Game Thread: Twins @ San Diego Padres, 7/31/22, 3:10pm CT

[bighat]

There’s nothing like a rubber match between two teams fighting for a playoff spot in late July, and that’s what’s on tap today at 3:10pm CT as the Twins take on the Padres. Manager Rocco Baldelli is throwing the kitchen sink at this one, with Buxton, Correa, Arraez and Polanco all getting the starting nod. 

Some new faces highlight the bottom third of the Twins roster today, including Tim Beckham making his first MLB start since 2019. The 2008 #1 overall draft pick will slot in the DH spot, batting 7th. Caleb Hamilton will catch and bat 9th, and recently recalled Gilberto Clestino gets the call in RF batting 8th. The Twins will be without Max Kepler (IL), Miguel Sano (IL), and Alex Kirilloff, who left last night’s game with a wrist injury. Reading the tea leaves, it’s easy to expect the worst for AK as it appears to be the same injury that ended his season last year. 

Dylan Bundy (6-4, 5.02 ERA) will take the mound for Minnesota. Bundy, who in June looked on the brink of at least a demotion, has surprised Twins fans to become an anchor of a reeling rotation in July. Over his past 7 starts, Bundy is 3-1 with a 3.99 ERA - not perfect by any means but the Twins have to be happy with his resurgence as the summer’s progressed. 

San Diego counters with Sean Manaea (5-5, 4.33 ERA) who will be facing his second straight AL Central opponent after losing to Detroit last Monday. Manaea has been hittable as of late, giving up 43 hits and 23 earned runs over his last 35 innings pitched. 

Off the field today, the biggest story in town might be what isn’t happening. At least not yet. With the trade deadline now just 2 days away, whispers and rumors surrounding deals have gone silent. The Twins are looking to add some arms as the team is 9-11 since June 30th with a 5.55 ERA. Only the Boston Red Sox (6.46 ERA) have given up more runs in MLB over the past month. 

Picks to click: let’s break out the Webb Telescope and look a bit deeper into the stat-osphere. When the Twins go against lefties on the road this season, Byron Buxton (.286 BA, .690 SLG, .429 wOBA, 99.2 EV), Kyle Garlick (.286, .738, .426, 94.2) and Luis Arraez (.375, .469, .410, 86.8) have performed the best. 

Scoreboard watching: Cleveland has a tough draw today in Florida against Tampa ace Shane McClanahan. Chicago has a much easier matchup as Dylan Cease takes the mound for the Pale Hose at home against Oakland.

Weather: 78 degrees with light WSW winds, a small chance of rain but nothing that will threaten the ballgame. 

Odds: San Diego -145, Twins +122, O/U is 8.5

Play ball!

Twins Lineup:

1. Byron Buxton (R) CF

2. Carlos Correa (R) SS

3. Jorge Polanco (S) 2B

4. Kyle Garlick (R) LF

5. Jose Miranda (R) 3B

6. Luis Arraez (L) 1B

7. Tim Beckham (R) DH

8. Gilberto Celestino (R) RF

9. Caleb Hamilton (R) C

P. Dylan Bundy (R)

 

SD Lineup:

1. Jurickson Profar (S) LF

2. Manny Machado (R) 3B

3. Jake Cronenworth (L) 2B

4. Luke Voit (R) DH

5. Eric Hosmer (L) 1B

6. Jorge Alfaro (R) C

7. Nomar Mazara (L) RF

8. Ha-Seong Kim (R) SS

9. Trent Grisham (L) CF

P. Sean Manaea (L)

[big dog]

I was despondent after Friday night. Yesterday gave me a little hope. What will today bring?

I’m hoping for a Michael Corleone moment: just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in. 
 

Go Twins!

[Nine of twelve]

There is a noteworthy event that is taking place today.

https://warnerbroscartoons.fandom.com/wiki/George_Jetson

[AlwaysinModeration]

Isn’t today the 31st?  
 

Not a huge game today,  but it certainly would be nice to get a winning streak going today.  Let’s go Beckham!

