Game-Thread 8/14: Kansas City Royals (8-11) @ Minnesota Twins (12-7) 7:10pmCT

[thuuuuney]

Catch-Up
How did you all enjoy your day off? I'm sure the Twins did. Buxton is playing arguably the best all around baseball of his career, the Twins so far have gotten an incredible return on investment in Kenta Maeda, and now we get to see if Odorizzi can bounceback after his rough start back from injury against a Royals team who has the 12th most strikeouts as a team batting and amongst the teams who have played every game this season, rank last in walks as a team (25th overall). With no off day in sight for 21 days, starting off this long stretch of games with a win is vital.

 

Where to Listen

WCCO 830, TIBN, 102.9 The Wolf

 

Where to Watch

Fox Sports North, MLB.TV Free Game of the Day (If you're lucky enough to not have it blacked out).

 

Starting Pitchers

• Kansas City: Ian Kennedy, Royals Manager Mike Matheany is electing to go with Kennedy as an opener tonight with starter Jakob Junis (Last Friday against MIN: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 K's).
• Minnesota: Jake Odorizzi, In first start back from IL, went 3.0 IP scattering 4 hits, 2 Earned, and earned a no-decision.

Kansas City Batting Order

 

Minnesota Batting Order

 

Storylines

 

1. Odo breakdown via Twins Daily writer Andrew Thares (Notebook 8/14),

• After beginning the season on the IL with a right intercostal strain, Jake Odorizzi finally made his first appearance of the season last Saturday against the Royals. It was clear there was still some rust that Odorizzi needed to shake off, as he didn’t have his sharpest of stuff. In just three innings of work, Odorizzi gave up two walks and a home run. Of the 71 pitches he threw, just 40 of them were for strikes.

  The Twins will be hoping for a better performance tonight, as Odorizzi gets a second look that this Royals lineup, which has been surprisingly better than expected so far this season. In 19 games this season, the Royals are averaging 4.42 runs per game and have a wRC+ of 100. While this isn’t specular by any means, being even league average is a massive uptick from where they were the past couple of years.

2. Today is my wife's birthday and I am taking advantage of her taking a nap to write this and as a result of her birthday I will be active on the game-thread at all tonight. So cheer loud for me and let's all hope the Twins get to Kennedy early because I have a feeling Junis is going to look good tonight.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Got it. Loud cheering! We won't let ya down!

 

Wasn't Kennedy prominently mentioned amid all the Santana trade rumors way back when?

 

One of those situations where i feel the player is more familiar than he really is...

 

Same goes for a bunch of Dodger's prospects from all the Dozier rumors.

 

And yeah, i know this here is a different Dozier.

[stringer bell]

We might have a rain delay tonight. The weather looks rugged near the cities. Hopefully it is just rain, there have been tornadoes nearby. 

[Nine of twelve]

 

We might have a rain delay tonight. The weather looks rugged near the cities. Hopefully it is just rain, there have been tornadoes nearby. 

We're getting moderate weather in the western suburbs now. The radar makes it look like the worst may skirt Target Field, passing northwest.

[Nine of twelve]

Just turned on the TV to see the tarp being pulled over the infield.

[bighat]

Appears game is PPD:

 

[Nine of twelve]

 

Appears game is PPD:

 

Dicknroy confirm.

[bighat]

Fun fact: the only game thread I ever started was rained out (I think it was last summer).

[sampleSizeOfOne]

What shall i do with the evening now?

 

I was all set to cheer loudly...

[PDX Twin]

 

Straight doubleheader tomorrow between the #MNTwins and Royals.

 

Since they aren't getting any admission money, why would they do a doubleheader any other way?

[sampleSizeOfOne]

 

Since they aren't getting any admission money, why would they do a doubleheader any other way?

I am a fan of the simultaneous doubleheader.

 

But that is easier on 2 fields. 

 

Hmmm... You could even offset them by half an inning, and use the same fielders on both fields.

 

It could be just like modern football, with an offense and a defense that played separately.

 

So... Long story short, they would do it another way just to be difficult.

[ashbury]

Since they aren't getting any admission money, why would they do a doubleheader any other way?

It takes time to escort the cardboard-cutout heads out of the ballpark, and then back in.

 

[Danchat]

With the way the Twins are playing (hitting in the early innings, starters not going deep), two 7 inning games tomorrow is exactly what they need. Odorizzi was unlikely to go deep today, so it works out well for us.

[stringer bell]

I think they would have played today if they had paid admissions to factor in.

 

Oh well, the weather should be nice tomorrow and somebody gets a day of service time.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

 

I think they would have played today if they had paid admissions to factor in.

Oh well, the weather should be nice tomorrow and somebody gets a day of service time.

Just one person?

[sampleSizeOfOne]

 

 

It takes time to escort the cardboard-cutout heads out of the ballpark, and then back in.
 

Now i'm actually concerned they might have gotten wet...