Article: MIL 5, MIN 4: Hader Closes the Door on the Twins Win Streak

[Andrew Thares]

On this Memorial Day, Michael Pineda and the Minnesota Twins were looking to extend their season-long six-game winning streak against Gio Gonzalez and the Milwaukee Brewers, but they came up just a run short.Box Score

Pineda: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 68.1% strikes (64 of 94 pitches)

Home Runs: Buxton (5)

Multi-Hit Games: Kepler (2 for 4)

WPA of +0.1: Pineda .132, Buxton .104

WPA of -0.1: Rogers -.359, Sano -.188, Rosario -.183, Polanco -.159, Astudillo -.133

 

Download attachment: vs Brewers 5-27-2019.PNG

 

(Chart via FanGraphs)

 

After a rough month of April, Michael Pineda has put together a quality month of May. In all five of his starts Pineda has gone at least five innings and given up exactly three earned runs, including four quality starts in a row.

 

For most of the night Pineda was razor sharp, throwing five 1-2-3 innings. However, he got tripped up in the top of the third when he gave up three straight hits to start the inning, which led to three Brewers runs.

 

The Twins got off to an early 4-0 lead for the second game in a row, this time with all four runs coming in the second. Eddie Rosario started off the inning with a single, but it looked like he was going to be stranded at first until the Twins put together five straight two-outs hits, the big one coming off the bat of Byron Buxton who belted a three-run shot. The Twins had their chance to tack on a couple more insurance runs after Jorge Polanco and Jonathan Schoop both singled, but that ended with a C.J. Cron groundout to third. Not getting those additionally insurance runs, while still early, ended up being pretty costly.

 

 

After the Brewers bounced back with their three-run third, the game stayed pretty quiet until the top of the 8th when Orlando Arcia hit a two-run home run off Taylor Rogers to give the Brewers a 5-4 lead.

 

 

The Twins made things interesting off Josh Hader in the bottom of the ninth when Schoop and Cron both reached base with one out. However, that was quickly nullified by Hader when he got Eddie Rosario to fly out on the first pitch and blew three straight fastballs by Miguel Sano to end the game.

 

Postgame with Baldelli

 

Bullpen Usage

Here’s a quick look at the number of pitches thrown by the bullpen over the past five days:

 

Download attachment: 5-27-2019 vs Brewers.PNG

 

Next Three Games

Tues vs MIL, 7:10 pm CT (Davies-Perez)

Thurs at TB, 6:10 pm CT (TBD-TBD)

Fri at TB, 6:10 pm CT (TBD-TBD)

 

Last Game

MIN 7, CHW 0: Twins, Fans Flex Their Muscles in Weekend Sweep

 

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[jdoffing11]

I know we don't want to hear it, but I think its time to start showing some concern for Taylor Rogers, and realize that right now he's not the shutdown reliever we've seen in the past and want him to be. His ERA is still at 2.05, but his WHIP is now at 1.41, and coming into tonight was sitting at 1.31, which was right around where it had been in the 2 years prior to last. I do realize he has an incredibly high BABIP against, and that should balance itself out in time, but part of the reason that's so high is that opponents are just hitting the ball with good contact against him. Take away the 6 infield hits he's given up and his WHIP is still 1.14, up quite a bit from last year. In games where he's pitched at least 2/3 of an inning, he's given up more multi hit games than no hit outings. So something here is going wrong and needs to change. Maybe it's chasing strikeouts too much, who knows, but I hope he and Wes Johnson can figure it out.

[Twodogs]

I know we don't want to hear it, but I think its time to start showing some concern for Taylor Rogers, and realize that right now he's not the shutdown reliever we've seen in the past and want him to be. His ERA is still at 2.05, but his WHIP is now at 1.41, and coming into tonight was sitting at 1.31, which was right around where it had been in the 2 years prior to last. I do realize he has an incredibly high BABIP against, and that should balance itself out in time, but part of the reason that's so high is that opponents are just hitting the ball with good contact against him. Take away the 6 infield hits he's given up and his WHIP is still 1.14, up quite a bit from last year. In games where he's pitched at least 2/3 of an inning, he's given up more multi hit games than no hit outings. So something here is going wrong and needs to change. Maybe it's chasing strikeouts too much, who knows, but I hope he and Wes Johnson can figure it out.

I think one of the problems is that he is being over used a little. Let's face it, they pulled Harper out and the objective was to get Rogers all the way to Yelich. If the Twins had a better guy or two they would have waited to bring Rogers in when Yelich came up, not 4 hitters ahead of that. For instance that is where guys like Addison Reed, (had he performed like he had in the past), and Fernando Romero or last year Pressly would have come in. Then when they got to Rogers he would have only had to get Yelich and then maybe one more guy after that. The Twins are going to lose a lot of games like this one until they address their bullpen issues. However at least they will often times pound teams into submission where they won't need a perfect bullpen outing.

