MINNESOTA TWINS NOTES:
THE TWINS: Have gone 2-3 through five games on their current six-game road-trip, getting swept in three games by the Rays earlier this week, followed by consecutive wins in Toronto… today, the Twins will complete the trip with the three-game series finale at Rogers Centre against the Blue Jays…after today’s game, the Twins will travel home to enjoy an off-day tomorrow 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 15-18 on the road.
BASES LOADED, NO PROBLEM, TWINS GET JAYS LATE: The Twins beat the Blue Jays yesterday afternoon at Rogers Centre by a score of 9-4, scoring all nine runs in the final three innings and securing the series win…Joe Ryan was the starter but did not factor into the decision, allowing three runs on six hits in 6.0 innings pitched, his team-leading 10th quality start…the offense recorded 12 hits and struck out a season-high 17 times…the top two batters in Minnesota’s lineup (Edouard Julien — 2-for-3, BB & Donovan Solano — 3-for-5) combined to reach base six times in nine at-bats…Carlos Correa hit his second career grand slam, giving the Twins a 5-3 lead in the eighth inning…Trevor Larnach (6) added a solo home run in the seventh inning and Max Kepler (7) added a three-run jimmy jack in the eighth.
The win secured the ninth series victory for the Twins this season and third on the road… the previous two road series wins were: March 30-April 2 at Kansas City (3-game sweep) and May 29-31 at Houston (2 of 3).
TWINS GO FOR HAT TRICK IN CANADA: The Twins are seeking their second sweep of the season today…their other sweep came in the season-opening series in Kansas City from March 30-April 2 (3 games)…last season, they swept opponents eight times, all in three games…the Twins’ second sweep of 2022 came from April 26-28 vs. Detroit…the Twins are seeking a sweep of the Blue Jays for the first time since taking three games at Rogers Centre from May 5-8, 2019.
TWINS-JAYS: The Twins and Blue Jays are playing each other for the final time in 2023…Twins are 3-2 vs. Toronto this season…a win today would give the Twins their first season series win over the Jays since 2019 and fifth time in their last six chances (4-3 in 2017, 4-2 in 2018, 4-3 in 2019, DNP in 2020, 3-4 in 2021 and 4-3 in 2022). AThe Twins have gone just 36-51 vs. the Jays since 2010…from 2010-16 they were 14-34, but have gone 22-17 since 2017.
Twins have won 12 of their last 15 games in Toronto, scoring 6.4 runs-per-game in those 15.
Carlos Correa is hitting .304 (31-for-102) with four doubles, seven home runs, 23 RBI and a .932 OPS in 26 career regular season games vs. the Jays…has reached safely in 11 straight vs. Toronto and in 24 of his 26 career games…additionally, Correa is hitting .366 (15-for- 41) with two doubles, four home runs, 16 RBI, a .435 on-base percentage, a .707 slugging percentage and a 1.142 OPS in 10 career regular season games at Rogers Centre…his OPS and average are his highest in any AL ballpark…he has reached base in all 10 games here.
LAND OF 10,000 R-EH?-KES: Twins have homered in 16-straight games at Rogers Centre, hitting 35 total homers in those 16…below are the longest homer streaks in an opposing park in Twins history (since ’61):
BALLPARK DATES STREAK
Kauffman Stadium………………………July 30, 1998-August 25, 2001………………………………………….21
Rogers Centre ……………………………….August 26, 2017-present ……………………………………………..16
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 84 times this season, fourth most in the AL, trailing Tampa Bay (111), New York (102) and Los Angeles (89)…Twins are 27-18 when they homer at least once in a game, 19-6 when they homer at least twice and 8-1 when homering at least thrice.
ROYCE ROLLS ON THE ROAD: After going 4-for-4 on Friday 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 seven career road games at the major league level, hitting safely in all seven.
I’LL TAKE OBP FOR 400, ALEX: Alex Kirilloff has reached base safely in 25 of his last 52 plate appearances since May 27, posting an on-base percentage of .481 in that span…since that date, he has 13 hits, 10 walks and two hit-by-pitch…in 31 games for the Twins, he has posted a .422 on-base percentage, which leads the AL among players with a minimum of 115 plate appearances.
THIEVERY CORPORATION: Twins have stolen 32 bases in 38 attempts this season, for a 84.2 success rate, fourth best in the AL and sixth best in baseball…since May 15, they have successfully stolen a club-record 22 consecutive bases, their last caught stealing being Ryan Jeffers on May 13 vs. Chicago-NL (Barnhart/Wesneski)…their previous successful stolen base streak was 21, from September 25, 2006-April 21, 2007 (Elias)…the longest streak in baseball this season is Tampa Bay’s active streak of 34 (Elias).
