MINNESOTA TWINS NOTES:
BORN IN THE U.S.A.: After completing their short four-game homestand with a four-game series split with the Guardians, the Twins began their six-game U.S.A. and Canada road-trip with a loss to the Rays last night…tonight, the Twins will play the second of three against Tampa Bay…after tomorrow afternoon’s series finale, Minnesota will travel across the border to play a three-game series at the Rogers Centre in Toronto against the Blue Jays…the Twins have gone 18-14 at home and 13-16 on the road.
Twins are looking to avoid losing their fourth-straight game, which would mark a sea- son-long for a losing streak, done five times previously, last from May 21-23…Minnesota’s last four-game losing streak was October 1-4, 2022.
TWINS SEE BETTER DAYS: The Twins were shut out by the Rays last night at the Trop by a score of 7-0, marking their fifth time being shut out this season…they have now scored just four runs in their last four games…Louie Varland (3-2) was the starter and loser, allowing a career-high seven runs on six hits in 6.0 innings pitched, including two home runs (Luke Raley and Jose Siri)…the offense recorded just four hits, two going for extra-bases, doubles by Carlos Correa and Michael A. Taylor…the game was played in 2:07, tied for the second-quickest game for the Twins this season (2:07 – 4/16 at NYY, 1:57 – 4/4 at MIA).
HUNG’RAY’ HEART: The Twins are playing the Rays for the second of six times in 2023…after this three-game series, they will host the Rays at Target Field for three games from September 11-13…the Twins have won four of their last six against the Rays and 12 of their last 19, dating back to May of 2019.
Carlos Correa is hitting .300 (33-for-110) with eight doubles, five home runs, 14 RBI and an .862 OPS in 29 career regular season games against the Rays…he has hit safely in seven straight against Tampa, batting .500 (14-for-28) with a 1.319 OPS in that span.
Jorge Polanco is hitting .313 (20-for-64) with nine doubles, two home runs and 14 RBI in 16 career games at Tropicana Field…he has 12 RBI in his last 10 games in this building.
THE BOSS: Rocco Baldelli has a career managerial record of 12-8 against the Rays, going 6-5 at Tropicana Field and 6-3 at Target Field…since 2019, he has 319 managerial wins, the fourth most in the AL, trailing Kevin Cash (366), Aaron Boone (363) and Terry Francona (327).
When Rocco Baldelli was a Devil Ray, he played in 32 career games against the Twins, hitting .270 (34-for-126) with seven doubles, one triple, four home runs and 22 RBI with a .740 OPS…Rocco hit his first career home run at the Metrodome on April 30, 2003 off Brad Radke and finished the day with a career-high five RBI…he hit his only career grand slam also at the Dome on July 22, 2004 off Juan Rincon.
BAD MANS: Twins starters have averaged 5.7 innings-per-outing, up from 4.8 in 2022…they have also struck out 363 hitters and are on-pace to fan 964 batters, which would shatter the club record of 870, done in 1967…below are Twins starting pitching ranks in the AL:
INNINGS ERA BAA BB/9.0 FIP WHIP K’s OPS
TOR – 346.2 TB – 2.98 TB – .223 SEA – 2.01 TB – 3.46 MIN – 1.12 MIN – 363 TB – .643
MIN – 345.0 TEX – 3.19 MIN – .229 MIN – 2.35 MIN – 3.49 TB – 1.12 CWS – 354 MIN – .657
TEX – 344.2 HOU – 3.24 TEX – .233 TEX – 2.48 SEA – 3.50 SEA – 1.13 TOR – 354 SEA – .662
HOU – 344.2 MIN – 3.50 NYY – .236 CLE – 2.51 TEX – 3.80 TEX – 1.14 HOU – 347 TEX – .669
CWS – 336.1 TOR – 3.95 SEA – .238 HOU – 2.53 HOU – 3.86 HOU – 1.19 BOS – 320 HOU – .704
ONLY THE STRONG (SURVIVE): 183 of the Twins’ 475 hits have gone for extra bases, equaling 38.5% of their hits, third-highest percentage in the AL:
XBH HITS XBH%
Tampa Bay……………………………………….231 …………………………565 …………………………………40.9%
Boston……………………………………………..211 …………………………546 …………………………………38.6%
Minnesota………………………………………..183 …………………………475 …………………………………38.5%
Baltimore…………………………………………191 …………………………503 …………………………………38.0%
New York…………………………………………..181 …………………………480 …………………………………37.7%
I’M ON FIRE: Alex Kirilloff has reached base safely in 21 of his last 38 plate appearances since May 27, posting an on-base percentage of .553 in that span…since that date, he has 10 hits, 10 walks and one hit-by-pitch…in 27 games for the Twins, he has posted a .441 on-base percentage, which leads the AL among players with a minimum of 100 plate appearances.