[Twodogs]

It sure would be nice to have Hader coming in for the 8th.

[Brock Beauchamp]

This is a game the Twins should have won. They hit more, walked more, and pitched better. 

 

They lost by one run. It happens.

 

Move on, try again tomorrow.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I think one of the problems is that he is being over used a little. Let's face it, they pulled Harper out and the objective was to get Rogers all the way to Yelich. If the Twins had a better guy or two they would have waited to bring Rogers in when Yelich came up, not 4 hitters ahead of that. For instance that is where guys like Addison Reed, (had he performed like he had in the past), and Fernando Romero or last year Pressly would have come in. Then when they got to Rogers he would have only had to get Yelich and then maybe one more guy after that. The Twins are going to lose a lot of games like this one until they address their bullpen issues. However at least they will often times pound teams into submission where they won't need a perfect bullpen outing.

Rogers has pitched 22 innings this season. That puts him on pace for about 65-70 innings for the season. He may have been overused early in the season (but not by a lot) but he's had a pretty easy 7-10 days.

 

Sometimes, good pitchers just bomb out for a spell and then recover. I'm not worried yet.

[Aerodeliria]

Sure, hindsight is 20-20, but I would have liked to have seen a little bit more of Harper in that situation to be honest. He had just whiffed two in a row. Why not let him go longer? (I even mumbled this to myself when I saw "MOUND VISIT" appear on the screen at MLB.com.)

 

 

[John Bonnes]

Was their any explanation on TV for what was wrong with statcast or the radar gun readings,

[Twodogs]

Was their any explanation on TV for what was wrong with statcast or the radar gun readings,

Yes, my son told me that they said at the beginning of the game there were some technical difficulties so there wouldn't be any radar numbers or strike zone etc...

[Twodogs]

Rogers has pitched 22 innings this season. That puts him on pace for about 65-70 innings for the season. He may have been overused early in the season (but not by a lot) but he's had a pretty easy 7-10 days.

 

Sometimes, good pitchers just bomb out for a spell and then recover. I'm not worried yet.

I agree with you on the numbers, innings etc... But it seems like Rogers comes in during almost every high leverage situation. Today that high leverage situation should have been, in my opinion, when Yelich came to the plate. Not have to take care of the 4 hitters prior and then have to get Yelich. This is where they need another high leverage arm or two. Just some different options.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I agree with you on the numbers, innings etc... But it seems like Rogers comes in during almost every high leverage situation. Today that high leverage situation should have been, in my opinion, when Yelich came to the plate. Not have to take care of the 4 hitters prior and then have to get Yelich. This is where they need another high leverage arm or two. Just some different options.

I absolutely agree that the team needs more, better relievers to allow more flexibility in high leverage situations. I'm only arguing whether Rogers has been overused.

[TheLeviathan]

I had a bad feeling that when Arraez couldn't drive in Sano and Kepler that we'd regret it.  

 

You'll lose some in baseball, including when Taylor Rogers is on the mound.  Let's win tomorrow and have a nice little 5-2 road trip.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

In 2017 Rogers was lights-out until about the All Star break, then couldn’t get anybody out. I’m not concerned about Rogers per se, but that other guys start getting high leverage appearances too (assuming the offense comes back to earth).

[rghrbek]

I was at the game, great vibe, wish these games were on the weekend, which MLB would figure out how to do this.

 

I agree with Brock, we need to understand we lost to what I think is a good team.  Rogers is still elite, and we will more than likely beat them again.

 

I will say this, and I believe this will happen.  Our squad is going to have a few more of these games and soon, it's just the law of average.  Still expect us to be fine, but see this type of game being a thing from time to time.

[MNT1996]

Our last win streaks have been 4,5 and our latest was 6. Time for the 7 streak boys.

[h2oface]

8-9 against teams above .500. At least, yesterday, we were 8-8 and then lost one to a team above .500. But now the standings say we are 6-8 against teams above .500. It seems it is being adjusted as teams' records change. It seems to me the stat should be based on the oppositions record at the time a game is played. 

 

I was really hoping for a statement this game. I know we can't win 'em all, but I hate losing games that our pitchers are spotted a 4 run lead, and they blow it. 5 unanswered runs by the offense. I hope Diaz gets more agressive about sending runners home, or more ignore him like Rosario.

 

I hope this fascination with a quirky utility guy is coming to an end. It seems Astudillio is better used less than more. It reminds me a lot of Colabello. His OBP is basically his average, so when he only hits .264 with an OPS of .671, he needs to be off the team.

[Aerodeliria]

It really a game of inches and even centimeters. Astudillo's line shot goes through and the Twins are sitting on six runs instead of stuck on four.

[AlwaysinModeration]

It really a game of inches and even centimeters. Astudillo's line shot goes through and the Twins are sitting on six runs instead of stuck on four.

