Catch-Up
What if I told you being tied for the best start in club history was not the leading headline for the Twins yesterday. What if I also told you Eddie "Destroyer of Junkballs," Rosario wasn't the leading story either after two awesome RBI singles. The leading story centers around arguably the most peculiar delay in baseball history, a drone hovering over Target Field. Despite this, the Twins pushed forward to route the Pirates 7-3 thanks to a good bounceback game from Berrios, timely hitting again, and Jake Cave see below.

 

Where to Listen

WCCO 830, TIBN

 

Where to Watch

Fox Sports North

 

Starting Pitchers

• Minnesota: Randy Dobnak*, 1-1, 1.00 ERA, 9.0 IP, 1.11 WHIP in two starts this season.
• Pittsburgh: Trevor Williams, 0-2. 5.40 ERA, 8.1 IP, 1.56 WHIP in two starts this season.

*=Randy Dobnak: A word of caution| Per Twins Daily writer Andrew Thares, some caution should be exercised on the hot start by Dobnak because the batted balls against him through two starts have been hot as well.

• Again per Andrew Thares notebook entry for today, A quick glance at Dobnak’s Statcast numbers, and they tell a slightly different story. Opposing hitters have been making loud contact off Dobnak, to the tune of a 93.1 MPH average exit velocity, so far this year. For comparison, that is nearly as high as Nelson Cruz’s 93.7 MPH average exit velocity in 2019, which ranked second in all of baseball. Dobnak has also struggled a bit with walks to start the year. So far, Dobnak has already walked four batters, which is just one less than he walked in his 28 and 1/3 regular season innings in 2019. Avoiding walks and hard contact will be the thing to watch from Dobnak in his start tonight.

 

Minnesota Batting Order*

 

 

Pittsburgh Batting Order

 

Storylines

1. In my 23 years on this earth I don't believe I have seen a better bullpen for the Twins than the current one being touted out by Minnesota. We know the light's out nature of Taylor Rodgers and the surge of emotion Trevor May and Sergio Romo can bring but I am invested in every arm. From Cody Stashak's K to BB ratio, to Tyler Duffey ridiculous K%, it feels good to know that not only our bats can awaken at any time, but our bullpen can hold down the fort as well.
2. My key guys to look at tonight are two players who are on opposite sides of the spectrum in regards to production right now, those players are Luis Arraez and Marwin Gonzalez. Marwin firstly has had some very competitive at-bats and currently has an OBP of .400 and with Donaldson out on IL, it really goes to show how deep this team is that with a huge free-agent piece banged up, you'd hardly notice it looking at the box scores. Now with Arraez I'll always remember that at-bat last season when he came in for Schoop inheriting an 0-2 count and then we all know the rest. Although we are seeing moments like that in flashes, Arraez is struggling right now as he is 0-16 in his last at-bats. Look for Marwin to continue to take advantage of his playing time tonight and look for Arraez to have a strong bounceback game against a struggling RHP.

Just saw that the Pirates put Nick Burdi on the 45 day DL after finding an elbow injury. He might need to get Tommy John surgery... again. Dude just can't stay healthy.

Donaldson is on the IL? I thought I read Rocco is hoping for him to play on the road trip.

Is Buxton hurt again?

Is Buxton hurt again?

No, but his bat is on life support. Seems to be a hole in it, about the size of a baseball.

 

I put the over-under on number of drones that will show up today at 0.

Oh, and I kind of miss Easter Island.

What’s going on with our helmet logos? Arraez’s was lopsided and Marwin doesn’t even have one

That’s a fair ball lol

Can you replay fair / foul? What happens to runners?

Is this just the worst umpiring crew in the league or what

Can you replay fair / foul? What happens to runners?

Gotta let the run score

That is a fair ball, and not even that close

Fair ball!

Call it fair if its close and then review it. This shouldn’t be hard.

Terrible call, shouldn’t even be looking at this

Okay, they explained it pretty well on air. Thanks Dickjustin.

Was that the same ump who made such a hash of it behind the plate yesterday?

Is this thing on?

Anyone listening to the Pittsburgh TV team? The analyst sounds like he's about 14 years old.

 

 

Is this thing on?

Yep. Nobody wants to look up who the home plate ump was yesterday, though.

Anyone listening to the Pittsburgh TV team? The analyst sounds like he's about 14 years old.

I know, but he’s apparently a former major leaguer. Not sure of the name

I put the over-under on number of drones that will show up today at 0.

seems like 0.5 would be a better over/under. Hard to take the under on zero.

 

I know, but he’s apparently a former major leaguer. Not sure of the name

It's not Bob Walk, is it?

Is this thing on?

Yes.

What i miss?

I know, but he’s apparently a former major leaguer. Not sure of the name

don't know who's on today, but old friend Matt Capps is occasionally one of the color guys.

 

What i miss?

 

I scored a run. Rocco subbed me out though.

It's not Bob Walk, is it?

It’s Michael McKenry, apparently

don't know who's on today, but old friend Matt Capps is occasionally one of the color guys.

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