REHAB UPDATES: Kenta Maeda made the start for Triple-A St. Paul on rehab assignment last night against Iowa, pitching 4.0 scoreless innings with three hits allowed, no walks and five strikeouts, while throwing 60 pitches…Maeda has been on the 15-day Injured List with a right triceps strain since April 29…Joey Gallo played in his second game on rehab assignment with the Saints last night, going 1-for-3 with a walk and a 445-foot home run…Gallo has been on the 10-day Injured List with a left hamstring strain since June 3.
TWINS ML WEEKLYS: The Twins have named Triple-A Saint Paul catcher Jair Camargo and High-A Cedar Rapids right-handed pitcher Cory Lewis as their minor league Player and Pitcher of the Week.
Camargo, 23, hit .375 (6-for-16) with four home runs, 10 RBI and a 1.537 OPS in four games for the Saints…the Barranquilla, Co- lombia native was acquired by Minnesota from Dodgers via trade with right-handed pitcher Kenta Maeda and cash, in exchange for right-handed pitcher Brusdar Graterol, outfielder Luke Raley and Competitive Balance B Pick in 2020 Draft on February 10, 2020.
Lewis, 22, made one start for the Kernels on Thursday at Dayton, pitching 5.0 shutout innings with three hits allowed, one walk and eight strikeouts, earning the win…the Fountain Valley, California native was selected by the Twins in the ninth round of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of California, Santa Barbara.
MIC DROPS: Toronto-related notes on Bally Sports North broadcasters Justin Morneau and Trevor Plouffe:
Morneau recorded two multi-homer games at Rogers Centre, one coming on July 23, 2007 and the other on May 17, 2010…Rogers Centre is one of five opposing ballparks that the Canadian had multiple two-plus homer games in (3 multi-homer games at Guaranteed Rate Field and Progressive Field, and two multi-homer games at New Yankee Stadium and Globe Life Park).
Plouffe hit nine career home runs off Toronto pitching, tied for his most against any non-AL Central opponent (also New York-AL – 9)…
Trevor drove in 15 runs in 16 career games at Rogers Centre and hit five home runs in this ballpark…he homered in three-straight games here at one point over the 2015-16 seasons, going yard off Mark Buehrle, Francisco Liriano and Bo Schultz.
STARTING PITCHER – LOUIE VARLAND 37
2023: 3-2, 4.40 ERA CAREER: 4-4, 4.19 ERA
Making his ninth start of the season and sixth road start of 2023…also his 14th career start and appearance.
Facing Toronto for the second time in his career; took the loss vs. the Blue Jays on May 26 at Target Field in a 3-1 Twins defeat (6.0 IP, 3 R/ER, 7 H, 2 HR, 0 BB, 3 K).
Recalled from Triple-A St. Paul on May 3, taking the place of right-hander Tyler Mahle (Tommy John surgery) in the Twins rotation.
Selected by the Twins in the 15th round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft out of Division II Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota.
LAST TIME OUT: Took the loss in his first career start vs. Tampa Bay on June 6 at Tropicana Field as the Twins fell 7-0…opposed Zach Eflin, who earned the win…went 6.0 innings, allowing a career-high seven earned runs on six hits while issuing a career-high four walks and striking out five…fired 3.0 scoreless innings to start his outing, needing only 15 total pitches to complete the second and third innings…allowed three runs in the fourth inning on three hits, one walk and an RBI sacrifice bunt by second baseman Vidal Bruján…yielded a two-run home run to rightfielder Luke Raley in the fifth and a solo homer to centerfelder Jose Siri in the seventh…after allowing the homer to Siri and walking first baseman Yandy Díaz to begin the bottom of the seventh, he was relieved by Emilio Pagán, who allowed the inherited runner to score…Twins offense recorded only four hits in their fifth shutout loss of 2023.
Allowed multiple home runs for the fourth time this season, also doing so on April 14 at New York-AL (3), May 14 vs. Chicago-NL (2) and May 26 vs. Toronto (2).
