MINNESOTA TWINS NOTES:
THE TWINS: Have gone 1-3 through four games on their current six-game roadtrip, getting swept in three games by the Rays this week, followed by a win in Toronto last night…today, the Twins will continue the trip with the second of three at Rogers Centre against the Blue Jays…after tomorrow afternoon’s series finale, the Twins will travel home to enjoy an off-day on Monday before beginning a 10-game homestand with two against the Brewers (June 13-14), four against the Tigers (June 15-18) and four against the Red Sox (June 19-22)…the Twins have gone 18-14 at home and 14-18 on the road.
EXCITING FINISH IN THE SIX: The Twins beat the Blue Jays last night at Rogers Centre by a score of 3-2 in 10 innings, making them 6-3 in extras this season…Sonny Gray was the starter but did not factor into the decision, allowing one run on five hits in 5.0 innings pitched…Jhoan Duran (2-2) pitched 2.0 scoreless innings of relief and earned the win…Duran stranded six runners in the outing, leaving the bases full of Jays in the ninth inning and leaving two men on in the 10th inning, all while throwing a season-high 38 pitches (2 short of his career-high of 40, done July 16, 2022 vs. CWS)…the offense recorded seven hits, four from Royce Lewis (all singles)…Michael A. Taylor added his ninth home run of the season and drove in all three of Minnesota’s runs.
TWINS GET CANADIAN: The Twins have placed infielder Jorge Polanco on the 10-day Injured List with a left hamstring strain…Polanco, who was reinstated from the IL on June 1 after missing 12 games with the same in-jury, recently appeared in seven games for the Twins, going 3-for-25 with two doubles, one home run, two RBI, one walk and one run scored…to replace Polanco on the 26-man roster, the Twins have recalled infielder Edouard Julien from Triple-A St. Paul…during his most recent stint with the Saints, Julien hit .320 (8-for-25) with three doubles, one home run, 11 RBI, five walks, a .406 on-base percentage and a .966 OPS in seven games from June 2-8…the Québec City, Canada native has played in 19 games over two stints with the Twins earlier this season, combining to hit .226 (14-for-62) with two doubles, four home runs, eight RBI, seven walks, eight runs scored and a .310 on-base percentage.
TWINS-JAYS: The Twins and Blue Jays are playing each other for the fourth of six scheduled meetings this season…Twins are 2-2 vs. the Jays this season…entering this season, the Twins have won the season series over Toronto four-straight seasons (4-3 in 2017, 4-2 in 2018, 4-3 in 2019 and 4-3 in 2022)…Minnesota will have to win the final two games to keep the streak alive.
The Twins have gone just 35-51 vs. the Jays since 2010…from 2010-16 they were 14-34, but have gone 21-17 since 2017.
Carlos Correa is hitting .309 (30-for-97) with four doubles, six home runs, 19 RBI and a .927 OPS in 25 career regular season games vs. the Jays…has reached safely in 10 straight vs. Toronto and in 23 of his 25 career games.
O CANADA: Twins are 53-79 all-time at Rogers Centre…they have won 11 of their last 14 games in Toronto…Minnesota is 7-3 at Rogers under Rocco Baldelli.
Carlos Correa is hitting .389 (14-for-36) with two doubles, three home runs, 12 RBI, a .463 on-base percentage, a .694 slugging percentage and a 1.158 OPS in nine career regular season games at Rogers Centre…his OPS and average are his most in any AL ballpark…he has reached base in all nine games here.
ADID YOU KNOW?: Manager Rocco Baldelli homered in his first career game at Rogers Centre on May 13, 2003, a solo shot off Trever Miller, while playing for the Devil Rays…he hit safely in each of his first 11 games at the Rogers Centre from May 13, 2003-June 22, 2004.
POUTINE POP: The Twins have homered in 15-straight games at Rogers Centre, hitting 32 total homers in those 15…below are the longest home run streaks in an opposing park in Twins history (since 1961):
BALLPARK DATES STREAK
Kauffman Stadium………………………July 30, 1998-August 25, 2001………………………………………….21
Rogers Centre ……………………………….August 26, 2017-present ……………………………………………..15
Progressive Field ……………………….. August 26, 2020-June 29, 2022 …………………………………………15
Guaranteed Rate Field……………………April 8, 2017-June 26, 2018 ……………………………………………14
LAND OF 10,000 RAKES: The Twins have homered 81 times this season, fifth most in the AL, trailing Tampa Bay (110), New York (100), Los Angeles (88) and Texas (82)…Twins are 26-18 when they homer at least once in a game and 18-6 when they homer at least twice.
