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MINNESOTA ( PELFREY )
CINCINNATI ( LEAKE ) |
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| 915 | MINNESOTA | +125 | Ov 7.5,-120 | +150 | Ov 7.5,-110 | | 916 | CINCINNATI | -135 | Un 7.5,+100 | -160 | Un 7.5,-110 |
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| All Games | 40-35 | +12 | 33-35 | 4.2 | 0.249 | 0.299 | 0.389 | 0.688 | 4.1 | 0.271 | 0.318 | 0.420 | 0.738 | | Road Games | 15-20 | -0.2 | 15-18 | 3.7 | 0.220 | 0.276 | 0.349 | 0.626 | 4.5 | 0.274 | 0.326 | 0.445 | 0.771 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 22-25 | +0.3 | 17-25 | 3.4 | 0.235 | 0.285 | 0.363 | 0.647 | 4.4 | 0.278 | 0.324 | 0.437 | 0.761 | | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | -0.6 | 2-1 | 4.7 | 0.255 | 0.298 | 0.442 | 0.740 | 4.9 | 0.291 | 0.345 | 0.462 | 0.806 | | Grass Games | 40-35 | +12 | 33-35 | 4.2 | 0.249 | 0.299 | 0.389 | 0.688 | 4.1 | 0.271 | 0.318 | 0.420 | 0.738 | | Night Games | 19-17 | +6.6 | 14-20 | 4.1 | 0.241 | 0.287 | 0.373 | 0.660 | 3.4 | 0.250 | 0.297 | 0.379 | 0.676 | | Interleague | 7-8 | -0.3 | 4-9 | 3.3 | 0.230 | 0.287 | 0.379 | 0.666 | 4.1 | 0.261 | 0.309 | 0.415 | 0.724 |
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| All Games | 4.2 | 0.249 | 0.299 | 75 | 2498 | 621 | 126 | 19 | 62 | 0.389 | 295 | 181 | 541 | 33 | 437 | 74 | 42 | 75 | 41 | | Road Games | 3.7 | 0.220 | 0.276 | 35 | 1188 | 261 | 57 | 11 | 25 | 0.349 | 119 | 93 | 277 | 17 | 206 | 26 | 18 | 30 | 27 | | Righty Starters | 3.4 | 0.235 | 0.285 | 47 | 1525 | 359 | 78 | 13 | 30 | 0.363 | 149 | 105 | 349 | 26 | 270 | 43 | 25 | 47 | 22 |
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| All Games | 3.85 | 1.320 | 224.3 | 111 | 96 | 226 | 26 | 70 | 149 | 11-11 | 26 | 4 | 86.7% | | Road Games | 4.02 | 1.350 | 103 | 51 | 46 | 103 | 13 | 36 | 60 | 5-6 | 11 | 3 | 78.6% |
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| All Games | 34-40 | -6.4 | 37-33 | 4.0 | 0.248 | 0.310 | 0.404 | 0.714 | 4.2 | 0.243 | 0.311 | 0.393 | 0.704 | | Home Games | 20-14 | +4.2 | 18-13 | 4.6 | 0.256 | 0.324 | 0.443 | 0.767 | 4.3 | 0.243 | 0.307 | 0.394 | 0.701 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 25-28 | -3.6 | 24-26 | 3.9 | 0.245 | 0.308 | 0.400 | 0.708 | 4.1 | 0.247 | 0.311 | 0.391 | 0.702 | | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | 0 | 4-3 | 3.6 | 0.281 | 0.329 | 0.404 | 0.732 | 3.7 | 0.220 | 0.310 | 0.350 | 0.660 | | Grass Games | 34-40 | -6.4 | 37-33 | 4.0 | 0.248 | 0.310 | 0.404 | 0.714 | 4.2 | 0.243 | 0.311 | 0.393 | 0.704 | | Night Games | 25-24 | +2 | 26-21 | 4.0 | 0.246 | 0.309 | 0.399 | 0.708 | 4.1 | 0.239 | 0.306 | 0.388 | 0.694 | | Interleague | 3-8 | -4.8 | 5-6 | 3.2 | 0.240 | 0.300 | 0.355 | 0.654 | 4.7 | 0.263 | 0.337 | 0.409 | 0.746 |
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| All Games | 4.0 | 0.248 | 0.310 | 74 | 2537 | 628 | 105 | 14 | 88 | 0.404 | 281 | 231 | 542 | 75 | 516 | 59 | 40 | 59 | 40 | | Home Games | 4.6 | 0.256 | 0.324 | 34 | 1140 | 292 | 50 | 5 | 51 | 0.443 | 147 | 114 | 242 | 30 | 235 | 24 | 9 | 24 | 20 | | Righty Starters | 3.9 | 0.245 | 0.308 | 53 | 1801 | 442 | 72 | 7 | 64 | 0.400 | 200 | 163 | 379 | 53 | 371 | 40 | 29 | 48 | 30 |
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| All Games | 3.79 | 1.294 | 225.7 | 105 | 95 | 195 | 17 | 97 | 204 | 12-16 | 16 | 10 | 61.5% | | Home Games | 3.78 | 1.170 | 112 | 47 | 47 | 93 | 9 | 38 | 122 | 10-5 | 9 | 6 | 60% |