[ashbury]

34 minutes ago, Nine of twelve said:

There is a noteworthy event that is taking place today.

https://warnerbroscartoons.fandom.com/wiki/George_Jetson

Happy birthday!

[ashbury]

2 minutes ago, AlwaysinModeration said:

Isn’t today the 31st?  

They've been playing "I Got You Babe" on the radio for the past week and a half or so, for what it's worth.

[AlwaysinModeration]

26 minutes ago, ashbury said:

They've been playing "I Got You Babe" on the radio for the past week and a half or so, for what it's worth.

Ned? Ned Ryerson?!?

[big dog]

TD is giving me ads for Halloween costumes and a Memorial Day sale. The Groundhog Day theme is strong today. 

[ashbury]

7 minutes ago, AlwaysinModeration said:

Ned? Ned Ryerson?!?

Do you have life insurance? If you do, you could always use more.

 

[ashbury]

5 minutes ago, big dog said:

The Groundhog Day theme is strong today. 

Let's hope our bullpen doesn't get wind of this and decide to play along.

[AlwaysinModeration]

11 minutes ago, ashbury said:

Do you have life insurance? If you do, you could always use more.

 

Watch that first step - it’s a doozy!!

[Richie the Rally Goat]

54 minutes ago, Nine of twelve said:

There is a noteworthy event that is taking place today.

https://warnerbroscartoons.fandom.com/wiki/George_Jetson

He’s exactly 42 years younger than Harry Potter

https://nationaltoday.com/harry-potters-birthday/

[Richie the Rally Goat]

1 hour ago, ashbury said:

Happy birthday!

Literally, birthday is the anniversary of your birth. Since George was born today, it’s more like the wedding, than the wedding anniversary.

we don’t bring out the cake with no candles on it, do we? George can’t even eat cake yet

[Doctor Gast]

Hope the "good" Bundy show up for us and our line-up able to smoke LHP Manaea today

[bighat]

1 hour ago, AlwaysinModeration said:

Isn’t today the 31st?  
 

Yes it is - corrected! Thx.

[ashbury]

16 minutes ago, bighat said:

Yes it is - corrected! Thx.

Just like yesterday, and the day before...

[wabene]

2 hours ago, Nine of twelve said:

There is a noteworthy event that is taking place today.

https://warnerbroscartoons.fandom.com/wiki/George_Jetson

Kinda steppin on the game thread intro a little, just sayin.. lol

[Mortimerkenny21]

Every time I see MIN vs SD I think South Dakota. I didn't know South Dakota had a ball club?!

[Mortimerkenny21]

White Sox are up by 2 and the spider's are up by 2. Would be in our best interests to win this one. Let's hope the Twins are on board!

[bighat]

9 minutes ago, Mortimerkenny21 said:

White Sox are up by 2 and the spider's are up by 2. Would be in our best interests to win this one. Let's hope the Twins are on board!

Just saw that, both games are in the 8th. Assuming both CLE and CHW will win today. 

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, wabene said:

Kinda steppin on the game thread intro a little, just sayin.. lol

Fair enough.  The Twins top six in the batting order is a representative selection against a lefty, and the bottom three are all with something to prove and some upside relative to their placement.  And Bundy has it within himself of providing a good start.  Adds up to a game worth watching.

[RpR]

Not good, Garlick chases fast balls, MIranda chases off speed pitches.

[bighat]

Two bad ABs from Garlick and Miranda there, swinging right through meatballs and then offering at some garbage. 

[RpR]

Get the cathcers off of their knees!

[bighat]

Smalley talking over Tim Beckham's first big league AB since 2019. 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

What i miss?

[KirbyDome89]

Watching this SD lineup last night and today it's hard to believe they hit 5 HRs and put up a 10 spot on Friday night. Lots of ABs that aren't remotely competitive. 

[bighat]

It's very early to make any kind of judgement on Hamilton but.....so far, doesn't look close to ready for MLB action. 

[h2oface]

We can't get a crawler homer back. Seems like we deserve one after the 5 agtainst Ryan.

[Doctor Gast]

The Twins are making it easy on Manaea