Every MLB season is full of measuring sticks. Baseball fans measure a team’s potential by looking at the standings on Memorial Day or at the All-Star break. For individual players, there are the classic measurements for a successful season: a .300 average, 30 homers or 100 RBI for a hitter, 20 wins for a pitcher. And for a generation of Twins fans, one surefire way to measure their team’s success is the answer to the following question: “How’d we do against the Yankees?”

That’s right, the Yanks are in town and we’re ready to see how our boys stack up. It’s been a lopsided matchup as of late: since 2017, the Twins are 7-23 against the Evil Empire and you have to go back to 2001 to find Minnesota’s last winning season against the Pinstripes. 

The first place Twins (32-24) will try to shake that trend tonight behind AL batting leader Luis Arraez and an offense that showed some signs of life over the weekend. Minnesota is currently on the lam from the RCMP after committing international larceny, sneaking out the back door with 2-of-3 in Toronto and scoring 6.5 runs per game in the series against the Jays. The first place Yanks (39-15) come into Target Field with the best record in baseball and are riding a 6-game winning streak after sweeping the Angels and Tigers at home last week. Several of New York’s batters are putting up ridiculous numbers, including Aaron Judge and his MLB-leading 21 homers. Former Twin Josh Donaldson will return to Target Field sporting a .229 average, 5 HRs and 17 RBI. It’ll be interesting to see what the reception from the crowd will be like. My guess: Minnesota Nice all the way, polite golf claps with mayyyybe a few low-volume boos. 

Twins pitcher Bailey Ober joined fellow hurlers Sonny Gray and Joe Ryan on the IL yesterday, so rookie Cole Sands (0-1, 7.88 ERA) will take the mound on short notice tonight. Sands has given up almost a run per inning in his three appearances for the big league club, and has racked up an 0-4 record with a 7.23 ERA in 18.2 minor league innings so far this season.  New York will counter with James Taillon (6-1, 2.30 ERA), who’s quietly having a fantastic season. He took a no-hitter into the 8th inning last week. 

Play ball! 

Gametime Temp: 70 degrees F, clear skies
 

Odds: NYY -165, MIN +140
 

Lineups:

TWINS

1. Luis Arraez (L) 1B

2. Byron Buxton (R) DH

3. Jorge Polanco (S) 2B

4. Max Kepler (L) RF

5. Gary Sanchez (R) C

6. Trevor Larnach (L) LF

7. Gio Urshela (R) 3B

8. Gilberto Celestino (R) CF

9. Jermaine Palacios (R) SS

P. Sands (R)

 

YANKEES

 

1. DJ LeMahieu (R) 2B

2. Aaron Judge (R) CF

3. Anthony Rizzo (L) 1B

4. Giancarlo Stanton (R) DH

5. Josh Donaldson (R) 3B

6. Aaron Hicks (S) LF

7. Isiah Kiner-Falefa (R) SS

8. Jose Trevino (R) C

9. Joey Gallo (L) RF

P. Taillon (R)

 

 

CC cleared the protocols, so I'd think he'd be available. I was hoping he'd be playing tonight. We need all hands on deck, especially with Sands starting. 

Given the probable starting pitchers in this series, please win 1 out of 3.

k thx bye

2 minutes ago, CRF said:

CC cleared the protocols, so I'd think he'd be available. I was hoping he'd be playing tonight. We need all hands on deck, especially with Sands starting. 

They didn't make a roster move.  I am guessing they make a move tomorrow morning and he has a chance at starting tomorrow night's game.

6 minutes ago, SwainZag said:

They didn't make a roster move.  I am guessing they make a move tomorrow morning and he has a chance at starting tomorrow night's game.

Disappointing, but I guess not totally surprising given the way they do things. 

Were there any alternatives to Cole Sands starting tonight? Where is Willians Astudillo when we need him?

I noticed 3 ex-Twins are starting for the evil empire tonight. And the Twins have 2 ex-evil empire members starting tonight. Who is available to relieve Sands in the early innings if needed? I hope the Twins do not decimate the relief staff in this one game.

6 minutes ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

Where is Willians Astudillo when we need him?

Playing in Miami.....right where we need him

Oof. Gonna be a tough one. At least every inning Cole Sands pitches is an inning that Duffy doesn't pitch. Right? 