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| 6/15/2015 | MAY(R) | @ ST LOUIS | LACKEY(R) | 2-3 | L | 160 | 7 un | U | 5 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 0 | | 6/16/2015 | GIBSON(R) | @ ST LOUIS | WACHA(R) | 2-3 | L | 160 | 7 un | U | 7 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 0 | | 6/17/2015 | MILONE(L) | ST LOUIS | MARTINEZ(R) | 3-1 | W | +115 | 7.5 un | U | 7 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 1 | | 6/18/2015 | PELFREY(R) | ST LOUIS | GARCIA(L) | 2-1 | W | +100 | 8 un | U | 7 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 | | 6/19/2015 | HUGHES(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | HENDRICKS(R) | 7-2 | W | +100 | 8 ov | O | 12 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | | 6/20/2015 | MAY(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | LESTER(L) | 1-4 | L | -105 | 8 ov | U | 7 | 6 | 1 | 11 | 10 | 0 | | 6/21/2015 | GIBSON(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | ARRIETA(R) | 0-8 | L | +125 | 8 ov | P | 4 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 9 | 2 | | 6/22/2015 | MILONE(L) | CHI WHITE SOX | DANKS(L) | 13-2 | W | -130 | 9 un | O | 15 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 10 | 3 | | 6/23/2015 | PELFREY(R) | CHI WHITE SOX | SAMARDZIJA(R) | 2-6 | L | +100 | 8 un | P | 9 | 6 | 1 | 15 | 11 | 0 | | 6/24/2015 | HUGHES(R) | CHI WHITE SOX | SALE(L) | 6-1 | W | +120 | 7 ev | P | 10 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 3 | | 6/26/2015 | MAY(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | LOHSE(R) | 4-10 | L | 125 | 7.5 un | O | 7 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 6 | 0 | | 6/27/2015 | GIBSON(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | GARZA(R) | 5-2 | W | 125 | 8 un | U | 7 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 0 | | 6/28/2015 | MILONE(L) | @ MILWAUKEE | FIERS(R) | 3-5 | L | 150 | 8 un | P | 7 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 0 | | 6/29/2015 | PELFREY(R) | @ CINCINNATI | LEAKE(R) | | | 6/30/2015 | HUGHES(R) | @ CINCINNATI | DESCLAFANI(R) | | | 7/1/2015 | MAY(R) | @ CINCINNATI | CUETO(R) | | | 7/2/2015 | GIBSON(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | YOUNG(R) | | | 7/3/2015 | MILONE(L) | @ KANSAS CITY | GUTHRIE(R) | | | 7/4/2015 | PELFREY(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | BLANTON(R) | | | 7/5/2015 | HUGHES(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | DUFFY(L) | | | 7/6/2015 | | BALTIMORE | | |
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| 6/15/2015 | MOSCOT(R) | @ DETROIT | SANCHEZ(R) | 0-6 | L | 182 | 8.5 ov | U | 2 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 0 | | 6/16/2015 | LORENZEN(R) | @ DETROIT | RYAN(L) | 5-2 | W | 120 | 8.5 ov | U | 9 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 1 | | 6/17/2015 | CUETO(R) | DETROIT | PRICE(L) | 8-4 | W | -105 | 6.5 un | O | 16 | 11 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | | 6/19/2015 | LEAKE(R) | MIAMI | HAREN(R) | 5-0 | W | -125 | 8 ov | U | 9 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 0 | | 6/20/2015 | DESCLAFANI(R) | MIAMI | NICOLINO(L) | 0-5 | L | -125 | 8.5 un | U | 5 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 1 | | 6/21/2015 | LORENZEN(R) | MIAMI | PHELPS(R) | 5-2 | W | -115 | 8.5 ov | U | 11 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 0 | | 6/23/2015 | SMITH(R) | @ PITTSBURGH | LOCKE(L) | 6-7 | L | 140 | 8 un | O | 14 | 12 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 2 | | 6/24/2015 | LEAKE(R) | @ PITTSBURGH | COLE(R) | 5-2 | W | 170 | 6.5 ov | O | 12 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 0 | | 6/25/2015 | DESCLAFANI(R) | @ PITTSBURGH | BURNETT(R) | 5-4 | W | 150 | 7.5 un | O | 17 | 14 | 2 | 11 | 12 | 2 | | 6/26/2015 | CUETO(R) | @ NY METS | SYNDERGAARD(R) | 1-2 | L | -120 | 6.5 un | U | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 0 | | 6/27/2015 | LORENZEN(R) | @ NY METS | HARVEY(R) | 1-2 | L | 150 | 7 un | U | 11 | 12 | 2 | 11 | 19 | 0 | | 6/28/2015 | SMITH(R) | @ NY METS | MATZ(L) | 2-7 | L | 130 | 7.5 un | O | 6 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 0 | | 6/29/2015 | LEAKE(R) | MINNESOTA | PELFREY(R) | | | 6/30/2015 | DESCLAFANI(R) | MINNESOTA | HUGHES(R) | | | 7/1/2015 | CUETO(R) | MINNESOTA | MAY(R) | | | 7/3/2015 | LORENZEN(R) | MILWAUKEE | FIERS(R) | | | 7/4/2015 | SMITH(R) | MILWAUKEE | NELSON(R) | | | 7/5/2015 | LEAKE(R) | MILWAUKEE | JUNGMANN(R) | | | 7/6/2015 | | @ WASHINGTON | | |
