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SEATTLE ( MONTGOMERY )
MINNESOTA ( GIBSON ) |
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| 969 | SEATTLE | +105 | Ov 8.5,-120 | +120 | Ov 8.5,-115 | | 970 | MINNESOTA | -115 | Un 8.5,+100 | -130 | Un 8.5,-105 |
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| All Games | 47-57 | -17 | 46-53 | 3.6 | 0.240 | 0.298 | 0.392 | 0.691 | 4.2 | 0.248 | 0.309 | 0.400 | 0.709 | | Road Games | 25-26 | +1 | 21-29 | 3.8 | 0.230 | 0.286 | 0.390 | 0.676 | 4.4 | 0.258 | 0.321 | 0.415 | 0.736 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 35-41 | -11.9 | 34-38 | 3.8 | 0.238 | 0.299 | 0.399 | 0.697 | 4.1 | 0.248 | 0.311 | 0.395 | 0.706 | | Past 7 Games | 2-5 | -4.6 | 5-1 | 4.6 | 0.281 | 0.328 | 0.482 | 0.811 | 6.1 | 0.255 | 0.336 | 0.462 | 0.797 | | Grass Games | 42-56 | -21.5 | 44-49 | 3.6 | 0.241 | 0.299 | 0.393 | 0.692 | 4.3 | 0.250 | 0.309 | 0.401 | 0.711 | | Night Games | 33-38 | -11.2 | 30-38 | 3.7 | 0.250 | 0.305 | 0.412 | 0.717 | 4.1 | 0.246 | 0.302 | 0.400 | 0.702 |
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| All Games | 3.6 | 0.240 | 0.298 | 104 | 3525 | 846 | 159 | 15 | 116 | 0.392 | 359 | 293 | 835 | 43 | 690 | 87 | 60 | 103 | 37 | | Road Games | 3.8 | 0.230 | 0.286 | 51 | 1742 | 401 | 75 | 7 | 63 | 0.390 | 182 | 137 | 388 | 26 | 314 | 46 | 25 | 56 | 14 | | Righty Starters | 3.8 | 0.238 | 0.299 | 76 | 2555 | 608 | 120 | 12 | 89 | 0.399 | 272 | 221 | 614 | 36 | 487 | 64 | 40 | 75 | 31 |
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| All Games | 3.80 | 1.335 | 314.6 | 143 | 133 | 294 | 32 | 126 | 286 | 10-23 | 28 | 13 | 68.3% | | Road Games | 4.04 | 1.381 | 151.3 | 71 | 68 | 148 | 18 | 61 | 129 | 5-12 | 17 | 6 | 73.9% |
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| All Games | 53-49 | +14.1 | 45-47 | 4.3 | 0.252 | 0.303 | 0.399 | 0.702 | 4.3 | 0.271 | 0.318 | 0.423 | 0.741 | | Home Games | 33-21 | +14.9 | 27-21 | 4.9 | 0.278 | 0.327 | 0.442 | 0.769 | 4.1 | 0.270 | 0.312 | 0.420 | 0.732 | | vs Left-handed Starters | 20-16 | +7.8 | 19-15 | 5.1 | 0.263 | 0.319 | 0.421 | 0.739 | 4.0 | 0.265 | 0.313 | 0.418 | 0.731 | | Past 7 Games | 2-5 | -2.7 | 6-1 | 5.4 | 0.279 | 0.326 | 0.482 | 0.808 | 6.4 | 0.292 | 0.336 | 0.506 | 0.842 | | Grass Games | 53-49 | +14.1 | 45-47 | 4.3 | 0.252 | 0.303 | 0.399 | 0.702 | 4.3 | 0.271 | 0.318 | 0.423 | 0.741 | | Night Games | 28-26 | +8.8 | 22-28 | 4.3 | 0.246 | 0.295 | 0.388 | 0.683 | 3.7 | 0.263 | 0.308 | 0.399 | 0.707 |
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| All Games | 4.3 | 0.252 | 0.303 | 102 | 3410 | 859 | 173 | 30 | 89 | 0.399 | 413 | 252 | 753 | 50 | 604 | 103 | 59 | 102 | 57 | | Home Games | 4.9 | 0.278 | 0.327 | 54 | 1790 | 498 | 92 | 15 | 57 | 0.442 | 255 | 129 | 365 | 25 | 320 | 61 | 32 | 59 | 19 | | Lefty Starters | 5.1 | 0.263 | 0.319 | 36 | 1248 | 328 | 58 | 8 | 41 | 0.421 | 176 | 102 | 243 | 12 | 226 | 39 | 23 | 41 | 23 |
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| All Games | 3.90 | 1.298 | 302 | 148 | 131 | 300 | 36 | 92 | 209 | 14-16 | 31 | 7 | 81.6% | | Home Games | 3.71 | 1.249 | 165 | 79 | 68 | 161 | 20 | 45 | 127 | 8-7 | 16 | 2 | 88.9% |