WILLI-ANT DISGUISE: Willi Castro is hitting .318 (21-for-66) with two doubles, four home runs, eight RBI, 13 runs scored, nine stolen bases and an .873 OPS in his last 18 games.
INDE-‘PEN-DENCE DAY: Twins relievers have combined to post a .218 opponent batting average, the third lowest in baseball, trailing New York-AL (.212) and San Diego (.215)…they have allowed just 163 hits this season, the fewest in baseball.
BORN TO RUN: Twins have stolen 28 bases in 34 attempts this season, for a 82.4 success rate, the fifth best in the AL and ninth best in baseball…since May 15, they have successfully stolen 18 consecutive bases, their last caught stealing being Ryan Jeffers on May 13 vs. Chicago-NL (Barnhart/Wesneski)…since May 10, their 18 stolen bases are fifth most in the AL.
THUN-DURAN ROAD: Jhoan Duran has posted a 0.48 ERA (18.2 IP, 1 ER) in his last 16 games… in his last seven games, he has pitched more than 1.0 inning four times…he has struck out multiple batters in each of his last six games, marking a career-best for a multiple strikeout streak…the streak is tied with four others for seventh longest in club history (since 1961); the record held by Griffin Jax, who fanned two-plus in 11-straight from June 9, 2021-May 7, 2022.
Duran has an average pitch velocity of 96.8 mph, the highest in baseball among pitchers with a minimum of 300 pitches thrown…he has averaged 98.6 mph since May 24, reaching 102-plus 31 times since that date, 103-plus 18 times and 104-plus five times.
DANCING IN THE DARK: The Twins are playing their 32nd night game this season, going 15-16 in those previous 31…31 night games are tied for the third fewest in baseball…their 30 day games are tied for fourth most in the MLB…they have a .484 winning percentage at night compared to .533 in day games.
STARTING PITCHER – PABLO LóPEZ 49
2023: 3-3, 4.54 ERA CAREER: 31-34, 4.01 ERA
Making his 13th start and appearance and seventh road start of 2023…also his 107th career appearance (all starts) in his sixth major league season (Miami – 2018-22).
Facing Tampa Bay for the first time with Minnesota and sixth time in his career…is 1-3, 3.72 ERA (29.0 IP, 12 ER) with five walks and 29 strikeouts in five previous starts vs. Rays.
Acquired by the Twins from Miami on January 20, 2023, along with infielder Jose Salas and outfielder Byron Chourio, in exchange for infielder/outfielder Luis Arraez.
LAST TIME OUT: Did not factor into the decision in the Twins 7-6 win over the Cleveland Guardians on June 1 at Target Field…opposed rookie Tanner Bibee, who also took a no-decision…pitched 5.2 innings, allowing a season-high-tying six runs and eight hits, with one walk and five strikeouts… retired the side in order in the first inning for the first time since Opening Day on March 30 at Kansas City…allowed one run in the second inning on an RBI single from rightfielder Will Brennan…retired 10-straight batters from the second through the fifth inning, but allowed five runs on six singles and one walk in the top of the sixth…was relieved by Emilio Pagán with two outs in the sixth and Minnesota trailing 6-3…Twins overcame the three-run deficit and won the series opener on a walk-off sacrifice fly from leftfielder Willi Castro in the ninth inning. His five runs allowed in the top of the sixth inning marked the most runs he has allowed in an inning since he allowed seven runs in the top of the fourth inning on September 10, 2022 vs. New York-NL.