Speaking of 10,000 rakes, did you know that Bally Sports North analyst Trevor Plouffe hit the 10,000th home run in Twins/Senators franchise history (since 1901)…Plouffe hit a solo shot off Miguel Gonzalez on August 29, 2014 at Oriole Park in a Twins 9-1 defeat…two days later, Plouffe hit the 1,001st homer in franchise history, a two-run shot off Wei-Yin Chen.
ROYCE MAKING NOISE: After going 4-for-4 last night, Royce Lewis is now hitting .393 (11-for- 28) with three doubles, two home runs, six RBI, six runs scored, a .714 slugging percentage and a 1.128 OPS in six career road games at the major league level, hitting safely in all six.
Last night, Lewis joined Matt Wallner (5/27 vs. TOR) as the second Twins rookie with a four-hit game this season…they join Cincinnati’s Matt McLain and Spencer Steer, and Los Angeles-NL’s James Outman and Miguel Vargas as the only pair of rookies from one team with a four-hit game this season.
I’LL TAKE OBP FOR 400, ALEX: Alex Kirilloff has reached base safely in 24 of his last 47 plate appearances since May 27, posting an on-base percentage of .511 in that span…since that date, he has 12 hits, 10 walks and two hit-by-pitch…in 30 games for the Twins, he has posted a .432 on-base percentage, which leads the AL among players with a minimum of 100 plate appearances.
TAYLOR MADE: Michael A. Taylor is hitting .333 (8-for-24) with three doubles, three home runs, six RBI, six runs scored, two walks, four stolen bases, a .370 on-base percentage, an .833 slugging percentage and a 1.204 OPS in his last nine games.
Taylor’s nine home runs lead all active players on the Twins, with Joey Gallo (11) and Byron Buxton (10) both on the 10-day Injured List.
Taylor has played in 58 of 64 games for the Twins this season, leading the club in games played, ahead of Carlos Correa’s 54…Taylor ranks tied for fifth in the AL in games played (57) in centerfield and tied for seventh-most in baseball.
STARTING PITCHER – JOE RYAN #41
2023: 7-3, 2.76 ERA CAREER: 22-12, 3.38 ERA
Making his 13th start and appearance of 2023 and his eighth road start of the year…also his 45th career start and appearance.
Facing Toronto for the first time in his career; Blue Jays will become 18th different team he has faced in the majors…is 5-7, 5.04 ERA (85.2 IP, 48 ER) in 17 career starts against new opponents.
Owns most strikeouts (261) and second-most wins (22) through a pitcher’s first 44 career games in Twins history (since 1961).
LAST TIME OUT: Lost his second-straight start on June 4 vs. Cleveland at Target Field in a 2-1 Twins defeat; went 6.2 innings, allowing two runs on two hits, with one walk and four strikeouts…retired 19 of the first 20 batters he faced, allowing only an infield single to rightfielder Will Brennan in the top of the third inning and facing the minimum through 6.2 innings…issued a two-out walk to third baseman José Ramírez in the top of the seventh inning, then allowed an RBI double to designated hitter Josh Naylor to end his outing…was relieved by Caleb Thielbar, who allowed one inherited runner to score…Minnesota fell in the series finale despite outhitting the Guardians five to three and split the four-game series two games to two.
Marked just the second time in his career in which he lost back-to-back starts, also taking the loss in consecutive outings on August 31, 2022 vs. Boston and September 7, 2022 at New York-AL; is now 8-2, 1.94 ERA (65.0 IP, 14 ER) with 14 walks and 72 strikeouts in 11 career starts following a loss.
Snapped his career-long five-game home winning streak…Twins had won his previous six starts at Target Field from September 13, 2022 to May 24, 2023, with Ryan going 5-0, 2.31 ERA (35.0 IP, 9 ER) with nine walks and 45 strikeouts in that span.
TWO STARTS AGO: Took the loss on May 30 at Houston as the Twins fell 5-1 in the middle game of the series; threw a season-low 4.0 innings, allowing a season-high five runs on four hits while issuing a season-high three walks and striking out six batters…allowed two home runs in the second inning, a solo homer to third baseman Alex Bregman and a two-run homer to centerfielder Chas McCormick; snapped a six-start streak without allowing a home run and marked his first time allowing multiple homers in a start this year…allowed two runs in the third inning on two hits, two walks and a sacrifice fly from first baseman José Abreu…was relieved by Cole Sands to start the bottom of the fifth.
