Even with Tuesday night time’s loss within the sequence opener, the Minnesota Twins have the next successful share in opposition to the San Diego Padres than vs. another National League crew because the begin of interleague play in 1997
Overall, the Twins are 16-8 in opposition to the Padres, a .667 clip, and so they’ll look so as to add one other win on Wednesday night time when the groups meet in Minneapolis within the second recreation of a three-game sequence
But these will not be the Padres of previous seasons. These are the big-spending Padres, the Padres of Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, Juan Soto, Xander Bogaerts, Jake Cronenworth, Josh Hader, Joe Musgrove, Yu Darvish and extra
“Everyone is aware of what the Padres have achieved to enhance,” Twins supervisor Rocco Baldelli stated just lately. “They’re extra proficient and deeper than they have been. Which is why the brand new schedule is sweet
“In previous years, you would possibly get a neater interleague schedule one yr and a more durable one the subsequent. Now it is balanced. The solely distinction is the place you get them.”
The Twins get the Padres and Chicago Cubs at residence this week. Then it is off to face the Dodgers in Los Angeles
“Facing the Padres and Dodgers six instances in a span of 9 days is a troublesome a part of the schedule,” Baldelli stated
Wednesday night time, it will likely be a matchup of right-handers with Seth Lugo (3-2, 3.21 ERA) beginning for the Padres in opposition to Pablo Lopez (2-2, 3.77). The Twins will look to snap their third three-game shedding streak of the season and of the previous three weeks
Meanwhile, the Padres will attempt to construct on some momentum created by Tuesday night time’s 6-1 win. The Padres altered the highest of their batting order for one of many few instances this season
Padres supervisor Bob Melvin moved Cronenworth up into the second spot within the order behind Tatis, enabling the Padres to alternate right-left batters all through the order. The solely time they’d hitters back-to-back from the identical aspect is when No. 9 Austin Nola and No. 1 Tatis batted
“We’re going to attempt to discover the correct mix till we get it proper,” Melvin stated of his lineup. “We needed to see what we may do with slightly extra stability. You’re all the time looking for the most effective construction. We have not achieved in addition to we might have anticipated, so generally you shake it up.”
Tuesday’s shakeup produced the primary four-hit recreation by Juan Soto because the Padres acquired him in a commerce with the Washington Nationals final August
For the Twins, Lopez will make his eighth begin of the season. He has averaged greater than six innings a begin, giving up 18 runs on 37 hits and 10 walks with 54 strikeouts in 43 innings. He is 1-1 with a 4.26 ERA in 12 2/3 innings over two profession begins in opposition to the Padres
Lugo will make his seventh begin of the season. In 12 profession appearances (one begin) in opposition to the Twins whereas with the Mets, he’s 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA with 19 strikeouts and 4 walks
–Field Level Media