Tom Froemming

The Kansas City Royals didn’t appear too pleased with the Minnesota Twins after their 4-2 loss Sunday afternoon at Target Field. In addition to being upset with a few called strikes, they also took exception to the actions of Sergio Romo.Here’s a review of what went down in the ninth inning yesterday: So in addition to one really terrible strike call, the Royals were also not pleased with Romo gesturing toward their dugout a couple times, including shouting “keep talking” after he recorded the save. These two teams faceoff once again tonight at Target Field. Click here to subscribe to Tom's YouTube channel. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

Here's a really nice look at the release and spin axis of Sergio Romo's changeup and slider from today's game:

I think you’re going to like this, if you allow yourself to. It may seem strange that Major League Baseball doubleheaders are being played as seven-inning games, but it’s yet another adaptation of a rule that’s been around in the minor leagues. And you know what? I think it’s fun.TODAY Twins vs. Royals Game 1: 12:35 pm Jake Odorizzi vs. Ian Kennedy Game 2: 30 minutes following the conclusion of Game 1 José Berrios vs. Danny Duffy GAME 1 LINEUP — Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that a Reds player has tested positive for COVID-19. Tonight’s Reds-Pirates game has been postponed. — Josh Norris of Baseball America reported that MLB is considering increasing the alternate site player pool by roughly 15. AROUND THE AL CENTRAL CLE 10, DET 5 1. MIN 12-7 (+33 run differential) 2. CLE 11-9 (+16) 3. DET 9-8 (-7) 4. CHW 10-9 (-1) 5. KCR 8-11 (-5) SEE ALSO The Only Trade The Twins Need to Consider Before the Deadline Byron Buxton’s Aggressive Approach at the Plate Is Paying Off The 5 Best Bets to Win Twins MVP How Can the Twins Get Miguel Sano Going? Click here to view the article

Robots now.

I don't think they wanted him to face Yelich a third time.

For anybody needing a pick-me-up, here are the best highlights from the past week:

This fact from Betsy absolutely BLEW MY MIND WHAT!?!?!?!?

I believe you are correct. Surprisingly, it looks like the lowest attended game at Target Field came last April 17, a Wednesday evening game against the Blue Jays, who usually draw nicely. The crowd was 11,454. It was 44 degrees and rainy.

This is going to be an interesting one to look back on for awhile, I'm guessing. I think it's worth pointing out that Pressly was only under team control through 2019, the Astros signed him to an extension. How you try to bake that into the equation, I'm not sure, because there's a counter argument the Twins could have done just the same. Alcala's stuff is exciting, but it's difficult for me to see him ever becoming the type of pitcher Pressly has been. That guy has a 6.56 K:BB ratio with Houston. Alcala might have the strikeouts in him, but his command isn't great. Celestino is out of a lot of people's minds with there being no minor league baseball (sob), but as Cody wrote, he hit he hit last season. Also, center fielders are difficult to find. Not sure if it's going to be with Minnesota, as I could see him getting traded sometime in the future, but I'd bet Celestino is going to be a major leaguer.

Kevin Newman is the walk-off king of MLB

I think rust is something that could fairly be attributed to any player at this point, seeing as the Twins only played one real exhibition game, but Rogers has now pitched in five of the team's 13 games. Apply that rate over 162 games and you get 62 appearances. Rogers appeared in 60 games last season.

Yes, the Game Thread is here: http://twinsdaily.com/topic/39435-gamethread-twins-vs-tribe-110pm-cdt-822020ad/ That's where anybody who wants to discuss today's game live will want to go. You can essentially consider the comments of this article closed (but I'll leave it open in case anyone wants to reply to previous comments).

We do now, Bailey has been placed on the IL with right biceps tendinitis and will be replaced on the roster by Sean Poppen.

On Bailey: Pitchers are dropping like flies across the league right now. I'm guessing Rocco wants to use his depth while he has instead of when he has to. I don't think it's a coincidence this move was announced after the Twins won last night. Had they lost, I imagine Bailey would've started. Rocco is a very rest/longevity-focused manager. On Openers: Just think of this as a Smeltzer/Thorpe start, but you're trying to avoid having them pitch to Lindor/Ramirez/etc more than twice. In that sense, I like the strategy. But, I do think openers for day games puts a reliever in a particularly weird situation. These guys typically pitch at 9-10 pm, so asking them to be comfortable starting a 1 pm game might throw off their routine. I'm sure that wouldn't bother some guys at all, but I have to believe some would be thrown off by it (though I doubt they'd admit it).

We found out postgame last night that Rocco Baldelli was pushing veteran starter Homer Bailey back and instead planning on going with a bullpen game. Tyler Clippard will be the opener, a role he served in three times last season with Cleveland.UPDATE We have a roster move: — Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Lorenzo Cain announced yesterday he was opting out of the remainder of the 2020 season. The Brewers were supposed to be hosting St. Louis this weekend before the Cardinals had multiple COVID-19 cases. — Marlins received approval to resume play on Tuesday. They’ll face the Orioles in Baltimore, though Miami will be designated as the home team for two games of the four-game series. The Phillies will be returning to action Monday against the Yankees in New York. Both the Marlins and Phillies last played a week ago, July 26. — White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson was placed on the Injured List due to a strained groin. — Craig Kimbrel, who has a 7.77 ERA in 25 total games pitched since signing with the Cubs, may be removed from the closer role, per Jordan Bastian of MLB.com. — Old friend and former 2020 Twins Summer Camp great Jhoulys Chacin was DFA’d by the Braves. AROUND THE AL CENTRAL CHW 11, KCR 5 DET: Postponed, rain 1. MIN 6-2 (+20) 2. DET 5-3 (-6) 3. CLE 5-4 (+3) 4. CHW 4-4 (-2) 5. KCR 3-6 (-7) SEE ALSO Twins Bullpen: Ready When Needed Which 3 Twins Have Started the Strongest? Reviewing a Week of Twins Quotes Getting to Starters Early Will Be Imperative for the Minnesota Twins Click here to view the article

