Following a lackluster performance in the series opener when they were shutout, 7-0, the Yankees bats responded as hoped scoring ten runs in the first four innings. Even then, the game almost ended in disaster, Cam Schlittler and the bullpen giving back nine of those runs as they barely held on for the 10-9 victory. A win is a win all the same, setting up a rubber game where the Yankees will try to make it four series wins out of the last five.

Luis Gil’s 2.83 ERA suggests a dominant pitcher, but that number doesn’t quite tell the whole story. His 15.3-percent walk rate is by far the worst among starting pitchers with at least 40 innings pitched, a full percentage point higher than the second name on the list. He has otherwise kept opponents off the bases with a .207 average against that is comfortably within the top-25. However, several signs point to looming regression — the 1.26 run gap between ERA and FIP is the seventh-luckiest among the aforementioned cohort and his 3.5-percent home run per fly ball rate is unsustainable as indicated by a 5.59 xFIP that’s fifth-worst in the majors. In eight starts, Gil is 4-1 with a 2.83 ERA (145 ERA+), 4.09 FIP, and 34 strikeouts in 41.1 innings.

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The Yankees are plenty familiar with Taj Bradley from his two-and-a-half years with the Rays. He has more than held his own against them, with a 3.42 ERA and 0.8 home run per nine inning rate in four career starts. Since being acquired from Tampa Bay at the deadline for reliever Griffin Jax, Bradley has struggled to the tune of a 6.33 ERA in four starts, though an unchanged FIP and xFIP suggest that is the consequence of moving to a bad defensive team. In 25 starts overall, Bradley is 6-7 with a 4.88 ERA (85 ERA+), 4.24 FIP, and 114 strikeouts across 132.2 innings.

Every member of the Yankees starting lineup got a hit last night, but there’s some squad rotation on getaway day. Anthony Volpe reached base three times in his first start since we learned that he is trying to play through a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder, but he won’t play back-to-back days so José Caballero gets the start at shortstop. Jasson Domínguez comes in to play left field shifting Cody Bellinger to right, Aaron Judge to DH, and Giancarlo Stanton to the bench. Finally, Paul Goldschmidt gets the nod at first, so Ben Rice will slide down and take over catching duties from Austin Wells.

The Twins make more wholesale changes to their lineup. Exciting rookie Luke Keaschall gets the start at second moving Austin Martin to left field and James Outman to the bench. Edouard Julien subs in at first for Kody Clemens, Jhonny Pereda takes over behind the plate for Mickey Gasper, and Brooks Lee gets the nod at short in place of Ryan Fitzgerald.

How to Watch:

Location: Target Field — Minneapolis, MN

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First Pitch: 7:40 p.m. EDT

TV broadcast: Amazon Prime Video | Twins.TV Presented by Progressive

Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 | TIBN, WCCO 830, The Wolf 102.9 FM

Online stream: Amazon Prime Video

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