His 76.1 percent strike rate vs. Cleveland was the second-highest strike percentage of his career, trailing only his 78.3 strike percentage (83 pitches, 65 strikes) on July 11, 2021 vs. Atlanta.
Through 12 starts this season, López is among the American League leaders in several statistical categories, including strikeouts (86 – 4th), innings pitched (71.1 – T-11th), pitches-per-inning (15.7 – 15th) and FIP (3.77 – 16th).
TWO STARTS AGO: Earned his first win of May in the Twins 9-7 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays at Target Field on May 27…pitched opposite Chris Bassitt, who took the loss…went 5.2 innings, allowing four runs on five hits, with three walks and six strikeouts…allowed two home runs, a solo shot from shortstop Bo Bichette in the first inning and another solo homer to second baseman Cavan Biggio in the fourth; marked his second start this year in which he allowed multiple homers (3 on May 15 at Los Angeles-NL)…was relieved with two outs in the top of the sixth by Jovani Moran…marked just the second win of his career allowing four-or-more runs, also doing so on April 28 vs. Kansas City (6 R).
Marked his 10th start of 2023 in which he recorded six-or-more strikeouts; is tied with seven other pitchers for the second-most such starts in baseball this year, trailing only ATL’s Spencer Strider (12).
LÓPEZ VS. TAMPA BAY: Facing the Rays for the sixth time in his career tonight…in five previous starts vs. Tampa Bay, all with Miami, he is 1-3, 3.72 ERA (29.0 IP, 12 ER) with five walks and 29 strikeouts; Marlins went 1-4 in those starts…last faced Tampa Bay on May 24, 2022 at Tropicana Field, going 7.0 innings but taking the loss in Miami’s 4-0 defeat; allowed four runs on nine hits (including a career-high-tying 3 home runs), with no walks and eight strikeouts…looking for his first win against the Rays since his first career start vs. Tampa Bay on July 21, 2018; pitched 6.0 innings, allowing only one run on two hits (1 home run), with one walk and six strikeouts in a 3-2 Marlins win at the Trop.
López has limited the 11 current Rays hitters who have faced him previously to a .167 (7-for-42) batting average with eight strikeouts.
In 10 career starts vs. American League East opponents (TB – 5, NYY – 2, TOR – 2, BAL – 1), he is 3-4, 3.40 ERA (55.2 IP, 21 ER) with 11 walks and 62 strikeouts…Twins have split his two starts against the AL East this season (L, 2-0 at New York-AL on April 16; W, 9-7 vs. Toronto on May 27), with López going 1-1, 4.63 ERA (11.2 IP, 6 ER) with four walks and 13 strikeouts.
TRIP TO THE TROP: Tonight is López’s seventh road start of 2023, going 1-2 with a 3.00 ERA (36.0 IP, 12 ER), nine walks and 44 strikeouts in his first six road outings; Twins have gone 2-4 in his six road starts…making his fourth career start at Tropicana Field, going 1-2, 5.29 ERA (17.0 IP, 10 ER) with three walks and 20 strikeouts in his previous three starts in St. Petersburg…in six home starts this year, he is 2-1, 6.11 ERA (35.1 IP, 24 ER) with 12 walks and 42 strikeouts; Minnesota owns a 5-1 record in his six starts at Target Field in 2023…in 50 career road starts, he is 15-18, 4.33 ERA (262.0 IP, 126 ER) with 72 walks and 265 strikeouts…is 16-16, 3.75 ERA (319.1 IP, 133 ER) with 91 walks and 310 strikeouts in 56 career home starts.