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| 7/18/2015 | IWAKUMA(R) | @ NY YANKEES | PINEDA(R) | 4-3 | W | 150 | 8 un | U | 7 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 0 | | 7/19/2015 | HERNANDEZ(R) | @ NY YANKEES | SABATHIA(L) | 1-2 | L | -115 | 8.5 ev | U | 7 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | | 7/20/2015 | HAPP(L) | @ DETROIT | SIMON(R) | 4-5 | L | 100 | 9.5 ov | U | 8 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | | 7/21/2015 | WALKER(R) | @ DETROIT | GREENE(R) | 11-9 | W | -135 | 9 ev | O | 14 | 10 | 2 | 12 | 8 | 0 | | 7/22/2015 | MONTGOMERY(L) | @ DETROIT | SANCHEZ(R) | 4-9 | L | 125 | 8.5 un | O | 11 | 8 | 2 | 13 | 8 | 1 | | 7/23/2015 | IWAKUMA(R) | @ DETROIT | PRICE(L) | 3-2 | W | 150 | 7.5 un | U | 9 | 9 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 1 | | 7/24/2015 | HERNANDEZ(R) | TORONTO | ESTRADA(R) | 5-2 | W | -160 | 6.5 ov | O | 9 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 0 | | 7/25/2015 | HAPP(L) | TORONTO | HUTCHISON(R) | 6-8 | L | +120 | 8 un | O | 9 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 1 | | 7/26/2015 | WALKER(R) | TORONTO | BUEHRLE(L) | 6-5 | W | +110 | 7.5 un | O | 13 | 7 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 1 | | 7/27/2015 | MONTGOMERY(L) | ARIZONA | RAY(L) | 3-4 | L | -125 | 7 un | P | 9 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 0 | | 7/28/2015 | IWAKUMA(R) | ARIZONA | GODLEY(R) | 4-8 | L | -175 | 7 un | O | 9 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 6 | 0 | | 7/29/2015 | HERNANDEZ(R) | ARIZONA | CORBIN(L) | 2-8 | L | -170 | 6.5 un | O | 7 | 7 | 1 | 15 | 7 | 0 | | 7/30/2015 | HAPP(L) | @ MINNESOTA | HUGHES(R) | 5-9 | L | 110 | 8.5 ev | O | 11 | 7 | 1 | 13 | 10 | 1 | | 7/31/2015 | WALKER(R) | @ MINNESOTA | MILONE(L) | 6-1 | W | -110 | 8.5 un | U | 13 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | | 8/1/2015 | MONTGOMERY(L) | @ MINNESOTA | GIBSON(R) | | | 8/2/2015 | IWAKUMA(R) | @ MINNESOTA | PELFREY(R) | | | 8/3/2015 | HERNANDEZ(R) | @ COLORADO | BUTLER(R) | | | 8/4/2015 | HAPP(L) | @ COLORADO | RUSIN(L) | | | 8/5/2015 | WALKER(R) | @ COLORADO | KENDRICK(R) | | | 8/7/2015 | MONTGOMERY(L) | TEXAS | HAMELS(L) | | | 8/8/2015 | | TEXAS | | |
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| 7/18/2015 | HUGHES(R) | @ OAKLAND | KAZMIR(L) | 2-3 | L | 140 | 7 ev | U | 6 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 8 | 1 | | 7/19/2015 | MILONE(L) | @ OAKLAND | CHAVEZ(R) | 1-14 | L | 145 | 7.5 un | O | 7 | 8 | 3 | 12 | 4 | 0 | | 7/21/2015 | GIBSON(R) | @ LA ANGELS | SHOEMAKER(R) | 0-7 | L | 115 | 7 ev | P | 2 | 4 | 0 | 13 | 6 | 0 | | 7/22/2015 | PELFREY(R) | @ LA ANGELS | WILSON(L) | 2-5 | L | 150 | 7.5 ov | U | 9 | 12 | 1 | 12 | 7 | 1 | | 7/23/2015 | SANTANA(R) | @ LA ANGELS | RICHARDS(R) | 3-0 | W | 170 | 7.5 un | U | 5 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 | | 7/24/2015 | HUGHES(R) | NY YANKEES | PINEDA(R) | 10-1 | W | +140 | 8 ev | O | 14 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 10 | 0 | | 7/25/2015 | MILONE(L) | NY YANKEES | SABATHIA(L) | 5-8 | L | +100 | 8 ov | O | 7 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 1 | | 7/26/2015 | GIBSON(R) | NY YANKEES | EOVALDI(R) | 2-7 | L | +115 | 8.5 ev | O | 10 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 0 | | 7/28/2015 | PELFREY(R) | PITTSBURGH | MORTON(R) | 7-8 | L | -105 | 9.5 un | O | 12 | 7 | 1 | 11 | 9 | 2 | | 