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MINNESOTA ( MAY )
CINCINNATI ( CUETO ) |
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| 921 | MINNESOTA | +180 | Ov 7,-110 | +180 | Ov 7,-105 | | 922 | CINCINNATI | -190 | Un 7,-110 | -190 | Un 7,-115 |
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| All Games | 41-36 | +12.1 | 35-35 | 4.3 | 0.251 | 0.302 | 0.392 | 0.694 | 4.2 | 0.274 | 0.321 | 0.423 | 0.744 | | Road Games | 16-21 | 0 | 17-18 | 3.9 | 0.226 | 0.283 | 0.358 | 0.641 | 4.6 | 0.279 | 0.331 | 0.448 | 0.780 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 23-26 | +0.4 | 19-25 | 3.5 | 0.240 | 0.289 | 0.369 | 0.658 | 4.5 | 0.282 | 0.329 | 0.440 | 0.768 | | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | -0.4 | 3-1 | 5.0 | 0.272 | 0.327 | 0.438 | 0.765 | 5.7 | 0.302 | 0.351 | 0.476 | 0.827 | | Grass Games | 41-36 | +12.1 | 35-35 | 4.3 | 0.251 | 0.302 | 0.392 | 0.694 | 4.2 | 0.274 | 0.321 | 0.423 | 0.744 | | Day Games | 21-18 | +5.4 | 19-15 | 4.3 | 0.256 | 0.311 | 0.403 | 0.714 | 4.8 | 0.290 | 0.337 | 0.458 | 0.795 | | Interleague | 8-9 | -0.2 | 6-9 | 3.8 | 0.243 | 0.300 | 0.394 | 0.694 | 4.5 | 0.273 | 0.323 | 0.426 | 0.749 |
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| All Games | 4.3 | 0.251 | 0.302 | 77 | 2571 | 645 | 132 | 19 | 64 | 0.392 | 309 | 188 | 562 | 37 | 450 | 78 | 45 | 77 | 47 | | Road Games | 3.9 | 0.226 | 0.283 | 37 | 1261 | 285 | 63 | 11 | 27 | 0.358 | 133 | 100 | 298 | 21 | 219 | 30 | 21 | 32 | 33 | | Righty Starters | 3.5 | 0.240 | 0.289 | 49 | 1598 | 383 | 84 | 13 | 32 | 0.369 | 163 | 112 | 370 | 30 | 283 | 47 | 28 | 49 | 28 |
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| All Games | 3.83 | 1.337 | 232.6 | 115 | 99 | 237 | 26 | 74 | 155 | 11-11 | 27 | 4 | 87.1% | | Road Games | 3.96 | 1.383 | 111.3 | 55 | 49 | 114 | 13 | 40 | 66 | 5-6 | 12 | 3 | 80% |
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| All Games | 35-41 | -6.7 | 39-33 | 4.1 | 0.251 | 0.313 | 0.407 | 0.720 | 4.3 | 0.245 | 0.313 | 0.396 | 0.709 | | Home Games | 21-15 | +4 | 20-13 | 4.7 | 0.262 | 0.330 | 0.447 | 0.776 | 4.4 | 0.248 | 0.312 | 0.400 | 0.711 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 26-29 | -3.8 | 26-26 | 4.1 | 0.250 | 0.312 | 0.404 | 0.716 | 4.2 | 0.250 | 0.314 | 0.395 | 0.709 | | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | -0.2 | 5-2 | 4.3 | 0.285 | 0.338 | 0.409 | 0.747 | 4.6 | 0.244 | 0.322 | 0.355 | 0.677 | | Grass Games | 35-41 | -6.7 | 39-33 | 4.1 | 0.251 | 0.313 | 0.407 | 0.720 | 4.3 | 0.245 | 0.313 | 0.396 | 0.709 | | Day Games | 9-16 | -8.4 | 11-12 | 4.0 | 0.251 | 0.313 | 0.414 | 0.727 | 4.4 | 0.250 | 0.320 | 0.402 | 0.723 | | Interleague | 4-9 | -5.1 | 7-6 | 3.9 | 0.259 | 0.320 | 0.379 | 0.699 | 5.2 | 0.274 | 0.345 | 0.423 | 0.768 |
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| All Games | 4.1 | 0.251 | 0.313 | 76 | 2613 | 655 | 110 | 14 | 90 | 0.407 | 295 | 239 | 553 | 81 | 535 | 61 | 41 | 63 | 44 | | Home Games | 4.7 | 0.262 | 0.330 | 36 | 1216 | 319 | 55 | 5 | 53 | 0.447 | 161 | 122 | 253 | 36 | 254 | 26 | 10 | 28 | 24 | | Righty Starters | 4.1 | 0.250 | 0.312 | 55 | 1877 | 469 | 77 | 7 | 66 | 0.404 | 214 | 171 | 390 | 59 | 390 | 42 | 30 | 52 | 34 |
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| All Games | 3.75 | 1.288 | 233 | 107 | 97 | 199 | 17 | 101 | 213 | 13-16 | 16 | 10 | 61.5% | | Home Games | 3.70 | 1.165 | 119.3 | 49 | 49 | 97 | 9 | 42 | 131 | 11-5 | 9 | 6 | 60% |
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| 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) | 7-11 | L | 150 | 7.5 ov | O | 9 | 4 | 0 | 17 | 11 | 0 | | 6/30/2015 | HUGHES(R) | @ CINCINNATI | DESCLAFANI(R) | 8-5 | W | 115 | 8 un | O | 15 | 9 | 3 | 10 | 8 | 1 | | 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 | SANTANA(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | DUFFY(L) | | | 7/6/2015 | HUGHES(R) | BALTIMORE | GONZALEZ(R) | | | 7/7/2015 | MAY(R) | BALTIMORE | CHEN(L) | | | 7/8/2015 | | BALTIMORE | | |