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| |  | 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. | | CINCINNATI: CINCINNATI (AP) - The rotation was Cincinnati's strength in an otherwise disappointing season last year. It's the Reds' biggest question as they try to move forward.
They're not sure what they're getting beyond 20-game-winner Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake, the only two holdovers who are healthy enough to pitch as the season begins. They've got some veteran retreads and unproven young starters trying to hold it together.
The rotation could be a work in progress well into the season.
''I know what the regular lineup looks like,'' second-year manager Bryan Price said. ''The biggest challenge is the bullpen and deciding roles and finalizing the last two starting pitchers.''
The Reds created two openings by trading Mat Latos and Alfredo Simon in the offseason. Homer Bailey hasn't fully recovered from surgery on his forearm and won't be ready until at least mid-April.
Cincinnati is counting on Anthony DeSclafani, who was acquired from Miami in the trade for Latos, to fill one of the spots. The rest of the rotation was under construction late in spring training, a sign of how much things had changed from a year ago.
''We feel we have a competitive team,'' Price said. ''This isn't a rebuilt situation. So we have to feel as confident as we can one-through-five in our rotation.''
The Reds lost 86 games last season in large part because of a subpar offense and a bullpen that finished as one of the NL's worst. They've tried to fix those two problems in the offseason through trades and free agency.
Now, a lot of it is on the starters to make it hold together during a special season in Cincinnati, which will host the All-Star Game. Some things to watch:
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CUETO'S CONTRACT
Cueto is entering the final year on his deal. The Reds have talked to him about an extension, but nothing was imminent as spring training wound down. If Cueto doesn't have an extension by midseason, the Reds would be in the position of considering a trade offer rather than letting him leave as a free agent after the season.
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VOTTO'S LEG
First baseman Joey Votto didn't play after July 5 because of strained muscles above his left knee. The 2010 National League MVP felt good in spring training. The Reds struggled to score runs last season despite playing in hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park. If Votto is back to form, the offense will get a huge boost. The question is whether he can make it through the season without getting hurt again.
''I think that I've proven when healthy that I'm a helpful part of the team,'' Votto said.
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NEEDING RELIEF
The bullpen was one of the biggest problems in the second half of the season, contributing to the Reds' collapse. They were only 1 1/2 games out in the NL Central at the All-Star break, but went 25-42 the rest of the way. The bullpen was 1-17 after the break. Closer Aroldis Chapman was dependable, but the middle of the bullpen was a huge problem. The Reds added Burke Badenhop and Kevin Gregg to try to help, and moved left-hander Tony Cingrani into a relief role during spring training.