7/29/2015 | SANTANA(R) | PITTSBURGH | LIRIANO(L) | 4-10 | L | +120 | 8 un | O | 12 | 9 | 3 | 13 | 8 | 2 | | 7/30/2015 | HUGHES(R) | SEATTLE | HAPP(L) | 9-5 | W | -120 | 8.5 ev | O | 13 | 10 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 1 | | 7/31/2015 | MILONE(L) | SEATTLE | WALKER(R) | 1-6 | L | +100 | 8.5 un | U | 1 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 8 | 1 | | 8/1/2015 | GIBSON(R) | SEATTLE | MONTGOMERY(L) | | | 8/2/2015 | PELFREY(R) | SEATTLE | IWAKUMA(R) | | | 8/3/2015 | SANTANA(R) | @ TORONTO | DICKEY(R) | | | 8/4/2015 | HUGHES(R) | @ TORONTO | ESTRADA(R) | | | 8/5/2015 | MILONE(L) | @ TORONTO | HUTCHISON(R) | | | 8/6/2015 | GIBSON(R) | @ TORONTO | BUEHRLE(L) | | | 8/7/2015 | PELFREY(R) | @ CLEVELAND | ANDERSON(R) | | | 8/8/2015 | | @ CLEVELAND | | |
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| |  | SEATTLE: SEATTLE (AP) - Robinson Cano is one of the few on the Seattle Mariners roster who can speak with certainty about the playoffs. In his previous stop, Cano played in the postseason seven times and hoisted one World Series trophy.
When Cano looks at the roster the Mariners have put together for the 2015 season, he sees familiar traits.
''On paper we look like world champions,'' Cano said. ''But hopefully, God help us, we stay healthy and it's not how we look on paper, we have to go out and prove it every day.''
This time it's different for Seattle. Before the season begins the Mariners are viewed as favorites in the AL West.
It's been a rarity for most of Seattle's history for the Mariners to be the favorites and when they have been, they typically fell short. That's what makes this season equal parts exciting and concerning. They could be the team that reignites the fire in Seattle fans, or one that provides another disappointment.
''There's more of a buzz around the team from an outside perspective. Internally, we expected a lot out of ourselves last year and we did that for the most part, obviously coming one game short,'' third baseman Kyle Seager said. ''But this year it's a different feeling in the locker room. There's more of a confidence. There's more of a general trust in the guy next to you and confidence in the guy next to you.''
Cano's signing a year ago brought validity to what Seattle was trying to create. That was supplemented by the development of Seager into an All-Star and Gold Glove winner, and the best pitching staff in baseball led by AL Cy Young runner-up Felix Hernandez.
But it wasn't enough. The Mariners ended one-game short. Getting to 87 wins was a surprising achievement but left Seattle wanting more.
The Mariners have created a roster that has Cano optimistic about what Seattle can accomplish. Nelson Cruz, the major league leader in homers last season, adds punch and protection in the middle of the lineup. The Mariners upgraded their outfield with the additions of Justin Ruggiano and Seth Smith and the late signing of Rickie Weeks.
And while Hernandez remains the ace, Seattle's pitching staff could be even better because of youngsters James Paxton and Taijuan Walker.
''With the additions we made this offseason and guys getting that experience last year, being in a little bit of a race, I think this team's prepped and ready to make a run at the postseason,'' Paxton said.