I especially enjoy the types of games these two teams seem to play against each other. The Twins were 9-10 against Cleveland last year with the run differential at an even 79-79. That's only 4.16 runs per game on average for each team, so it makes for something a bit different to watch. I wouldn't mind seeing the Twins trounce them 10-0 every time out, of course, but these make for good games to watch.

To this point, no Twins starting pitcher has eclipsed five innings, but with an afternoon game tomorrow Rocco Baldelli may look for more out of Kenta Maeda tonight. The Twins made a roster move this afternoon, placing Zack Littell on the IL and calling up Jorge Alcala to replace him.ROSTER MOVE Zack Littell has been placed on the 10-day Injured List and Jorge Alcala will take his place. — Yankee reliever Tommy Kahnle has been placed on the IL and will likely need Tommy John surgery. AROUND THE AL CENTRAL CHW 3, KCR 2 DET 7, CIN 2 1. MIN 5-2 (+17) 2. CLE 5-3 (+6) 2. DET 5-3 (-6) 4. CHW 3-4 (-8) 5. KCR 3-5 (-1) How ‘bout them Tigers!? Detroit leads all of baseball with 15 home runs, with Miguel Cabrera, JaCoby Jones and former Twin Jonathan Schoop leading the way with three a piece. SEE ALSO Getting to Starters Early Will Be Imperative for the Minnesota Twins Early Report on Eddie Rosario's Plate Discipline Trevor May and the Next Adjustment Click here to view the article

The status of tonight’s Twins-Cleveland game is up in the air at the moment after two St. Louis Cardinals players tested positive for COVID-19. St. Louis just visited Target Field Tuesday and Wednesday. But, if tonight's game is played, here’s some information on the matchup.It’s possible tonight’s game gets postponed. These positive tests, just like in the real world, can have a domino effect. Multiple Miami Marlins players testing positive after leaving Philadelphia caused the Phillies-Yankees series to be postponed. Even the Phillies-Blue Jays series that was scheduled for this weekend has now been postponed after a Philadelphia coach and clubhouse staff member tested positive. We'll just have to wait and see how MLB decides to handle this situation. LAST NIGHT’S GAME RECAP CLE 2, MIN 0: Shane Bieber is a Cheat Code TODAY Twins vs. Cleveland, 7:10 pm CT Twins: Randy Dobnak, RHP Last outing: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 73 pitches Download attachment: Dobnak.png Info via Baseball Savant Shane Bieber? Mike Clevinger? What about Randy Dobnak and his 1.67 career ERA!?!?!? It’s a small sample, but Dobnak has done a great job in the limited opportunities he’s had with the Twins so far in his career. He stepped in on short notices and held the White Sox to one run over four innings his last start. Dobnak faced Cleveland three times last season, and gave up just three earned runs over 11 innings pitched (2.45 ERA), though the rest of the numbers aren’t as pretty. Cleveland: Mike Clevinger, RHP Last outing: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 90 pitches Download attachment: Clevinger.png Info via Baseball Savant Bieber was essentially the Terminator last night, dominating the Bomba Squad over eight shutout innings. At least that guy’s outta the way, right? Well, the top of Cleveland’s rotation delivers another machine-powered pitcher in Clevinger tonight. Clevinger was excellent in four starts against the Twins last season, posting a 2.39 ERA while striking out 32 batters over 26 1/3 innings. Luis Arráez is 6-for-11 with a pair of doubles against Clevinger, but as a whole current Twins have hit .206/.287/.377 (.664 OPS) off him. It’s been feast or famine for Miguel Sanó against Clevinger. In 27 career plate appearances, Clevinger has struck out Sanó 11 times, but he’s also drawn six walks and hit a bomba. His career batting line against him is .200/.407/.500. LINEUP NEWS & NOTES — Jake Odorizzi threw a bullpen session yesterday, meaning he won’t be pitching in this four-game series against Cleveland. The positive news is Odorizzi, who is recovering from a back injury, felt good. His next item on the agenda is facing live hitters Monday in St. Paul. — MLB and the MLBPA agreed to play any doubleheaders necessary this season as seven-inning games. This is yet another new rule change the MLB is adopting that’s been in place in the minor leagues. — Mandy Bell of MLB.com did a nice writeup on the T-2000, er, Shane Bieber. — White Sox prospect Nick Madrigal is getting close to joining the big club, per Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun Times. The second baseman was the No. 4 pick of the 2018 draft. He hit .311/.377/.414 (.792 OPS) over three levels of the minor leagues last season. — Mike Trout has been placed on the paternity list. Congrats to him and his wife, Jessica. AROUND THE AL CENTRAL KCR 5, DET 3 CHW OFF 1. CLE 5-2 (+9) 2. MIN 4-2 (+14) 3. DET 4-3 (-11) 4. KC 3-4 (0) 5. CHW 2-4 (-9) SEE ALSO Early Report on Eddie Rosario's Plate Discipline Twins Fans Welcomed Back to Target Field? Trevor May and the Next Adjustment Click here to view the article