Twins Notebook 8/4: Joe Musgrove's Fastball of Fun; Rich Hill Placed on Injured List

[Nash Walker]

The Twins took advantage of poor Pirates defense and a wild bullpen to win 5-4 in walk-off fashion Monday. José Berríos will battle Joe Musgrove Tuesday as Minnesota looks for yet another series victory.Last Night's Game Recap

Twins 5, Pirates 4: Nelson Cruz Delivers a Walk-Off Hit to Cap Comeback

 

Today

Twins vs. Pirates, 1:10 pm CT

 

Oh no, Joe

 

Joe Musgrove was part of the package that sent Gerrit Cole to Houston before the 2018 season. Cole has since posted a dazzling 2.69 ERA in over 424 innings of Cy Young ball. Musgrove, though, has mostly sputtered. He has an ERA+ of 96 (4% below league average) since joining the Pirates.

 

It starts and ends with his fastball. For the Twins, that’s good news. Musgrove’s four-seamer, averaging 92.7 MPH in 2019, was hit hard. Opponents produced a .389 wOBA and slugged .536 against it. It isn’t that Musgrove doesn’t have good stuff (his slider and changeup are actually quite good), it's that he can’t sequence it effectively by throwing gofer ball heaters.

 

 

The Twins, as we know, destroy fastballs. The Twins scored an average of 0.93 runs per 100 fastballs thrown in 2019. That led all of baseball. As was the case with Reynaldo López of the White Sox two weekends ago, humming less-than-stellar rippers at the Twins will result in crooked numbers on the scoreboard.

 

Expect to see a lefty-heavy lineup from Baldelli against the right-hander. Musgrove allowed a .270/.314/.489 slash to left-handed batters in 2019. Against righties, that line dipped to .239/.291/.388.

 

La Makina locked and loaded?

 

José Berríos was on his way to a bounce-back outing on Friday against Cleveland. Unfortunately, the stage wasn’t his; it was Shane Bieber’s. Berríos’ start was ruined by an 0-2 mistake to Francisco Lindor, a center-cut heater canned into the right field seats. Berríos’ five-inning, six-strikeout appearance was completely forgotten; the Twins got Biebered and lost 2-0.

 

Tuesday presents a prime opportunity for Berríos to pick up his first quality start and win of 2019. Although Rocco has taken a conservative approach with his starter’s leashes, the team’s hopeful ace threw 96 pitches in Friday’s start.

 

 

Josh Bell and Bryan Reynolds presents an underrated challenge for Berríos, but Pittsburgh’s lineup is hardly a problem. This has the feel of a Miami-like start from last August, when Berríos went seven innings, allowed zero runs, and struck out 11 Marlins.

 

Lineup

 

Looking ahead, news, notes

 

Rich Hill has been placed on the 10-day IL with shoulder soreness. Hill impressed in his first start with the Twins, curving five innings of scoreless ball. There has been no subsequent roster move yet.

 

The Twins are hoping to get Josh Donaldson (calf) back on their three-city road trip starting Wednesday against these same Pirates at PNC Park. They’ll face Pittsburgh twice on the road before heading to Kansas City for a three game set this weekend.

 

Jake Odorizzi may make his 2020 debut against the Royals after throwing an abbreviated session Monday.

 

Caleb Thielbar’s contract has been selected and he will join the Twins. The left-hander last pitched in the majors in 2015, for, you guessed it, the Twins.

 

AROUND THE AL CENTRAL

CIN 3, CLE 2

CWS 6, MIL 4

CHC 2, KC 0

DET at STL Postponed

 

1. MIN 7-2 (+23 run differential)

2. CHW 6-4 (+7)

3. DET 5-5 (-11)

4. CLE 5-6 (E)

5. KCR 3-8 (-16)

 

SEE ALSO

Week in Review: Winning and Wondering

Twins Bullpen: Ready When Needed

Which 3 Twins Have Started the Strongest?

Can the Twins Fix Mitch Garver?

Byron Buxton Goes Deep

 

Click here to view the article

[TouchEmAllGuy]

Is this concerning in regards to Hill? Or are the Twins FO being extra precautious to have him ready for the playoffs?  

 

Edit: Just read the Hill to IL forum.

[Darius]

If you would’ve told me the following before the season:

 

-Josh Donaldson and Byron Buxton will miss a number of games with injury.

 

-Rich Hill, Jake Odorizzi, and Homer Bailey all land on the IL by the end of the first week with two five inning starts combined between the three.

 

-Mitch Garver and Miguel Sano will hit less than .150 with OPS below .600.

 

-Luis Arraez’s OBP (not batting average) will be less than .300.

 

-Jose Berrios will have an ERA of 7.00.

 

I would’ve asked you what you think we’ll be getting in return at the deadline. Instead, we have the second best winning percentage and run differential in baseball. Unbelievable.

[stringer bell]

Day game today starting at 1 PM. You can join in the conversation on the game thread in the Minnesota Twins Talk forum:

 

http://twinsdaily.com/topic/39567-game-thread-8420-minnesota-twins-vs-pittsburgh-pirates/

[Dantes929]

Hey Nash,

Can you explain what it means for the Twins to score   0.93 runs per 100 fastballs thrown.    Average number of total pitches faced in a game is 146.   That would translate to 1.35 runs scored in a game if all pitches were fastballs.   That would be really bad.  Am I missing something?

[dish]

 

Hey Nash,

Can you explain what it means for the Twins to score   0.93 runs per 100 fastballs thrown.    Average number of total pitches faced in a game is 146.   That would translate to 1.35 runs scored in a game if all pitches were fastballs.   That would be really bad.  Am I missing something?

 

Yeah, that doesn't quite make sense to me either.  

[Trov]

 

If you would’ve told me the following before the season:

-Josh Donaldson and Byron Buxton will miss a number of games with injury.

-Rich Hill, Jake Odorizzi, and Homer Bailey all land on the IL by the end of the first week with two five inning starts combined between the three.

-Mitch Garver and Miguel Sano will hit less than .150 with OPS below .600.

-Luis Arraez’s OBP (not batting average) will be less than .300.

-Jose Berrios will have an ERA of 7.00.

I would’ve asked you what you think we’ll be getting in return at the deadline. Instead, we have the second best winning percentage and run differential in baseball. Unbelievable.

It is good where they are, some timely hitting and great pen work is what has done it mostly.  However, being we are not even full 2 weeks in many of those numbers will change quickly, the batting numbers for sure.

 

I am concerned with all the starters going down so quickly with arm issues.  Hopefully, they will get back quick and can help soon.  The pen will need to get widdled down with rosters shrinking soon.