Here are things to watch as Seattle looks to reach the postseason for the first time since 2001:
CRUZ CONTROL: The addition of Cruz is a massive upgrade for Seattle's offense. While with Baltimore, Cruz was the only hitter in baseball to reach 40 homers last season, and while that came in the friendly hitting confines of Camden Yards he's always been a strong hitter at Safeco Field. One of Cruz's biggest impacts is the trickle down on Seattle's lineup. He'll hit behind Cano and in front of Seager and no longer leaves the cleanup spot in Seattle's order a gaping hole.
GOOD TO BE THE KING: Hernandez is already driven by the desire to make the postseason. He may have gotten just a little more motivation by finishing second in the Cy Young voting to Cleveland's Corey Kluber. He set a major league record last season when he pitched 16 straight games of seven or more innings while allowing two earned runs or less. It was a brilliant stretch from May to early August, but wasn't good enough to get Seattle to the postseason or win the Cy Young.
PLATOON OR NO PLATOON: How manager Lloyd McClendon handles his situations in right and left field will be worth watching early in the season. Ultimately, it's a good thing for Seattle to have as many options as it does at those positions with Smith and Ruggiano in right field and Dustin Ackley and Weeks in left field. With the strengths of each player, it's likely Smith and Ackley will  right-handed pitching and Weeks and Ruggiano against lefties. McClendon has said he doesn't view either situation as a platoon.
BEST BULLPEN: Fernando Rodney was the anchor of the best bullpen in baseball last year. He led baseball in saves with 48, but he was just part of what made Seattle successful late in games. Most of that bullpen crew is back, and for as good as Seattle's starters are expected to be, its relievers need to be equal to last season if the Mariners are going to match their expectations. | | MINNESOTA: MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Paul Molitor was hired as Minnesota's new manager, bringing Hall of Fame membership and renowned intelligence and intuition to a team seeking a fresh start.
The Twins brought back one of their most popular players ever, Torii Hunter, to help solidify an unsettled outfield, mentor a fledgling team and hit a few home runs. They have collected plenty of promising young hitters, either slated for the opening day lineup or waiting in the minor league wings.
None of that will matter much if the starting pitching continues to wobble the way it has the last four seasons.
Phil Hughes had by most measures a career year, his first away from the New York Yankees, but his ability to match that is low on the list of 2015 goals. Ricky Nolasco needs to rebound from a terrible first season with the Twins. Ervin Santana must show he's worth that $55 million, four-year contract. Kyle Gibson has to reduce the times (five of 31 starts in 2014) he goes three innings or less and gives up six runs or more. The fifth spot winner, Trevor May, Tommy Milone or Mike Pelfrey, needs to keep it.
''We'd put up a couple good starts and somebody would get hurt or we'd take a step backward,'' said Hughes, whose 2014 season has been one of the few true success stories of the rotation since it unraveled in 2011. ''Every good team I've been on, it seems like the rotation gets on a roll.''
New pitching coach Neil Allen will have more impact on the staff than Molitor, but after 13 years under manager Ron Gardenhire the clubhouse has been naturally buzzing with excitement about the new boss.
''He's one of the smartest baseball people I've ever been around,'' first baseman Joe Mauer said.
As for Hunter? His presence was desired for more energy and stronger camaraderie.
''If there's no tension between players and you're comfortable with everyone, you're going to play better,'' closer Glen Perkins said. ''So that's chemistry, I guess. I think we've held it together as much as we can, as much as we've struggled.''
Here are some key angles to know about the Twins in 2015:
MAUER IMPROVEMENT
Mauer, soon to turn 32, will make $23 million each of the next four years. Injuries have limited him to an average of 116 games from 2011-14. His batting average hit a career-low .277 last season, and he had a career-most 96 strikeouts despite time lost to an oblique muscle injury.
The Twins haven't lost faith in their franchise player, the homegrown guy who was the first overall draft pick in 2001. Playing for Molitor, whom he grew up admiring as an alumnus of the same St. Paul high school, ought to help.
''He's healthy. I think he's anxious to prove that last year was just an aberration,'' general manager Terry Ryan said.
LINEUP FLEXIBILITY
Molitor has been touting his options at the top and in the middle of the order, with a team that quietly scored the third-most runs in the majors after the All-Star break last year and added an accomplished hitter in Hunter.
One decision is whether to bat Mauer third, where he was most of his career until Gardenhire began to bat him second often over the last two seasons.