TWO STARTS AGO: Earned his third win of the season in the 8-2 Twins victory against the Houston Astros on May 31 at Minute Maid Park, opposite Hunter Brown…pitched a career-high 7.0 scoreless innings, with one walk and five strikeouts…marked his second scoreless start of his career and first since going 5.0 scoreless innings on October 5, 2022 at Chicago-AL…tossed 86 pitches; 76.7 percent were strikes, the highest single-start strike percentage of his career…relieved by Jorge López in the eighth, who allowed back-to-back solo home runs to outfielder Jake Meyers and catcher Yainer Diaz to start the inning…Brock Stewart and José De León combined to pitch 2.0 scoreless innings to secure the win in the rubber game of the three-game series.
Recorded his fifth quality start of the season, tied with Sonny Gray for the third most on the Twins staff (Joe Ryan – 10, Pablo López – 7).
B-LOU JAYS: Making his second career start against Toronto after taking the loss vs. the Blue Jays on May 26 at Target Field; recorded a quality start, going 6.0 innings with three runs and seven hits allowed, no walks and three strikeouts in a 3-1 Twins loss…allowed a solo home run to centerfielder Kevin Kiermaier and a two-run homer to shortstop Bo Bichette in the third inning…today marks his fifth career start against an American League East division opponent, having faced New York-AL once both in 2022 (his major league debut) and 2023, Toronto on May 26 and Tampa Bay in his last start on June 6; has gone 0-2, 5.79 ERA (23.1 IP, 15 ER) with six walks and 23 strikeouts in those four starts, with the Twins going 1-3.
BUMP IN THE ROAD: Varland is making his third-straight road start after losing for the first time on the road this year in his last outing on June 6 at Tampa Bay…in his five road starts this season, he is 2-1, 5.02 ERA (28.2 IP, 16 ER) with nine walks and 28 strikeouts, with the Twins going 3-2 in those five games…at home this year, he is 1-1, 3.44 ERA (18.1 IP, 7 ER) with three walks and 16 strikeouts in three starts; Twins have gone 1-2 in those three…is 3-2, 4.50 ERA (44.0 IP, 22 ER) with 12 walks and 43 strikeouts in eight career starts on the road.
Rogers Centre will become the eighth ballpark Varland has pitched in since his debut…in seven previous starts when pitching in a new ballpark, he is 3-3, 4.15 ERA (39.0 IP, 18 ER) with 11 walks and 32 strikeouts, having won three of his last four starts at new ballparks.
LEFTIES VS. RIGHTIES: Through his first eight starts this season, left-handed hitters are batting .237 (14-for-59) with 15 strikeouts against Varland…righties are hitting .252 (31-for-123) with 29 strikeouts…recorded four of his five strikeouts against right-handed hitters in his last outing on June 6 at Tampa Bay…in his career, left-handed hitters are slashing .248/.296/.446 with four home runs and 24 strikeouts against Varland, while righties are slashing .256/.306/.483 with 11 home runs and 41 strikeouts.
PITCH BREAKDOWN: Varland has used a four-pitch mix in his first eight starts this season, including a four-seam fastball, cutter, slider and changeup, according to Baseball Savant…threw only 29 four-seam fastballs in his last start on June 6, the second-fewest fastballs he has thrown in a start this year (24 fastballs at New York-AL on April 14)…below is a look at his 2023 repertoire:
PITCH (AVG. MPH) PCT. (# OF PITCHES, VS. RHB/LHB) RESULTS
4-Seam Fastball (94.9)…………………..41.0% (299 pitches, 190/109).. .246 (17-for-69), 2 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 20 K
Cutter (89.3) …………………………….30.1% (220 pitches, 166/54).. .275 (14-for-51), 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 9 K
Slider (83.7)……………………………16.2% (118 pitches, 100/18)…………… .194 (7-for-36), 3 HR, 8 K
Changeup (85.0)……………………….12.7% (93 pitches, 36/57)…….. .269 (7-for-26), 1 2B, 2 HR, 7 K
Has averaged 10.6 inches of horizontal movement on his slider this season, the third-most slider horizontal movement on the Twins staff in 2023, according to Baseball Savant (José De León – 14.6, Bailey Ober – 10.8)…his slider breaks 68 percent more than the average MLB slider.
GAINING GROUND: In his last start on June 6 at Tampa Bay, Varland induced eight groundballs per Baseball Savant, tied with two others starts for the second-most groundballs he has induced this season, trailing only his career-high 14 groundballs on May 31 at Houston…his 44.9 groundball percentage this season ranks 17th in the American League (min. 8 GS) and second in the Twins’ rotation, trailing Sonny Gray (47.2%)…Varland owns a 42.6 groundball percentage in his career.
