The Minnesota Twins are taking on the New York Yankees on the road. Starting a three-game series with the Yanks starting Monday.
Spirits are high for the Minnesota Twins heading into this series. Earlier today Twins breakout star Luke Keaschall was just named AL Player of the Week.
It also comes at a time when spirits are down, for the Bronx Bombers.
Since the trade deadline, the Yankees have stumbled to a 2-7 record and are just 27-36 since once holding a commanding seven-game lead in the AL East. Back on June 12, after a 1-0 win in Kansas City, they were a season-best 17 games over .500 (42-25) and up 4.5 games in the division.
Things have unraveled since then. New York dropped six straight from June 13-18, briefly rebounded by winning six of ten, only to skid through another six-game losing streak from June 30 to July 5. A five-game win streak followed, but since Cody Bellinger’s three-homer outburst in an 11-0 Cubs blowout on July 11, the Yankees have gone just 9-15.
Here are your lineups for Monday – a big emphasis on the Twins leadoff batter who is back!
The replacement Twins are still trucking along since the trade deadline, of course they aren’t all replacement players, the offense is just fine. It’s that bullpen and starting pitching that has transformed a bit. From July 13 to 30, the Twins dropped nine of 13 games and then executed 11 player trades. Since then, the Twins have gone 5-4 and secured back-to-back series wins over AL Central foes in Detroit and Kansas City.
And most importantly – the Twins head into this series after a walkoff finish at home Sunday. The Twins failed to execute in extra innings but would get the job done in the 11th with a two-run home run. His first big league walkoff home run. Ryan Fitzgerald also had a couple firsts in the final against the Royals, his first big league hit and first big league home run – both came with one swing of the bat. Both these two are getting starts again today.
On the mound for New York will be Will Warren (6-5, 4.44 ERA), who hasn’t recorded a win in his last five outings but has a respectable 3.51 ERA in that span. He pitched five shutout innings in his last start — a 2-0 loss to Texas — and makes his first career appearance against Minnesota.
The Twins counter with right-hander Zebby Matthews (3-3, 5.17 ERA), set for his 18th big league start and first against the Yankees. After getting roughed up by the Red Sox on July 30, Matthews bounced back last week by allowing just one run over five innings in a win over Detroit — his second career road victory.
Go Twins! Beat the Yankees!