Twins Notebook 8/3: Thorpe Makes His First Start of 2020

LAST NIGHT’S GAME RECAP

Twins 3, Cleveland 1: Bullpen Dominates as Twins Take Series

TODAY

Twins vs. Pittsburgh, 7:10 pm CT

Betting Lines: MIN -1.5, -230, 9.5 O/U

Twins: Lewis Thorpe, LHP

2020: 4.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K

Thorpe last worked on July 30, finishing the final two innings of the game against the Cleveland Indians. In that one Jose Berrios gave up the 2-run homer to Francisco Lindor, but Thorpe was part of a bullpen that kept the deficit where it was. He’s thrown 42 and 20 pitches in his two outings respectively, and while he’s not entirely stretched out, this shouldn’t be a bullpen game either.

It’s an extremely small sample size thus far, but Thorpe has seen success in 2020 by missing barrels. His 14.3% hard hit rate is outstanding, and while both his chase and whiff rates are down, he’s keeping hitters off balance. The repertoire doesn’t include high velocity stuff, but he’s featured his slider substantially more this season and it’s been a focus for multiple Twins arms.

Pittsburgh: Derek Holland, LHP

2020: 5.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K

Holland has made just one start in 2020 and it came against the Milwaukee Brewers. He was nothing short of awful in 2019 but sandwich a nice 2018 campaign for the San Francisco Giants in between that and another terrible season in 2017. Mediocrity across the board is what defines Dutch Oven, and there’s nothing that jumps off the page in terms of his numbers.

Showcasing a very similar pitch mix to the Twins Thorpe, Holland does not have nearly the same positives in 2020 action. He has always been susceptible to the long ball, and he started his campaign with one in the debut outing as well. Holland has given up 2.0+ HR/9 twice in his career, and Minnesota’s righties should be licking their chops at that opportunity.

LINEUP

https://twitter.com/tlschwerz/status/1290356134180790273

TRANSACTION

Another day, another transaction. Needing arms, the Twins brought back Caleb Thielbar. When he gets in a game, it'll be the first time since 2015 that he's been in the big leagues.

NEWS & NOTES

- Tonight will be the return of former Twins bench coach, Derek Shelton. He took over as manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2020.

- Bad news for the Angels and Shohei Ohtani. He made it through just 1.2 IP in his second start since returning from Tommy John surgery and underwent an MRI yesterday.

https://twitter.com/FabianArdaya/status/1290095415832883200

- The Phillies and Marlins have both had another day of no positive tests. Philadelphia resumes tonight against the Yankees while Miami is back in action tomorrow.

- After playing in Minnesota the St. Louis Cardinals had some positive tests and there were postponements. They now appear to be in the outbreak category with a handful more.

https://twitter.com/markasaxon/status/1290369901815791616

AROUND THE AL CENTRAL

CIN 4, DET 3 (G1)

CWS 9, KCR 2

CIN 4, DET 0 (G2)

1. MIN 7-2 (+22)

2. CHW 5-4 (+5)

3. CLE 5-5 (+1)

4. DET 5-5 (-11)

5. KCR 3-7 (-14)

SEE ALSO

Week in Review: Winning and Wondering

Twins Bullpen: Ready When Needed

Which 3 Twins Have Started the Strongest?