ON YOUR TOES, DEFENSE: 19.0 percent of Varland’s pitches this season have been put in play, the highest percentage in the Twins rotation and the 13th highest in the American League (min. 8 GS)… opponents have swung at the first pitch 37.2 percent of the time against him, the sixth-highest rate in the AL (min. 8 GS); teammates Joe Ryan (39.6), Pablo López (39.6) and Bailey Ober (37.8) occupy three of the top four spots on the AL first-pitch swing percentage leaderboard…Varland also ranks 16th in the AL with an average of 15.5 pitches-per-inning among pitchers with at least eight starts.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:
THE LATEST: The Blue Jays allowed a 3-1 lead to slip away as the Twins scored seven runs in the 8th inning en route to an eventual 9-4 final score…The seven runs tied their most in a single inning this season…Was their 4th loss this season when leading after seven innings (now 30-4). Toronto has dropped two straight to Minnesota but has still won seven of its last 10 games, nine of its last 13, and 10 of its last 15 contests…Has slipped to 13-8-0 in series play this year (7-3-0 at home)…Needs a win today to avoid being swept for the 4th time this year.
KEEPING YOUR WHITS: Whit Merrifield opened the scoring yesterday with an RBI single to right field in the 2nd inning, before singling again in the 9th…Finished the day 2-for-3 with a HBP and a run scored, his 16th multi-hit game of the season…Over his last 22 games, is hitting .368 (28-for-76) with four doubles, a homer, nine RBI, and seven walks (.435 OBP, .896 OPS)…Has upped his batting average to .300 for the season, good for 7th among AL hitters.
SPRINGER HAS SPRUNG: George Springer singled, doubled, and scored a run as he went 2-for-5 yesterday…Has recorded three of his eight doubles this season in the last two games… Marked his 17th multi-hit effort of the year…Has now gone 39-for-135 (.289) with seven doubles, a triple, six home runs, 16 RBI, and 15 walks during his last 35 contests (.364 OBP, .853 OPS).
CHANGING IT UP: Trevor Richards made his 1st start of the season yesterday…Tossed 3.0 shutout frames, working around a hit and a walk with seven strikeouts on 53 pitches (31 strikes)…Marked his most strikeouts since recording seven on July 22, 2019 at CWS, and his most pitches thrown since hurling 53 on Sept. 17, 2020 (2)…Racked up 16 swing-and-misses on the day, his most in a single game since inducing 17 over 4.1 frames on Aug. 26, 2020 vs. BAL…His 13 whiffs on his changeup alone are tied for the 2nd most in a single game this season, trailing only Shane McClanahan’s 14 on April 22 vs. CWS.
BO KNOWS BASE HITS: Bo Bichette picked up a single yesterday…Leads all MLB hitters with 91 hits (2nd: Luis Arraez – 90)… Ranks 1st in the AL with 146 total bases (2nd: Shohei Ohtani – 142)…His .323 batting average also ranks 1st in the AL (4th in MLB) while he is currently 5th in SLG (.518), T-6th in home runs (14), 6th in OPS (.872), T-9th in RBI (43), and T-13th in XBH (26).
GAUS-OME STUFF: Kevin Gausman gets the start today, coming off 7.0 frames of one-run ball and a career-high-tying 13 strikeouts last Tuesday vs. HOU…Has six games with double-digit strikeouts, two more than any other picher…His 113 strikeouts lead the AL, trailing only Spencer Strider (121) for the most in MLB. Among AL pitchers, the righty is currently 1st in SO/9 (12.40), 1st in K rate (34.3%), and 1st in FIP (2.26)…Also ranks 2nd in SO/BB (6.28), T-4th in innings pitched, and 7th in ERA (2.63).
HOME WORK: The Blue Jays are wrapping up a seven-day, seven-game homestand (3-3 so far)…Have gone 18-13 this season at Rogers Centre…The .581 win% at home is 4th best in the AL…After today’s game, will head out on a nine-game road trip, making stops for three contests in each of Baltimore (40-24), Texas (41-22), and Miami (36-29). Toronto batters rank 4th in the AL in home AVG (.259), 4th in home OBP (.334), 7th in home OPS (.733), and 10th in home SLG (.399)…The pitching staff ranks 1st among AL teams with a .212 home opponents’ average (2nd: TB – .218)…Are sitting 2nd with a 3.36 home ERA and 2nd with a 1.13 home WHIP.
ONE NOTCH AT A TIME: Brandon Belt picked up his 14th double as he went 1-for-2 with a run scored yesterday…Over his last 30 contests, has batted .333 (30-for-90) with 10 doubles, three homers, 11 RBI, and 21 walks (1.009 OPS)…His .464 OBP over that span (since May 4) is the highest in the Majors (2nd: Freddie Freeman – .435).