Marked his shortest start since also throwing 4.0 innings on September 24, 2022 vs. Los Angeles-AL…allowed five-or-more earned runs and multiple home runs for the first time since August 31, 2022 vs. Boston (also 5 ER, 2 HR).
NEW OPPONENT, EH?: Facing the Blue Jays for the first time in his career; Toronto will become the 18th different team he has faced…in 17 previous starts against a new opponent, Ryan is 5-7, 5.04 ERA (85.2 IP, 48 ER) with 35 walks and 76 strikeouts…infielder Whit Merrifield is the only current Blue Jay hitter to have faced Ryan previously, going 1-for-5 against him with two strikeouts in two games last season as a member of the Kansas City Royals…making his ninth career start against an American League East division opponent; in eight previous starts vs. the AL East (NYY – 3, BOS – 3, BAL – 2), he is 4-2, 3.47 ERA (46.2 IP, 18 ER) with eight walks and 48 strikeouts.
JOE ON THE ROAD: Making his team-leading eighth road start today…has recorded six quality starts in his seven road outings this year, going 3-2, 3.07 ERA (41.0 IP, 14 ER) with nine walks and 45 strikeouts…Twins have lost his last four road starts after winning his first three…looking for his first road win since earning the victory on April 19 against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in a 10-4 Twins triumph (6.0 IP, 3 R/ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 3 K)…in five home starts this year, he is 4-1, 2.35 ERA (30.2 IP, 8 ER) with five walks and 35 strikeouts.
Ryan has gone 11-6 with a 3.54 ERA (117.0 IP, 46 ER), 28 walks and 121 strikeouts in 21 career road starts…has similar numbers in 23 career home starts, going 11-6 with a 3.23 ERA (128.1 IP, 46 ER), 38 walks and 140 strikeouts.
Pitching at the Rogers Centre for the first time in his career; will become the 15th ballpark he has started at since debuting in 2021…is 5-6, 5.15 ERA (71.2 IP, 41 ER) with 18 walks and 77 strikeouts in 14 previous starts when pitching at a new ballpark.
LEFT/RIGHT: Left-handed hitters are batting just .195 (26-for-133) with a .525 OPS and 32 strikeouts against Ryan this year…his .525 opponent OPS against lefties ranks 16th in the American League this season…right-handed hitters are hitting .211 (28-for-133) with a .579 OPS and 48 strikeouts… his .203 (54-for-266) overall opponent batting average in 2023 ranks sixth in the American League and 10th in baseball, among qualified pitchers.
Over his career, Ryan has slightly better splits against left-handed hitters than righties, with lefties batting just .195 (87-for-447) with a .599 OPS since his debut in 2021…right-handed hitters are hitting .213 (98-for-460) with a .641 OPS off Ryan.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:
THE LATEST: The Blue Jays left the bases loaded in the 9th inning before stranding a pair in the 10th last night, losing the opener of their weekend series with the Twins by a 3-2 final in 10 innings…Moved to 4-5 in extra-inning games and 10-6 in one-run contests…Their .625 win% in one-run games is still the 2nd-best mark among AL teams (BAL – .632). Toronto has still won seven of its last nine games, nine of its last 12, and 10 of its last 14 contests…Needs a win today to avoid slipping to 13-8-0 in series play this year (7-3-0 at home)…Has won each of its last four series, tied for its longest such streak this season (four series from April 3-16).
SPRINGING INTO ACTION: George Springer tied last night’s game at 2’s in the bottom of the 6th inning with a pinch-hit RBI double to center field…Was his 3rd career knock and 3rd career RBI as a pinch hitter…Notched another double in the 9th inning, finishing the game 2-for-2 for his 16th multi-hit effort of the year…Marked his 2nd game this season with multiple doubles, both coming against Minnesota (also: May 26 at MIN)…Has gone 37-for130 (.285) with six doubles, a triple, six home runs, 16 RBI, and 15 walks during his last 34 contests (.363
OBP, .848 OPS).
BO KNOWS BASE HITS: Bo Bichette got Toronto on the board last night with an RBI single to right in the 5th inning, his team-leading 43rd RBI of the season…Leads all MLB hitters with 90 hits (2nd: Luis Arraez – 88)…Also ranks 2nd in the Majors with 145 total bases (1st: Freddie Freeman – 148)…His .324 batting average ranks 1st in the AL (4th in MLB) while he is currently 5th in SLG (.522), T-5th in home runs (14), 6th in OPS (.878), T-9th in RBI (43), and 15th in OBP (.356).