Seeking his first road win since earning the victory on Opening Day at Kansas City on March 30 (5.1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 3 BB, 8 K)…his current five-start streak without a road win is the second longest of his career, one short of his six-start stretch without a road victory from May 24 to July 3, 2022.
Averaging only 2.00 runs of support in his six road starts this season while receiving an average of 6.11 runs of support in his six home starts…his 2.00 run support average on the road is the second lowest in the majors this season (min. 5 road starts), behind COL’s Kyle Freeland (1.87).
RIGHT ON: López has limited right-handed hitters to a .213 (33-for-155) batting average this season… his 56 strikeouts against righties are the fifth most in the American League this year, trailing only TB’s Shane McClanahan (76), HOU’s Framber Valdez (73), TOR’s Kevin Gausman (69) and BOS’s Chris Sale (58)…his .213 opponent batting average vs. righties this season ranks 17th in the AL (min. 10 GS)…left-handed hitters are batting at a .261 (29-for-111) clip against him in 2023…over his career, he has better numbers against right-handed hitters (.660 OPS) than left-handed hitters (.748 OPS).
PITCH BREAKDOWN: Used a five-pitch mix in his first 12 starts this season, according to Baseball Savant…has exclusively used his sinker against right-handed hitters, favoring his changeup and curveball when facing left-handed hitters…threw 16 curveballs in his last start on June 1 vs. Cleve- land, the second-most curveballs he has throw in a start this year (19 – April 28 vs. Kansas City)…here is a look at his 2023 arsenal:
PITCH (AVG. MPH) PCT. (# OF PITCHES, VS. RHB/LHB) RESULTS
4-Seam Fastball (95.0)……………..35.5% (397 pitches, 202/195)….. .289 (24-for-83), 4 2B, 6 HR, 26 K
Sweeper (84.2)…………………………22.6% (253 pitches, 224/29) .204 (11-for-54), 1 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 22 K
Changeup (88.4)………………………20.4% (228 pitches, 91/137) …… .127 (8-for-63), 1 2B, 1 HR, 23 K
Sinker (94.5) …………………………….11.7% (131 pitches, 131/0) ………….. .257 (9-for-35), 2 2B, 3 K
Curveball (81.9)…………………………9.7% (108 pitches, 17/91) .. .323 (10-for-31), 1 3B, 1 HR, 12 K
Lopez’s changeup has accumulated a run value of -6 this year, tied with four other pitchers for the fifth-best run value on a changeup in baseball, according to Baseball Savant.
In his first 12 starts this year, López has an average fastball velocity of 94.8 mph, a 2.1 mph increase from last season and the largest year-to-year jump of his career.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: López is making his second start on turf this season and 40th of his career…in his last start on turf at loanDepot Park on April 5, he took a no-decision despite recording a quality start in a Twins 5-2 defeat to the Marlins (7.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 8 K)…in 39 career starts on turf, he is 11-12, 3.71 ERA (218.1 IP, 90 ER) with 57 walks and 224 strikeouts; 34 of those starts were at loanDepot Park, his former home ballpark…his 39 starts on turf rank seventh most in baseball since the start of 2018, and his 9.25 strikeouts-per-9.0 innings on turf since 2020 ranks seventh best in that span (min. 20 GS).
TAMPA BAY RAYS NOTES:
PRETTY EFLIN GOOD — Rays starter RHP Zach Eflin (6.2IP, 3H, 0R, BB, 9SO) fanned nine over 6.2 scoreless frames as Tampa Bay coasted to a 7-0 win over Minnesota in last night’s series opener…after the Rays plated three runs in the fourth inning, including RBI-singles by LF Randy Arozarena (1-for-4, 2RBI, R) and C Christian Bethancourt (1-for-4, RBI), RF Luke Raley (2-for-3, 3B, HR, 2RBI, 2R, BB) connected on a two-run homer in the fifth for a 5-0 Rays lead…CF Jose Siri (1-for-3, HR, RBI, R) added his 11th home run to lead off the seventh before Arozarena closed the scoring with an RBI-groundout later in the inning.