4 minutes ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

I noticed 3 ex-Twins are starting for the evil empire tonight. And the Twins have 2 ex-evil empire members starting tonight. Who is available to relieve Sands in the early innings if needed? I hope the Twins do not decimate the relief staff in this one game.

Gotta assume about everyone is available.  Off-day yesterday and 3? pitchers coming off the exemption list for not going to Canada.

6 minutes ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

I noticed 3 ex-Twins are starting for the evil empire tonight. And the Twins have 2 ex-evil empire members starting tonight. Who is available to relieve Sands in the early innings if needed? I hope the Twins do not decimate the relief staff in this one game.

Agreed. If Sands gets lit up in the 1st...which is a distinct possibility, just leave him in there to take the hit. I think most of us have this one checked off as a loss anyway. Then, throw Duffey in there to get smoked some more. 

This one is free on MLB, planning to watch them. Would've liked to see CC and some one else pitching. 

Go Twins

Can it monsoon for like three days? 

Going to a sports bar here in NYC tonight with my New York Rangers shirt and Twins cap.   Guaranteed to be a weird night, but hope it turns out entirely in my favor!

Pretty sure I read where the twins have won 47 of the past 162 games against the Yankees, so a whole season’s worth for a winning percentage of 0.290

Yankees -170 seems like free money. I wish I was a gambler.

9 minutes ago, Aggies7 said:

Pretty sure I read where the twins have won 47 of the past 162 games against the Yankees, so a whole season’s worth for a winning percentage of 0.290

 

12 minutes ago, MMMordabito said:

Yankees -170 seems like free money. I wish I was a gambler.

I got it at -155 right when the line came out - I had decided last year, after we got beat by the Yankees, I was going to put some money down on them - so either I profit, or the Twins win! 

By the by, fantastic intro, bighat. 

 

 

1 hour ago, SwainZag said:

Gotta assume about everyone is available.  Off-day yesterday and 3? pitchers coming off the exemption list for not going to Canada.

I'd like to see Kepler have a big game from the cleanup spot coming off his rest.

Could there be 3 worse pitchers to go against the Yankees in a row?  

10 minutes ago, KirbyHawk75 said:

Could there be 3 worse pitchers to go against the Yankees in a row?  

Again, my like is more like “agree”. 

Yankees sweep = most likely outcome

Twins take one = hope for 2022 lives on

Twins take two = the hype is real

Twins sweep = first sign of apocalypse

31 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

By the by, fantastic intro, bighat. 

 

 

In on the Scotch already, Chief?

And if so, does this mean that I'm behind and this is actually correct in a similar state?

35 minutes ago, Danchat said:

I got it at -155 right when the line came out - I had decided last year, after we got beat by the Yankees, I was going to put some money down on them - so either I profit, or the Twins win! 

I grabbed Judge, Stanton, Rizzo and Lemaheiu in DFS tonight, basically the same philosophy as you!

18 minutes ago, KirbyHawk75 said:

Could there be 3 worse pitchers to go against the Yankees in a row?  

I checked the probables for the series earlier today and laughed. 

Those that want to see Archer "unleashed," might get their wish, for better or worse, tomorrow night. 

This is a historically great Yankee team, and the twins are down so many pitchers. I'm just not going to be bothered by bad outcomes here. I understand others will call for the front office's head......

30 minutes ago, KirbyHawk75 said:

Could there be 3 worse pitchers to go against the Yankees in a row?  

8/18/11 sabathia vs Brian duensing (L)

8/19/11 Phil hughes vs Kevin slowey (L)

8/20/11 AJ Burnett vs liriano (w)

8/21/11 Ivan nova vs nick blackburn (L)

 

Checking for other bad ones

32 minutes ago, KirbyHawk75 said:

Could there be 3 worse pitchers to go against the Yankees in a row?  

7/1/13 Scott diamond vs pettitte 

7/2/13 Sam deduno vs Phil hughes

7/3/13 PJ walters (?!) vs sabatia

swept

yeah this was a bad one

1 minute ago, Aggies7 said:

7/1/13 Scott diamond vs pettitte 

7/2/13 Sam deduno vs Phil hughes

7/3/13 PJ walters (?!) vs sabatia

swept

yeah this was a bad one

Those are a few names I haven't heard recently.?