CHAP’S STICK: Matt Chapman picked up a double in the 4th inning on Friday, part of a 1-for-5 night…Marked his AL-leading 23rd double (2nd in MLB) and his 31st extra-base hit, good for T-2nd in the junior circuit (T-5th in MLB). The third baseman currently sits 2nd among MLB hitters with a 60.1 hard-hit percentage (1st: Aaron Judge – 62.6) while ranking 4th in barrel rate (12.0%), 4th in hard-hit balls (101), and 8th in average exit velocity (93.8 MPH).
A BAG OF TRICKS: Tyler Heineman hit safely in both of his plate appearances last night, laying down a bunt single in the 3rd inning before singling again in the 5th…Was his 1st multi-hit effort of the season, and his 1st since Sept. 2, 2022 vs. TOR as a member of the Pittsburgh
Pirates. The Blue Jays have recorded eight bunt hits this season, trailing only the Athletics (10) for the most among American League teams…The eight bunts are twice as many as last season’s total (4).
TREVOR TIME: Trevor Richards takes the hill today for his 1st start of the season, and the 57th of his career…Has gone 8-22 in his career as a starter, posting a 4.42 ERA (133 ER/270.2 IP) with 267 strikeouts.
HOME WORK: The Blue Jays are on a seven-day, seven-game homestand (3-2 so far)…Have gone 18-12 this season at Rogers Centre…The .600 win% at home is tied for 3rd best in the AL…After this weekend series with the Twins, will head out for a nine-game road trip, making stops for three contests in each of Baltimore (39-24), Texas (40-22), and Miami (35-29). Toronto batters rank 4th in the AL in home AVG (.259), 4th in home OBP (.334), 6th in home OPS (.736), and 10th in home SLG (.401)…The pitching staff ranks 1st among AL teams with a 3.17 home ERA (2nd:
HOU – 3.22) and a .209 home opponents’ average (2nd: TB – .215)…Are sitting 3rd among AL clubs with a 1.12 home WHIP.
NASTY NATE: Nate Pearson tossed 2.0 frames of shutout relief last night, working around a pair of hits with a strikeout… Eclipsed 101 mph on the gun three times, including firing a 101.6 mph fourseamer past Michael A. Taylor, the 2nd-fastest pitch by a Blue Jay hurler in the Statcast Era (since 2008)…Now owns the four fastest pitches by a Blue Jay since tracking began in 2008.
LAYING OFF THE DONUTS: The Blue Jays have notched 590 hits this season, behind only Texas (593) for the most in the Majors… Are currently 3rd in the AL in team AVG (.262), 3rd in OBP (.333), T-4th in extra-base hits (200), 5th in SLG (.421), 5th in OPS (.754). The Blue Jays are one of two MLB teams to have scored in every game this season (also: ARI)…Have gone 83 straight games without being shut out, the longest active streak in the Majors (2nd: ARI – 64G)…Is their longest such streak since scoring in 85 consecutive games from May 19-Aug. 23, 2000.
TOUGH SCHEDDING: The Blue Jays are in the midst of playing 30 games over the course of 31 days…All opponents during this stretch until last night had been over .500 at game time…Are 15-13 through 28 contests.
VS. THE TWINS: All-Time: 232-182
2023: 2-2 Home: 119-83
Home: 0-1 Rogers Centre: 79-53
The Blue Jays took two of three games when the teams met last month at Target Field…Went 3-4 last season vs. MIN, dropping two of three here at Rogers Centre.
Bo Bichette had multiple hits in all three games vs. the Twins last month, going 7-for-13 (.538) with a triple, two homers, and six RBI…Is a career 26-for-78 (.333) with five doubles, one triple, five homers, and 16 RBI over 18 games (.957 OPS).
George Springer also had hits in all three games in that prior Twins series, combining to hit .417 (5-for-12) with three doubles and a walk…Is a career .307 (55- for-179) batter across 46 career meetings, including 14 doubles, 12 home runs, and 35 RBI (.992 OPS).
Whit Merrifield leads all current Blue Jays with 108 career games played against his former division rivals…Has batted .296 (131-for-442) with 34 doubles, three triples, five home runs, and 47 RBI along the way (.767 OPS).