Both Raley’s (450 ft.) and Siri’s (457 ft.) home runs were projected at 450+ feet, marking the first game in the Statcast Era (since 2015) in which the Rays launched multiple 450+ foot homers…entering the day, Tampa Bay had recorded one such home run all season (Josh Lowe, 455 ft. on 5/3 vs. PIT).
BLANK SPACE — The Rays recorded their ninth shutout win of the season last night, tying Toronto for most in the majors, ahead of five clubs tied at six…at 63 games, it marks the fastest the Rays have reached nine shutouts in club history, ahead of the 2014 team (76G)… since 2020, Tampa Bay’s 36 shutout wins are second most in the AL behind Chicago-AL (37).
HOME COOKING — Tampa Bay’s 27-6 record at Tropicana Field marks MLB’s best start at home since the 1998 New York Yankees (also 27-6)…the Rays are one of 11 teams since 1901 to win at least 27 of their first 33 home games in a season…have won five of six, nine of 12, and 13 of their last 17 home games overall.
With a win tonight, the Rays would improve to 10-1-0 in home series, becoming the first team since the 2016 Texas Rangers (10-1-0) to win 10 of their first 11 home series in a season…Tampa Bay’s previous best start through 11 home series was 8-3-0, done in 2008 (Elias).
The Rays have plated 5+ runs in six straight home games, their longest streak since 8/16-9/17, 2021 (9G)…on the season, Tampa Bay has scored 5+ runs 38 times, tied with Los Angeles-NL for most in the majors; the Rays are 32-6 in those games.
Tampa Bay hitters rank among MLB leaders at home in several categories, including stolen bases (1st, 43), homers (T1st, 55), extra-base hits (2nd, 127), runs per game (2nd, 5.97), OPS (2nd, .839), SLG (2nd, .493) and OBP (3rd, .346).
BETTER AGAINST THE BEST — The Rays have gone 25-13 (.658) against teams that currently have a record of .500 or better, the best mark in the majors, ahead of Texas (19-11, .633)…since 5/2, nine of Tampa Bay’s 11 series have been against clubs that are currently .500 or better; the Rays are 21-13 in that span, including 6-4 in series play.
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE — Tampa Bay is 10-1 against the AL Central, outscoring opponents, 82-36 (+46)…it marks the best winning pct. against the division by any AL club, ahead of Boston (7-2, .778)…the Rays opened the year with a nine-game winning streak against the division, tying their longest streak against the AL Central in club history (also: 6/29-7/11, 2013)…dating back to 8/20/22, Tampa Bay has won nine straight
home games over AL Central opponents, the second-longest such streak in club history (longest: 10G, 6/29/13 – 4/22/14).
The Rays lead the AL in runs per game (7.45), SLG (.552), OPS (.906) and run differential (+46) vs. the AL Central this season.
RIGHTING THE SHIP — After pitching to a 9.58 ERA (10.1IP, 11ER) from 5/27-28, Rays starters have recorded a 1.90 ERA (42.2IP, 9ER) over the club’s last nine games, the best mark in MLB during that span (since 5/29)…this season, Tampa Bay’s rotation paces the majors in ERA (2.98), opp. average (.223), opp. OBP (281), opp. SLG (.362) and opp. OPS (.643)…the Rays are 21-1 when their starter tosses 6.0+ innings, including nine straight wins; the lone loss came on 5/9 at Baltimore.
Tampa Bay’s bullpen has allowed one earned run in its last 14.0 innings since yielding six runs in the bottom of the sixth frame on 6/3 (G1) at Boston.
BAG BANDITS — The Rays have stolen 30 consecutive bases without being caught dating back to 5/22, the longest streak in club history…they had achieved the previous mark of 21 straight steals on two separate occasions (6/3-27, 2007 & 7/1-23, 2010)…according to Elias, the last major league club to steal 30 straight bases was Cleveland (36SB) from 8/11- 9/17, 2021…the Rays have been successful on 44 of their last 46 stolen base attempts (95.6%) overall since 5/14 after opening the season 38-for-52 (73.1%).