Yes, it was really amazing that Jeffries came up with that ball. Coupled with the diving’s catch by Gamel, and the Twins were thaaaaaat close to scoring twice as many runs.

[Eris]

Also, Buxton’s throw that hit the runner (Arcia?) for the Brewers third run. Although it would have taken a great tag, I thought Astudillo played the ball poorly. He should have been in front of the runner not behind the runner.

[diehardtwinsfan]

you're going to lose games like this from time to time. Not terribly worried about it... even Rodgers will blow a game...

 

I do agree though that having some better relievers would be nice. Rodgers has been good for us, but he shoudln't be our best reliever.

[bighat]

Rats. Oh well, the Twins were not going to go 102-0 the remaining 2/3 of the season. Rogers wasn't going to have a 0.00 ERA the rest of the way. This was gonna happen - and it'll happen again. The Twins let one get away against a good Milwaukee team. That's baseball.

 

Heck, the White Sox took 2 of 4 in Houston last week. The Blue Jays roughed up the Twins earlier in the year in Minneapolis. The Orioles won the season opener in Yankee Stadium. Every team has a chance on any given day.

 

I agree that the bullpen needs some help, we all know that. I'm not going to panic about Rogers or the Twins just yet though. Hope the Twins get some revenge tonight.

 

My one sore spot: would love to see Cruz in the lineup again. Getting a bit annoyed. Don't think Cruz would have struck out on three pitches with 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth....and I wish Sano would been thinking SINGLE instead of HR in his last AB.

[MMMordabito]

Typical Twins fans ... Lose one game and start looking for someone to beat up on (Rogers, Astudillo, Diaz) ... Still the best team in baseball

[USAFChief]

Also, Buxton’s throw that hit the runner (Arcia?) for the Brewers third run. Although it would have taken a great tag, I thought Astudillo played the ball poorly. He should have been in front of the runner not behind the runner.

it would have taken a fantastic tag, since the ball never got to Astudillo.

[Riverbrian]

 

Yes, it was really amazing that Jeffries came up with that ball. Coupled with the diving’s catch by Gamel, and the Twins were thaaaaaat close to scoring twice as many runs.

 

Yeah.. Milwaukee can play.

 

Sometimes the other team plays well. 

 

 

[wsnydes]

 

This is a game the Twins should have won. They hit more, walked more, and pitched better. 

 

They lost by one run. It happens.

 

Move on, try again tomorrow.

Agreed. These are the types of games that I'd like to see them in more though, but on the winning end obviously. I'd like to see them in more close game situations late in games. I won't complain about the big game to game run differentials, but that's not likely to be what it's going to be like come October.

[ChrisKnutson]

While I’m not exactly worried about Roger’s performance, I am concerned that he may be the only guy in our bullpen that I’d even trust in these type of games. Parker, Harper, and May are alright, but I definitely wouldn’t put all my faith in them keeping it close against other contenders, especially in the postseason.

 

I mean, it’s not like the Indians solely relied on Andrew Miller in 2016, they also had Allen, Shaw, and Otero as well.

 

I think it’s safe to say that Rogers’s needs a better supporting cast.

[Platoon]

I think it's very difficult to determine whether Rogers will end up being overused. Brock noted he was somewhat over burdened early in the year, but not recently. That could be due to the difference in game margins. Lately it's been blowout city, I coulda have pitched the 9th. More disturbing to me is that Baldy has a penchant for using him when behind, or after he gets them behind. IF he is your best, you save those pitches for a later day. Will be interesting what happens now that both Hader and our version of Hader threw last night.

[nokomismod]

 

Yes, it was really amazing that Jeffries came up with that ball. Coupled with the diving’s catch by Gamel, and the Twins were thaaaaaat close to scoring twice as many runs.

That was a crazy good reaction to that shot by Astudillo. So glad he wasn't hit in the noggin. Was he lying on the ground because he was shook up (I would understand this)? Or was he injured.

[akmanak]

Lose one game and people are acting like the wheels have come off the bus.

[mikelink45]

 

I know we don't want to hear it, but I think its time to start showing some concern for Taylor Rogers, and realize that right now he's not the shutdown reliever we've seen in the past and want him to be. His ERA is still at 2.05, but his WHIP is now at 1.41, and coming into tonight was sitting at 1.31, which was right around where it had been in the 2 years prior to last. I do realize he has an incredibly high BABIP against, and that should balance itself out in time, but part of the reason that's so high is that opponents are just hitting the ball with good contact against him. Take away the 6 infield hits he's given up and his WHIP is still 1.14, up quite a bit from last year. In games where he's pitched at least 2/3 of an inning, he's given up more multi hit games than no hit outings. So something here is going wrong and needs to change. Maybe it's chasing strikeouts too much, who knows, but I hope he and Wes Johnson can figure it out.

It could be use too.  Remember that he and Hildenberg were really leaned on for a stretch in early season and it does not seem that he has fully recovered - Hildy has definitely not recovered.