Twins Notebook 8/29: Detroit Doubleheader; 3-Way Tie Atop AL Central

Tom Froemming · August 29, 2020

The trade deadline is days away, the page is about to turn over to September and there’s a three-way tie atop the AL Central. Some of the intrigue and excitement is dampened by the fact eight AL teams will be qualifying for the playoffs this season, but it’s a pennant race nonetheless.TODAY

Twins at Tigers

Game 1: 12:10 pm CT

Game 2: 30 minutes following

We’ll see another 2020 special today, as the Twins and Tigers play two seven-inning games today in Detroit. The pitching matchup in Game 1 will be Randy Dobnak vs. Matthew Boyd. The Twins have not yet officially announced their starter for Game 2, but the Tigers are going with rookie Tarik Skubal.

Both of Detroit’s starters are left-handers, so it’ll be interesting to see how the Twins fare when faced with one of what’s been their biggest weaknesses so far. In 324 plate appearances against lefties, the Twins have hit .251/.327/.359 (.686 OPS). That .359 slugging percentage ranks 23rd in the league for that split.

I’m sorry, isn’t this the Bomba Squad we’re talking about here? In 2019, the Twins led all of baseball by slugging .521 against lefties. Maybe today’s the day things turn around.

Boyd has an 8.48 ERA and leads the league with 27 earned runs allowed and Skubal, who is making his third career start, has given up five runs on 10 hits over 4 1/3 innings.

Lewis Thorpe has been recalled to serve as the 29th man for this doubleheader. Again, no Game 2 starter has officially been announced, but it seems logical to assume Thorpe will shoulder the load. Reliever Juan Minaya was added to the active roster and Danny Coulombe was designated for assignment. Minaya pitched 125 games for the White Sox over the past four seasons.

NEWS & NOTES

— Yasmani Grandal hit a walk-off homer last night to give the White Sox a share of the AL Central lead. Chicago has won 10 of its last 11 games.

— Fellow AL Central leader Cleveland is not expected to trade Mike Clevinger, despite a rocky past few weeks in the clubhouse. Jon Heyman reported that the asking price is ridiculous.

— Among the items discussed on SKOR North’s trade deadline show was Darren Wolfson reporting that the Reds are not expected to deal Trevor Bauer.

— Jason Isbell Tweeted about Randy Dobnak. See, not everything about 2020 is bad.

AROUND THE AL CENTRAL

CHW 6, KCR 5

CLE 14, STL 2

1. CLE 20-12 (+44 run differential)

1. CHW 20-12 (+42)

1. MIN 20-12 (+36)

4. DET 13-16 (-30)

5. KCR 12-20 (-19)

SEE ALSO

Twins Up the Middle Players Lead Offensive Struggles