Scott Baker throws tomorrow. He throws a mid-nineties sinking fastball, a good change up, a slider, and a knuckle-curve. He has very good command and doesn't walk many people. He gives up a fair number of hits but he does get strike outs. Lefties have pretty good success against him.
Nick Blackburn is scheduled to pitch on Tuesday. He has very good control and doesn't walk many. He pitches to contact, so he does give up hits. He has a high eighties four-seam fastball, a two-seamer, a curveball, a slider, and a change-up. He's been inconsistent this year but if he's having a good day, it's a really good day. He's easier on righties than on lefties.
Livan Hernandez takes the mound on Wednesday. Hernandez has pretty good control but he struggles against lefties. His mid-eighties fastball has become hittable, as it's pretty flat. His change-up isn't all that much of a change from his fastball. His out-pitch is an eephus pitch. He'll last pretty deep into the game. He won't walk many and he won't give up many home runs.
They have a good lineup but their biggest bats are Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, and Alexi Casilla (with Denard Span filling in very nicely for the injured Michael Cuddyer.) The Twins are a well-trained team, so they don't make a lot of errors. They turn a lot of double plays. They're not a particularly free swinging team (Mauer, in particular, doesn't strike out very often.) Carlos Gomez is the biggest threat to steal a base (having taken twenty-one this season.) I would send a friendly wave to Craig Breslow but it didn't turn out that well the last time I did that, so I won't (he's been doing well-hasn't given up a run yet, really cut down on the walks-he did wrench his back recently and he hasn't pitched since June 30.)
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