NICE JOB NATHAN: Nathan Lukes pinch-hit in the 5th inning for Brandon Belt yesterday…Recorded his 1st career RBI with a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring George Springer to put the Blue Jays in front, 3-0.
BOWDEN IS BACK: Bowden Francis made his season debut yesterday and his 2nd career appearance (also: April 27, 2022 vs. BOS)…Pitched 2.2 innings, surrendering a run on two hits with no walks and three strikeouts.
LAYING OFF THE DONUTS: The Blue Jays have notched 599 hits this season, behind only Texas (605) for the most in the Majors… Are currently 3rd in the AL in team AVG (.262), 3rd in OBP (.333), 5th in extra-base hits (202), 5th in OPS (.752), and 6th in SLG (.420).
The Blue Jays are one of two MLB teams to have scored in every game this season (also: ARI)…Have gone 84 straight games without being shut out, the longest active streak in the Majors (2nd: ARI – 65G)…Is their longest such streak since scoring in 85 consecutive games from May 19-Aug. 23, 2000.
TOUGH SCHEDDING: The Blue Jays have reached the final day of playing 30 games over the course of 31 days…Have gone 15-14 through 29 contests.
VS. THE TWINS: All-Time: 232-183
2023: 2-3 Home: 119-84
Home: 0-2 Rogers Centre: 79-54
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…Have not been swept by the Twins since May 6-8, 2019.
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 27-for-82 (.329) with five doubles, one triple, five homers, and 16 RBI over 19 games (.935 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 .310 (57- for-184) batter across 47 career meetings, including 15 doubles, 12 home runs, and 35 RBI (.992 OPS).
Whit Merrifield leads all current Blue Jays with 109 career games played against his former division rivals…Has batted .299 (133-for-445) with 34 doubles, three triples, five home runs, and 48 RBI along the way (.772 OPS).
STARTING PITCHER – Kevin Gausman, RHP #34
TODAY’S GAME:
Making his 14th start of the season and his 7th at Rogers Centre…Pitched 7.0 frames of one-run ball his last time out, on 6/6 vs. HOU, scattering 4 hits with no walks and a career-high-tying 13 strikeouts (also: 13K on 4/29/23 vs. SEA)…Became the 4th player (8th time) in franchise history to punch out at least 13 batters without any walks in a single game (last: José Berríos on 7/12/22 vs. PHI)…Marked his 6th game with double-digit strikeouts this season, more than any other Major Leaguer. His 113 strikeouts are the most ever by a Blue Jay in their first 13 outings of a season (2nd: Robbie Ray – 97 in 2021), and are the most in the AL in 2023 (2nd: Shohei Ohtani – 102K). Owns a 2.72 FIP since the start of the 2020 season, tied for the best mark among qualified hurlers with Corbin Burnes.
2023 HIGHLIGHTS:
Tossed 6.2 frames of shutout ball on 6/1 vs. MIL, scattering 5 hits and a pair of walks with 11 strikeouts…Was his 5th start with double-digit
punchouts this year. Took a no-decision on 5/21 vs. BAL, tossing 8.0 frames of two-run ball on a season-high 115 pitches (6H, 2BB, 4K)…Matched his longest outing of the year (8.0IP on 4/12 vs. DET). Gave up 3R/2ER runs on 5/16 vs. NYY, surrendering 5 hits and 2 walks over 7.0 innings with 10 strikeouts on 102 pitches (63 strikes)…Marked his 7th quality start of the year, and his 4th with double-digit punchouts. Tossed 6.0 shutout innings on 5/10 at PHI, giving up 3 hits with no walks and 9 strikeouts…Was his 6th quality start of the year, and his 5th outing with no earned runs. Tossed 7.0 shutout innings on 4/29 vs. SEA, giving up 5 hits with a walk and a career-high 13 strikeouts…Threw a season-high 108 pitches (74 strikes) while inducing a career-high 28 swing-and-misses…Got 20 whiffs on his splitter alone, the most on a single pitch in the Majors this season, and the most on a splitter in the pitch-tracking era (since 2008). Took a no-decision on 4/12 vs. DET, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits over a season-high 8.0 innings with no walks and 11 strikeouts, his most as a
Blue Jay…Surrendered a solo home run to Nick Maton with one out in the 4th inning, ending his streak of 15.1 innings without allowing an earned run, the longest stretch to begin a season in franchise history (2nd: Matt Shoemaker – 14.0 IP in 2019).
