Twins Notebook 9/25: Hanging on Against the Redlegs

Today

Twins vs Tigers 7:10 pm CDT

Betting Line: MIN -150 O/U 8.5

Twins Starter: Jose Berrios (5-3) RHP 3.72 ERA

Jose Berrios will take his final turn of the season for the Twins tonight. After a rough start to the year he’s been on cruise control of late. His last six outings have resulted in a 2.14 ERA with a 37/11 K/BB. Opponents have just a .547 OPS against him during that stretch and five of those outings have come against teams vying for Postseason spots. Interestingly, this will be Berrios’ fifth start against an NL Central team in 2020. He’s 4-0 with a 1.57 ERA and 27/7 K/BB in those contests. This serves as a tune up for game two of the Wild Card round and making sure he can keep things rolling against a playoff bound Reds team would be nice to see.

Reds Starter: Tyler Mahle (2-2) RHP 3.57 ERA

Cincinnati’s 25-year-old Mahle is having a breakout season. His 3.57 ERA is a career best, and it’s substantiated by a 3.96 FIP. He’s got an 11.1 K/9, reaching double digits for the first time in his career, and his 1.103 WHIP is well below the career norm. Although he hasn’t been overly dominant at any point this year, Mahle has been extremely consistent. He’s never allowed more than three runs in an outing, and he’s completed at least six innings in four of his eight starts. Shutting down the White Sox in his last time out, Mahle saw the Reds win for the first time when he was on the mound against an AL Central opponent.

Twins Lineup

https://twitter.com/tlschwerz/status/1309576127007068160?s=21

Reds Lineup

https://twitter.com/reds/status/1309555208826093568?s=21

Division Recaptured

Minnesota comes into tonight leading the AL Central Division by a full game. The Cleveland Indians swept the Chicago White Sox, coming from behind in the final three games, to give the Twins new life. Not holding a tiebreaker over Chicago, Rocco Baldelli’s club will need a win in hand to repeat.

Postseason in Flux

Minnesota could finish as high as the two seed and as low as the four seed. They’re looking at opponents such as the Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees, Houston Astros, and Chicago White Sox.

Postseason Staff Taking Final Turn

Kenta Maeda threw the last game against Detroit for Minnesota, lining him up to open the Wild Card round. Rocco Baldelli confirmed that was the intention, and Jose Berrios will be penciled in for game two with Michael Pineda slotting behind him after his final outing tomorrow night.

Around the AL Central

Cleveland 5, Chicago 4

Kansas City 8, Detroit 7

MIN 35-22 +57 run differential

CWS 34-23 1.0 GB +68

CLE 33-24 2.0 GB +44

KC 24-33 11.0 GB -26

DET 22-33 12.0 GB -67