The Minnesota Twins will go for a three-game sweep in opposition to the Chicago Cubs when the groups meet Thursday afternoon of their collection finale in Minneapolis.
The Twins are coming off back-to-back victories — 8-1 on Tuesday and 4-2 on Wednesday. Minnesota has received 4 of its previous 5 video games to climb inside two video games of .500 with 4 video games remaining earlier than the All-Star break.
Twins supervisor Rocco Baldelli praised his gamers for being aggressive on the basepaths in Wednesday’s win over the Cubs. It’s one thing that he needs to see proceed on Thursday.
On one play, Ryan Jeffers charged arduous towards third base and was waved residence by third-base coach Tommy Watkins. On one other play, Royce Lewis scored on a delayed steal after Matt Wallner was caught in a rundown between first and second base and Lewis took off for residence.
Baldelli stated it was necessary to fabricate runs in opposition to high quality opponents such because the Cubs. He famous that Jeffers might need been thrown out on the plate if not for a delayed relay throw.
“You are going to need to discover a approach to push some runs throughout,” Baldelli stated. “They are not all going to come back simply.
“If the relay is executed cleanly (with Jeffers making an attempt to attain), who is aware of, possibly we’re out. However you already know what? You place the strain on the opposite facet, make one thing occur.”
In the meantime, the Cubs are desirous to make one thing occur on the plate.
Chicago has scored solely three runs within the two video games in opposition to the Twins. That may be a vital departure from their earlier collection, after they scored 28 runs in three video games in opposition to their division rival St. Louis Cardinals.
Cubs supervisor Craig Counsell stated it was necessary for his hitters to get off to raised begins.
“It was a quiet evening once more,” Counsell stated. “The Twins have an excellent bullpen, so it is form of inherent that you simply get their starters. And the primary two days of the collection, now we have not.”
The Cubs’ subsequent likelihood will come in opposition to Twins right-hander Chris Paddack (3-7, 4.64 ERA), who will make his nineteenth begin of the season. He’s coming off a no-decision in opposition to the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday when he allowed two runs on 5 hits in 5 innings.
Paddack has made two begins in opposition to the Cubs in his profession. He’s 1-1 with a 4.35 ERA in these video games, with 13 strikeouts and two walks in 10 1/3 innings.
Cubs right-hander Colin Rea (6-3, 4.13) will look to assist his staff keep away from the sweep. Rea is on the lookout for his third straight victory after beating the Houston Astros and the Cardinals in his earlier two begins.
Rea made one begin in opposition to the Twins in 2023. He took the loss after giving up 4 runs on 5 hits in 5 innings.
Twins outfielder Byron Buxton may very well be unavailable within the collection finale after he was hit on the left pinky finger by a pitch on Tuesday. He initially stayed within the recreation earlier than leaving.
Buxton, who is ready to participate within the All-Star Recreation festivities subsequent week, shouldn’t be anticipated to overlook vital time after being hit on the finger.
“It appears to be like like he will be OK,” Baldelli stated. “He had some imaging completed and it got here again all proper. He was fairly sore, although, so we’ll see (about Thursday).”
–Subject Stage Media