Game Score: Twins 3, Blue Jays 1

[Thiéres Rabelo]

The Twins welcomed José Berríos for the first time as an opponent at Target Field. Everything went Minnesota’s way, especially from the mound, and the Twins were able to hand their former ace a loss.

Box Score
Ober: 5.1 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K (71.9% strikes)
Home Runs: Buxton (15)
Top 3 WPA: Ober .202, Arráez .156, Buxton .106
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

Twins welcome Berríos with a three-run third
For the first time, José Berríos took the mound at Target Field as the visiting pitcher, five days after earning a win in Toronto against his former team. Back in Canada on Sunday, the Twins offense couldn’t produce much against “La Makina,” scoring three runs on only four hits. Could tonight’s outcome be different?

After Bailey Ober tossed a scoreless top of the first, pitching around a Marcus Semien double, Minnesota posed an immediate threat to Berríos. Luis Arráez singled on the very first pitch, moments before Byron Buxton drew a five-pitch walk, putting two men on with no outs. But José responded by shutting down the Twins lineup, retiring the next six batters.

But in the third inning, the offense ambushed their former teammate. Andrelton Simmons worked a leadoff walk, and Arráez got his second hit of the night, scoring Simba on an RBI-triple down the right field line. In the very next at-bat, Buxton took Berríos deep, giving the Twins a 3-0 lead.

Ober cruises through four, pulled early after a home run
Perhaps Ober took advantage of the fact that all eyes were on the visiting starter, putting together a brilliant start. He did give up a couple of doubles, one in the first and another one in the third. But, other than that, he retired every other batter he faced, completing four innings on only 51 pitches – exactly twenty pitches fewer than Berríos, in case you were wondering.

Ober pitched into the sixth very economically. He stranded yet another runner to deliver a scoreless fifth. But after giving up a one-out solo home run to Marcus Semien in the sixth, Rocco Baldelli removed him from the game at only 82 pitches (59 strikes).

As he walked away from the mound, his body language indicated that he might not have been happy with the decision. This was Ober’s 20th start of the season and only once this year was he allowed to toss more than 82 pitches in a game (Jul 5, against the White Sox). Has Rocco’s approach towards him been too conservative throughout the season?

After hitting back-to-back singles to open the fourth, the offense really quieted down. The bats went 1-for-15 with a walk to close out this game. That could’ve put a lot of pressure on the bullpen, who needed to take care of the slim two-run lead the rest of the way. But that wasn’t a problem for Minnesota’s relievers, who are having a fantastic month of September.

Coming into tonight’s game, the Twins bullpen were posting a 2.82 ERA in September, which ranks second in baseball. Jorge Alcalá, Juan Minaya, Tyler Duffey dominated one of MLB’s strongest lineups, holding them scoreless and hitless for 2 2/3 innings. Alexander Colomé was even more effective, closing out the game on only five pitches, all for strikes. With tonight’s outing, the Twins bullpen ERA in September is now down to 2.70.

After taking the first two games, the Twins go for a series win tomorrow. They take on Toronto tomorrow at 6:10 pm CDT on Justin Morneau’s Twins Hall of Fame induction night.

Postgame Interviews

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

	SUN	TUE	WED	THU	FRI	TOT
Minaya	36	0	13	0	19	68
Vincent	40	0	0	13	0	53
Farrell	34	0	0	19	0	53
Thielbar	22	16	0	14	0	52
Duffey	0	11	12	0	17	40
Colomé	0	7	24	0	5	36
Barraclough	0	35	0	0	0	35
Alcalá	0	10	10	0	6	26
Coulombe	0	17	0	0	0	17
Garza Jr.	0	0	0	16	0	16
Moran	0	0	0	0	0	0

 

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[VivaBomboRivera!]

Nice to see our future beat our past.  No walks is the most impressive number in Ober's line.  His WHIP is down to 1.20 now.

Oh, and my grandma can bunt better than Andrelton Simmons.

[Melissa]

The bullpen really has been lights out (except for the completely unpredictable Colomé). Also, I’m feeling optimistic about Ober and Ryan as mid-rotation arms next year.

Nick Gordon gets a bit more impressive every few games.

[Monkeypaws]

Think it's safe to pencil Ober in the 2022 rotation.

Fun to see Buxton take his draft mate deep. Boy that was a draft: Buxton, Berrios, Duffey, Rogers, and although the Twins cut him loose, Chargois.

[Brandon]

So we just need to go 4-4 to avoid 90 loses.

[Nashvilletwin]

Another example tonight of how a mid market team can compete : a league minimum pitcher gets through five in good shape and hands over the reins to a shutdown pen - btw, beating the guy who wants $30MM/year.
 

An entire staff like this will cost a team no more than 1-1.5 Berrios’s. 
 

With the continuing trend of longer at bats and shorter pitch counts, more winning teams will have a deep, reliable and relatively cheaper (compared to starters) pen. This will be the Twins strategy over the next two years. 

[roger]

What a pleasant surprise Ober has been.  May be less work for the FO this winter than thought a couple months ago.

[mikelink45]

Over has really made an impression. I hope he can build on it. 

[Whitey333]

Come on Rocco.  Let Ober pitch longer.  If you are counting on him next year you need to stretch him out a little.  Oh that's right you think 5 innings is enough for a starting pitcher then you witch about having to use your bullpen.  Learn how to handle the pitchers please.

 

[jmlease1]

37 minutes ago, Whitey333 said:

Come on Rocco.  Let Ober pitch longer.  If you are counting on him next year you need to stretch him out a little.  Oh that's right you think 5 innings is enough for a starting pitcher then you witch about having to use your bullpen.  Learn how to handle the pitchers please.

 

Ober has pitched more innings this year than he has in any year, college or professional. This is the first time he's made 20 starts and he hasn't pitched over 100 innings since he was 18 (7 years ago). They want him to get through a full season healthy so they can seriously look at him as a guy who can pitch 150-180 innings next season. He's had significant injury issues and never pitched an inning above AA before this year. He's gone from being a fringe prospect to a projectable part of the rotation for next year. I'd say they're handling him just fine.

[puckstopper1]

Unfortunately all the Twins continuing to beat the Blue Jays means is that the Yankees are going to make the playoffs.

That stinks, IMO.

[yeahyabetcha]

On 9/25/2021 at 8:17 AM, Whitey333 said:

Come on Rocco.  Let Ober pitch longer.  If you are counting on him next year you need to stretch him out a little.  Oh that's right you think 5 innings is enough for a starting pitcher then you witch about having to use your bullpen.  Learn how to handle the pitchers please.

 

I truly doubt it is Rocco’s solo decision to be limiting Ober’s usage this year.  I believe it to be an organizational decision.