Game Thread: Twins vs. Cleveland, 6/23/22 @ 12:10PM CT

[twinssporto]

Good morning Twins fans and welcome back to the ever popular Game Thread!

After last nights punch to the gut, the Minnesota Twins will try to put up a "W" in the win column to prevent a sweep from the Cleveland Guardians. Just typing that makes me sick to my stomach. I'm going to repeat what many here on Twins Daily have already echoed too many times this year, this bullpen needs some help.

Falvey and Levine, I know you read this site multiple times a day. Please hear our advice and bring some help to this bullpen. Bring up some younger arms or start making a few trades. This team has a ton of potential but please don't let it go to waste with an anemic bullpen...Please!

OK, enough complaining. Today's game features a pitching match up that could be interesting to watch. Taking the mound for the Twins today is lefty Devin Smeltzer (3-1, 3.52 ERA). Smeltzer will be competing against Cleveland's righty Zach Plesac (2-4, 4.41 ERA). I know a lot of people will be at work today but please don't be shy about commenting while at work. The Twins Daily website rarely comes up on any "NSFW" lists. If anyone gets push back from their IT department about the TD site just explain its a family oriented website that helps increase your productivity. 

Let's GO Twins!!

Today's lineups:

TWINS:

1. L. Arraez, 2B

2. C. Correa, SS

3. M. Kepler, RF

4. G. Sanchez, C

5. A. Kirilloff, DH

6. G. Urshela, 3B

7. T. Larnach, LF

8. J. Miranda, 1B

9. N. Gordon, CF

SP - Devin Smeltzer, LHP

 

CLEVELAND:

1. O. Miller, 1B

2. A. Rosario, SS

3. J. Ramirez, DH

4. O. Gonzalez, RF

5. F. Reyes, LF

6. A. Gimenez, 2B

7. E. Clement, 3B

8. L. Maile, C

9. M. Straw, CF

SP - Zach Plesac, RHP

Weather: Partly cloudy and warm, 90 degrees, 6mph winds

 

[twinssporto]

My pick-to-click today is Larnach.  Huge day coming!

[MABB1959]

No Buxton on one of the biggest games of the year?  Ridiculous!

[Squirrel]

  On 6/23/2022 at 4:13 PM, MABB1959 said:

No Buxton on one of the biggest games of the year?  Ridiculous!

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He's out ... wouldn't be surprised if this time he is actually IL'd

His knee.

[CRF]

Ok...Buck has to be hurt again. No other reason for him to be sitting. 

[FlyingFinn]

Why Kirilloff at DH and Miranda at 1B?

[CRF]

  On 6/23/2022 at 4:18 PM, FlyingFinn said:

Why Kirilloff at DH and Miranda at 1B?

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Agree. C'mon Roc...think about it a little bit. AK is much better defensively. Just baffling. 

[RpR]

Willie Mays Hays knock-off in center field; sad day in Mudsville again.

[LVTwinsfan]

  On 6/23/2022 at 3:57 PM, twinssporto said:

My pick-to-click today is Larnach.  Huge day coming!

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Huge day for Cleveland, today they start separating from the rest of the division. The Twins won’t get first place back. I predict by the end of next week the Twins are 5 games back. Does anybody really think Smeltzer is a major league pitcher… only on the Twins

[Parfigliano]

Hoping for a win but if a loss today please be via blowout not bullpen.

[Irishman]

Why didn’t Buxton play lately?   Hurt again?  How did he get hurt?

[wsnydes]

  On 6/23/2022 at 5:27 PM, Irishman said:

Why didn’t Buxton play lately?   Hurt again?  How did he get hurt?

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Still the same knee injury that they've been managing for most of the season.  Appears that he's had a setback with it.

[Irishman]

  On 6/23/2022 at 5:28 PM, wsnydes said:

Still the same knee injury that they've been managing for most of the season.  Appears that he's had a setback with it.

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wsnydes, thanks!

[Mill1634]

Is game day tripping or has there been a 5+ minute break for some reason between innjngs

[wsnydes]

  On 6/23/2022 at 5:32 PM, Mill1634 said:

Is game day tripping or has there been a 5+ minute break for some reason between innjngs

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I haven't had any issues.

[CRF]

For what it's worth...I believe I heard Bremer say that Buxton can't run, or hit, on the knee right now. If that's true, then don't be surprised if he's IL soon. 

[ashbury]

Sigh.  Middle of the second inning, and we're already losing 0-0.

[Mortimerkenny21]

  On 6/23/2022 at 5:32 PM, Mill1634 said:

Is game day tripping or has there been a 5+ minute break for some reason between innjngs

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It glitched on me too. Wouldn't update for quite awhile.

[ashbury]

  On 6/23/2022 at 4:18 PM, FlyingFinn said:

Why Kirilloff at DH and Miranda at 1B?

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Alex failed to make a play last night, didn't he?  Perhaps this is Rocco's form of sending a message.  He doesn't have a large enough roster to work with, to outright bench every culprit.

[wsnydes]

Nice to see Smeltzer doing Smeltzer things so far.

[wsnydes]

  On 6/23/2022 at 5:39 PM, ashbury said:

Sigh.  Middle of the second inning, and we're already losing 0-0.

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An insurmountable lead sometimes.  

[Vanimal46]

 

[Vanimal46]

Smeltzer is dealing today. 

[wsnydes]

  On 6/23/2022 at 5:47 PM, Vanimal46 said:

 

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I wonder how much another series with Cleveland influences that.  I have to imagine quite a bit.  If they can't have him for that 5 game set, what does another couple of days on the active roster really cost them?

[SwainZag]

Some runs would be nice, this inning boys?

[Winston Smith]

Does Dick really think the first baseman wouldn't have thrown Jeffers out at second?

[Aggies7]

4 strikeouts already, halfway though the order

[SwainZag]

Man, you know that slider is coming, but Pleasac throws it well.  

[Aggies7]

Who saw that coming, I didn’t 

[wsnydes]

Gordon!  

As expected.