With Hunter, Kennys Vargas, Trevor Plouffe and Oswaldo Arcia, Molitor has power to play with in the heart of the order. The downsides are Arcia's inconsistency, leadoff man Danny Santana being the only player with a 2014 average above .290 and an unsettled situation in center field.
''It's a small sample, our track record from last year, but it's something you can use as a foundation to see potentially how your offense can work. We're going to have depth, I think, all the way down to the bottom,'' Molitor said.
BULLPEN SHUFFLE
The Twins could return as few as three relievers to their roles from last season: Perkins, Casey Fien and Brian Duensing. Blaine Boyer and Tim Stauffer, from San Diego, were signed. At least one of the losers in the fifth starter competition was headed for the seven-man bullpen. Rule 5 draft pick J.R. Graham, who must be returned to Atlanta if he's not on the 25-man roster, has been pushing for a spot, too.
Reliever use will be one area in which Molitor's strategy could differ from that of Gardenhire.
''I want to get them out of a one-inning mentality. Not that they all have it, or don't want to pitch more. But we've talked a lot about some of those guys, trying to get two innings out of them here, if we can,'' Molitor said. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER AL PREVIEW (SEATTLE-MINNESOTA) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Mariners-Twins Preview* ========================
By JORDAN GARRETSON STATS Writer
Seattle (46-57) at Minnesota (53-48), 7:10 p.m. EDT
The Minnesota Twins' grip on a wild-card spot is slipping.
Their advantage could disappear entirely if they can't bounce back from an abysmal performance and find a way to keep Nelson Cruz in check.
Minnesota tries to avoid its 10th loss in 13 games Saturday night against the visiting Seattle Mariners.
The Twins (53-49) ended a four-game skid by cranking out 13 hits in a 9-5 win in Thursday's series opener, but struck out 11 times while being held to one hit by Taijuan Walker in a 1-0 defeat Friday.
Baltimore and Toronto won Friday to pull within one game of Minnesota, and four other teams are within 3 1/2 games.
"Overall, the homestand hasn't been good," manager Paul Molitor said of his club's 2-5 stretch at Target Field. "You just got to kind of accept every day when you hit the pillow where you're at. No sense trying to overanalyze things."
Cruz dominated at the dish for Seattle (47-57), going 4 for 5 with his 27th home run and 16th double. He's 20 for 50 with six homers and 10 RBIs during an 11-game hitting streak.
The star slugger is batting .400 in his last 11 at Target Field with three homers in the past five.
While Jesus Montero also provided a spark Friday by homering upon being recalled from Triple-A Tacoma, Robinson Cano missed his third consecutive game due to an abdominal injury and Logan Morrison (thumb) sat out a second straight.
Kyle Gibson (8-8, 3.48 ERA) looks to get back on track for the Twins after rough outings against the Los Angeles Angels and New York Yankees. He gave up a total of 11 earned runs in 10 1-3 innings after allowing nine in his previous six outings.
Gibson's success this year has been fueled by his ability to tighten up in key situations. Opponents had been hitting .165 against him with runners in scoring position before going 5 for 14 in his last two games. He escaped a few jams Sunday against the Yankees before getting tagged for five runs in the sixth inning.
"Really kind of turned what I felt like was going to be a pretty decent day into a pretty sour day," he said.
The right-hander is 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA over his last three starts against Seattle, including a strong outing in a 4-2 win at Safeco Field on April 26. Gibson gave up two runs over seven-plus innings.
The Mariners are 1 for 18 with runners in scoring position against Gibson in four all-time meetings.
Mike Montgomery (4-4, 3.20) is 0-2 while allowing 16 earned runs over 20 1-3 innings in his last four starts, seeing his ERA nearly double from 1.62.
Home runs and walks have recently become concerns for the rookie left-hander. He has surrendered seven homers in his last five starts after allowing one through his first six, and he's walked nine in his last two after totaling 10 in his previous six games.
He limited Arizona to two earned runs Monday, but was taken deep twice and walked four over 6 2-3 innings in a 4-3 loss.
Brian Dozier is 7 for his last 19 off lefties with two homers and two doubles.
Miguel Sano, who homered Friday, has a 1.073 OPS during a seven-game hitting streak with two doubles, two homers and five walks.
Trevor Plouffe, tied for second on the team with 55 RBIs, is expected to return after missing two games for the birth of his son.
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| | Last Updated: 4/18/2024 12:20:24 PM EST. |
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