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OUT IN LEFT FIELD
Ryan Ludwick struggled in his return from a significant shoulder injury, and nobody else excelled in left field, either, making it the biggest weakness in the lineup. The Reds got Marlon Byrd in a trade with the Phillies, hoping to finally stabilize the position. The 14-year veteran knows there's a lot at stake in how he performs.
''Yes, there is pressure and there should be,'' Byrd said. ''This is a team that wanted me. I've got to come in to fill that veteran role, the left field spot, and bring some pop to the lineup. I have to do what I've done the last two years. To do any less is just a failure on my part.''
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RUN BILLY RUN
Center fielder Billy Hamilton had an exceptional rookie season, stealing a club-record 56 bases. He wore down as the season went along, batting only .200 with 18 steals in the second half. The 6-foot, 160-pound leadoff hitter lifted weights in the offseason, trying to get stronger so he doesn't fade again.
''I'm not a power hitter, but I want to be stronger than last year,'' Hamilton said. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW (MINNESOTA-CINCINNATI) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Twins-Reds Preview* ====================
By CHRIS ALTRUDA STATS Editor
Minnesota (40-34) at Cincinnati (34-39), 7:10 p.m. EDT
A shaky bullpen has contributed to a recent rough stretch for the Minnesota Twins. For the Cincinnati Reds, the lack of offense was the culprit in a lost week in New York.
The two teams set out to regroup starting Monday night in Cincinnati in this three-game interleague series.
Minnesota (40-35) is still in second in the AL Central, 5 1/2 games behind Kansas City, but has dropped three games in the standings since June 20 as its relievers have been inconsistent. They have a 6.15 ERA in that span, made higher after Blaine Boyer and Casey Fien allowed all five runs in their 5-3 defeat at Milwaukee on Sunday for their fifth loss in eight games.
For Fien, who served up two homers and allowed four runs in the eighth without retiring a batter, the five runs he's yielded in his last three outings matched his total from his first 18 appearances.
"There's strikes and then there's quality strikes and I didn't throw enough quality strikes," Fien said. "The strikes I did throw, they hit."
Mike Pelfrey (5-4, 3.06 ERA) is winless in three starts but has pitched better in his last two after getting roughed up for eight runs and 11 hits in 3 2-3 innings of an 11-7 loss at Texas on June 13. He took the loss Tuesday versus the Chicago White Sox, who reached him for three runs and 10 hits in 6 2-3 innings of a 6-2 defeat.
While Pelfrey is 2-4 in his last eight starts, he has been backed with only 14 runs in those games and never received more than three in any contest over that span. The right-hander is facing Cincinnati for the first time since 2011 after going 4-2 in seven starts while with the New York Mets.
Manager Paul Molitor said he will likely rest outfielder Torii Hunter for one game in this series, but it likely won't be this one after he hit three homers in the previous two games. Though it's the first time Hunter will play at Cincinnati and face the Reds for the first time since 2001, he is 9 for 22 with a homer, five doubles and a triple in six lifetime games.
Cincinnati (34-40) was held to four runs in three losses to the Mets, going a combined 1 for 19 with runners in scoring position. After their defense contributed to a 2-1, 13-inning loss in the completion of Saturday's suspended game Sunday, the Reds let Stephen Matz have arguably the best start to a major league career of any player as the pitcher limited them to two runs in 7 2-3 innings and went 3 for 4 with four RBIs in Sunday's 7-2 defeat.
Brandon Phillips was one of the few offensive bright spots over the weekend, hitting safely in all three games, and is 9 for 29 with two homers, a triple and a double in a six-game hitting streak. He's also 7 for 19 with a homer against Pelfrey but is questionable after injuring both his hands Sunday.
"He had a problem with the left hand on a swing," manager Bryan Price explained to MLB's official website. "But then on his right hand when he went back in to try and tag Granderson at second, he got his hand jammed on that play.
"Right now both hands are probably on ice."
Mike Leake (5-4, 3.91) will try to win his third consecutive start and fourth straight decision for the Reds. He limited Pittsburgh to two runs in seven innings of a 5-2 victory Wednesday and is trying to wrap up a solid June during which he's gone 3-0 with a 2.45 ERA in five starts.
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| | Last Updated: 4/25/2024 11:20:42 PM EST. |
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