Tampa Bay’s 82 stolen bases are the most by any major league club through 63 games since the 2009 Rays (101SB).
NUKE RAKEY — In addition to notching his first career triple last night, Luke Raley clubbed the second-farthest homer of his career in the fifth inning (450 ft.), trailing only his 472-foot blast on 9/21/22 against Colorado at Coors Field…has reached base safely in a career-high 12 straight games since 5/21, slashing .313/.463/.781 (10-for-32) with five extra-base hits, 7 RBI, 13 runs scored, six walks, 4 SB and 3 HBP in that span…since the streak began on 5/21, his 1.245 OPS leads the AL, trailing only LAD J.D. Martinez (1.254) in all of baseball (min. 40PA).
Min. 150 PA, Raley ranks among MLB leaders in barrel rate (2nd, 21.3%), SLG (3rd, .590), hard hit pct. (7th, 56.2%), OPS (8th, .944) and avg. exit velocity (9th, 93.4 mph).
WANDER STRUCK — Wander Franco has hit safely in a season-best 10 straight games, tied for the second-longest streak of his career behind his 13-game run from 9/14-27, 2022…it trails only TEX Marcus Semien (25G) for the longest active streak in the majors… Franco is batting .474 (18-for-38) with four doubles, one triple, 6 RBI, seven steals and seven walks against five strikeouts during the streak…he has doubled in three straight games, one shy of the longest streak of his career (4G, 2x, last: 9/20-23, 2022).
THE BAY BOMBERS — The Rays have hit a major league-best 105 home runs, tied for the seventh-most long balls through a club’s first 63 games in MLB history (since 1901)…they reached 100 homers in their 54th game of the season, becoming the fifth-fastest team to reach the milestone in MLB history (since 1901).
The Rays have 31 multi-HR games, tied with New York-AL for most in the majors; they are 26-5 in those contests…this includes 16 games with 3+ homers, most in the AL and trailing only Los Angeles-NL (18G) in all of MLB.
TWINNING — The Rays and Twins continue their six-game season series tonight…the two clubs will also meet from 9/11-13 in Minnesota…the Rays hold a narrow lead in the all-time series, 88-87, but the Twins have had the upper hand in recent years, winning five of the last eight matchups and posting a 12-8 mark since the beginning of 2019.
TONIGHT’S STARTER: RHP SHAWN ARMSTRONG (0-0, 0.00)
WELCOME BACK — RHP Shawn Armstrong made his season debut on 6/4 at Boston following his activation from the 60-day injured list the day prior…he threw 2.0 scoreless innings at Fenway Park, allowing no hits and one walk with three strikeouts.…he was initially placed on the 15-day injured list on 3/29 (retroactive 3/27) with neck tightness and was later placed on the 60-day injured list on 4/17.
DOWN ON THE FARM — In seven rehab appearances for Triple-A Durham, Armstrong went 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA (9.0IP, 2ER) with eight strikeouts against two walks while holding opponents to a .069 batting average (2-for-29)
SHAWN THE STARTER — Armstrong is set to make his fourth career start tonight vs. the Twins…of his 204 career appearances, his only three starts came with Tampa Bay last season…in those three outings, Armstrong has pitched to a 1.17 ERA (7.2IP, 1ER) with six strikeouts against one walk while holding opponents to a .192 batting average (5-for-26).
In his last start 9/17 vs. Texas, he threw 1.2 scoreless innings, allowing one hit with no walks and three strikeouts.
He worked 3.0 innings in each of his other two starts on 8/30 at Miami and 9/4 vs. New York-AL.
THE TWINKIES — In 11 career appearances against Minnesota, Armstrong has pitched to a 2.13 ERA (12.2IP, 3ER), striking out 15 batters against four walks while holding opponents to a .205 average (9-for-44)
In his lone appearances against the Twins last season on 6/11 at Target Field, Armstrong threw 2.0 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and one walk with two strikeouts.
