of work. He has earned two saves, and struck out 15 while walking only 4. He appeared in 28 games last year with the Cubs, allowing 22 runs in 23.2 innings of work. He throws a 4S that sits in the upper 90's, a curve, slider, and sinker. The slider was dominant last year, but it is on small sample size. He allowed 2 runs in 6 innings of work during spring training. To make room on the 40 man roster, the Twins DFA'd RHP prospect Chris Vallimont, who has struggled mightily at AA-Wichita. I would not be shocked to see Vallimont claimed, as he has electric stuff and options remaining. The Pitchers: RHP Joe Ryan (4-2, 2.39 ERA, 36 K's, 37.2 IP) v RHP Brad Keller (1-3, 2.89 ERA, 25 K's, 43.2 IP) The Twins hand the ball to their best starting pitcher in Joe Ryan once again, who is coming off of a 6 inning, 1 ER performance against Cleveland. Ryan faced KC earlier this season, allowing no runs in 6 innings of work while scattering 2 hits and a walk while striking out 5. Brad Keller has been really good thus far, but the BABIP number, sitting at .227, suggests that some negative regression is incoming for the Royals arm. The statcast page also shows a lot of blue for someone with a sub-3 ERA. He does pound the strike zone, so unlike Daniel Lynch last night, he isn't likely going to give up free bases. However, he doesn't strike anyone out and is likely going to give up base hits. He last threw against the White Sox, going 7 innings, allowing 3 runs, 8 hits, and no walks while striking out 3. He has not struck out more than 3 hitters in his last 4 starts. His slider is his most used pitch, allowing an average against of just .173. The 4 seam will sit between 92-95, but has gotten hit hard, including 2 HR. He also mixes in a changeup and sinker, neither of which are above average offerings. The Lineups Twins CF Byron Buxton R 1B Luis Arraez L SS C. Correa R 2B J. Polanco S RF Max Kepler L DH Gary Sanchez R 3B Gio Urshela R C Ryan Jeffers R LF G. Celestino R Royals RF W. Merrifield R LF A. Benintendi L SS Bobby Witt R 1B H. Dozier R C MJ Melendez L DH C. Santana S CF Kyle Isbel L 3B E. Rivera R 2B Nicky Lopez L Byron Buxton is in CF for the third straight game and second straight day, with Arraez back at 1B against a RHP. Carlos Correa is once again at SS, with Polanco, Kepler, and Sanchez all back in the lineup with Sanchez being the DH. Gio Urshella gets the start at the hot corner tonight after a big night from Jose Miranda on Friday. Ryan Jeffers gets the start behind the dish, and Gilberto Celestino will start in LF against a right handed pitcher with Trevor Larnach still not activated from rehab assignment. the Royals lineup loots largely the same, with the only change being in Center Field. Kyle Isbel will get the start their tonight, after coming in to PH last night going 2-2. He did not make the play in CF on Miranda's 2 run double which proved to win the game. Weather: 61 degrees, 9 MPH wind blowing from left to right field, and 0% chance of rain Vegas Odds: Twins -150, Royals +130, O/U 7.5 On this Day: 1930 - Babe Ruth hits three consecutive home runs in the first game of a doubleheader against the A's, then decides to hit right-handed against Jack Quinn in the ninth inning. After two strikes, he switches to lefty but strikes out. Ruth is homerless in the nightcap. Pick to Click: Max Kepler hits his first home run in a while Prediction: Twins 7, Royals 3 Go Twins!!

Twins win! Huge to win that game as Devin is easily the worst starter pitching on either side in this series, and Lynch locked the Twins down last time out. The lineup got off to a great start, hit a lull, and then picked things up again. Smeltzer got by with smoke and mirrors, but the results are positive. Duffey and Pagan were not good, but Duran shows that he's a top 10 reliever in baseball. Jose Miranda comes up huge in his last game as a Twin for a while (probably). Until tomorrow, ENJOY YOUR CHICKEN!