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| 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) | 11-7 | W | -160 | 7.5 ov | O | 17 | 11 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 0 | | 6/30/2015 | DESCLAFANI(R) | MINNESOTA | HUGHES(R) | 5-8 | L | -125 | 8 un | O | 10 | 8 | 1 | 15 | 9 | 3 | | 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 | DESCLAFANI(R) | @ WASHINGTON | FISTER(R) | | | 7/7/2015 | CUETO(R) | @ WASHINGTON | SCHERZER(R) | | | 7/8/2015 | | @ 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 KEVIN CHROUST STATS Writer
Minnesota (40-36) at Cincinnati (35-40), 12:35 p.m. EDT
In a 10-game stretch during which Minnesota has watched opponents rack up seven double-digit hit totals, the Twins did the out-slugging in their second game in Cincinnati.
Given how their next starting pitcher fared the last time out, they might need to up the production even more Wednesday night if they're to earn a third straight series win over the Reds.
Minnesota (41-36) evened the three-game set with Tuesday's 8-5 victory behind 15 hits, and Torii Hunter was 3 for 5 with his fourth home run and third double in four games.
"He's had a really good trip," said manager Paul Molitor, whose club is 2-3 on its 10-game trek. "His bat seems fresh and quick. He's really rallying the troops."
Cincinnati (35-41) had 10 hits a night after scoring 11 runs with 17 hits, and the Twins have been tagged with a 4.81 ERA and .303 opponent batting average during a 4-6 span.
The Reds have dropped four of five and are 10-23 against the AL since the start of last season, though they continued to get some offensive help from Eugenio Suarez. The shortstop hit his second home run and is batting .441 in his last nine games to pace the club's .298 average.
Todd Frazier has hit safely in all of those, but the duo has been without fellow infielder Brandon Phillips for both games in the series because of sore hands.
Phillips is considered day to day, and he might want to be in the lineup against Trevor May. May (4-6, 4.62 ERA) could be on his way out of the rotation after this start with Ervin Santana scheduled to make his Minnesota debut on Sunday after completing his 80-game suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs.
Any progress May had made while limiting opponents to five runs in his previous four starts abruptly ended when he gave up one more than that in 1-3 of an inning of Friday's 10-4 loss in Milwaukee. The right-hander surrendered six runs - five earned - and six hits in easily the shortest and worst outing of his career.
"It's my job to get deep into games and give us the best chance of winning, and I didn't do either one of those things," May told MLB's official website. "It's not anyone's fault but my own."
The 25-year-old fell to 2-3 with a 6.41 ERA in six road starts and 0-2 with a 7.15 in three against the NL - numbers that rarely find their way into Johnny Cueto's pitching lines.
Cueto (4-5, 2.98) gave up two runs and two hits in six innings of Friday's 2-1 loss at the New York Mets while matching a season high with three walks, but he was just happy to get through the start without issue after going eight days between starts due to elbow stiffness.
"I want to make something clear: Thank God everything is OK," Cueto said through a translator. "The few days I had off were a manager's decision. Everything's OK with my elbow. I'm doing fine."
He's been better at home with a 2-1 record and 1.74 ERA in six starts, though he's 1-1 with a 4.35 against three AL teams.
The right-hander's only career start versus the Twins back in 2012 ended in a 6-0 win after allowing three hits and striking out nine in seven innings. Kurt Suzuki is 2 for 5 with a home run off Cueto, but Trevor Plouffe has three strikeouts in as many at-bats.
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| | Last Updated: 4/20/2024 2:08:24 AM EST. |
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