The Twins conclude their week in Chicago with a Sunday night game against the Cubs. The Twins have won two of the first six games against the White Sox and Cubs (leaders of the AL Central and NL Central respectively. However, last night's win clinched a playoff spot for the Twins. They appear to be on a collision course with the Yankees, who finally lost today, giving the Twins a chance to be the home team for the first round of the playoffs.

 

Starting pitchers are Yu Darvish for the Cubs and Jose Berríos for the Twins. Darvish has had a fantastic season with a 7-2 record and less than 2 ERA. Darvish's WHIP is under 1.00. Berríos has found his form after struggling through the first half of this shortened season. 

 

Both teams have had unexpected struggles on offense. The Cubs and the Twins have both scored about 4.5 runs per game. The Cubs have a team batting average of .227 with a team OPS of .716, the Twins are slightly better. 

 

The season has reached 54 games, which would be a third of a full season. Multiplying the counting numbers by three would give projections for a full season. Some notable numbers: Cruz would have 48 homers, the Twins would hit in excess of 250 homers, but score somewhere around 720 runs, and have less than 200 doubles.

 

LINEUPS:

 

Twins (32-22)

 

Kepler rf

Donaldson 3b

Rosario lf

Sanó dh

Wade 1b

Polanco ss

Garver c

Cave cf

Gonzalez 2b

 

Berríos p (4-4) 4.15 ERA

 

 

Chicago Cubs (31-21)

 

Happ cf

Rizzo 1b

Bryant 3b

Schwarber lf

Contreras dh

Heyward rf

Baez ss

Caratini c

Kipnis 2b

 

Darvish p (7-2) 1.86 ERA

 

 

Lineup notes: no Cruz or Buxton tonight, at least to start the game. Sanó at DH for the first time this year, with Wade getting another start at first base.

Go Twins!

 

(I gotta zoom for a bit. Be back soon)

ESPN2, if anyone is looking.

 

ESPN2, if anyone is looking.

I was. Thanks!

Go Twins!

Get to him now, boys, while you have a chance. No mercy.

Good start!

Many of you have seen this before but I have to post it because Darvish is pitching. I don't think a major leaguer has ever missed a pitch by more.

 

Can't stick around tonight, but wanted to echo Stringer's intro and comments I made on the front page. This game is HUGE, and not just for the road trip. Yankees and Sox lost earlier today. Sox have to battle Cleveland and the Cubs to finish out. Yankees have a 4 game road series against the decent Jays. There is a lot to be determined yet. And there is a lot riding on the last week and a half.

 

Twins NEED to step up and take care of business! They do that, there is still a chance for not only home 1st round, but MAYBE a flag to fly for 2020.

How many of those pitches to Polanco were in the strike zone?

Ouch! Had a chance to do something.

Bases loaded is our kryptonite

 

ESPN2, if anyone is looking.

Hmm, I can't find ESPN2... 

 

Hmm, I can't find ESPN2... 

They are moving to normal ESPN now that the other game ended.

Never make ANY out at third base.

wasted opportunity to get to a very good pitcher in the 1st. Hopefully doesn't come back to bite us. Now we need to get Cave home...but Twins hitters are fanning the breeze tonite.

Kepler grounds out but gets Cave home. 2-0 Good Guys

Whoops, I got thrown off when it said ESPN2 had Sportscenter. Now I got it.

How did Berrios look in the 1st? My DVR didn't get the biggining on ESPN 2

How did Berrios look in the 1st? My DVR didn't get the biggining on ESPN 2

Pretty good. He also made a good defensive play on a bunt attempt.

Trade Cousins for Hebert immediately (dreaming)

Thankful for the Twins I cannot watch Cousins play football.

 

Trade Cousins for Hebert immediately (dreaming)

Maybe the Chargers would do that if you included 3 1st round picks, DE Hunter, LB Kendricks. Cousins is likely going to make $66M the next two years!

Berrios picks up Kepler. Good teammate.

Good job pitching out of that jam, José.

OK. We need more runs, please!

What's up with Max, though? Every hitter can have a slump, even a lengthy one.

 

But how you can turn from one of the best defensive right fielders in the league to the one making the plays we saw lately is beyond me.

Mutter mutter...

 

Is every espn game blacked out for the entire country on mlb? Sigh. I did not reckon with this when i splurged an mlb membership.

 

Does ESPN cover playoffs?

I shall be put out.

That play at the plate looked challengeable to me.

Well done Donaldson.

 

We kept the runner from scoring.

 

Huzzah.