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MINNESOTA ( HUGHES )
SEATTLE ( HERNANDEZ ) |
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| 927 | MINNESOTA | +180 | Ov 6.5,-105 | +180 | Ov 6.5,+100 | | 928 | SEATTLE | -190 | Un 6.5,-115 | -190 | Un 6.5,-120 |
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| All Games | 6-9 | -1.7 | 6-7 | 3.2 | 0.228 | 0.283 | 0.321 | 0.603 | 4.8 | 0.275 | 0.333 | 0.427 | 0.761 | | Road Games | 2-7 | -4.6 | 4-4 | 2.4 | 0.213 | 0.272 | 0.267 | 0.538 | 5.1 | 0.290 | 0.354 | 0.474 | 0.828 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 4-5 | +0.1 | 2-6 | 2.6 | 0.201 | 0.273 | 0.283 | 0.557 | 4.1 | 0.260 | 0.323 | 0.393 | 0.717 | | Past 7 Games | 4-3 | +2.1 | 2-3 | 4.1 | 0.259 | 0.319 | 0.368 | 0.687 | 3.7 | 0.239 | 0.307 | 0.378 | 0.685 | | Grass Games | 6-9 | -1.7 | 6-7 | 3.2 | 0.228 | 0.283 | 0.321 | 0.603 | 4.8 | 0.275 | 0.333 | 0.427 | 0.761 | | Night Games | 3-2 | +2.2 | 1-3 | 3.0 | 0.218 | 0.279 | 0.279 | 0.558 | 3.2 | 0.246 | 0.311 | 0.359 | 0.671 |
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| All Games | 3.2 | 0.228 | 0.283 | 15 | 496 | 113 | 20 | 1 | 8 | 0.321 | 43 | 38 | 115 | 4 | 97 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 12 | | Road Games | 2.4 | 0.213 | 0.272 | 9 | 300 | 64 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0.267 | 19 | 24 | 70 | 3 | 61 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 10 | | Righty Starters | 2.6 | 0.201 | 0.273 | 9 | 293 | 59 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 0.283 | 19 | 29 | 79 | 4 | 62 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 4 |
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| All Games | 4.50 | 1.326 | 46 | 26 | 23 | 48 | 3 | 13 | 25 | 1-2 | 4 | 1 | 80% | | Road Games | 5.04 | 1.521 | 25 | 15 | 14 | 32 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 0-2 | 2 | 1 | 66.7% |
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| All Games | 6-9 | -5.2 | 9-6 | 3.9 | 0.245 | 0.297 | 0.401 | 0.698 | 5.1 | 0.267 | 0.331 | 0.414 | 0.745 | | Home Games | 4-5 | -3.3 | 4-5 | 3.7 | 0.272 | 0.324 | 0.416 | 0.740 | 4.1 | 0.228 | 0.287 | 0.377 | 0.665 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 5-5 | -1.8 | 6-4 | 4.0 | 0.249 | 0.295 | 0.422 | 0.717 | 4.2 | 0.247 | 0.309 | 0.388 | 0.697 | | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | -2.9 | 3-4 | 4.0 | 0.288 | 0.349 | 0.419 | 0.768 | 4.9 | 0.248 | 0.325 | 0.391 | 0.715 | | Grass Games | 6-9 | -5.2 | 9-6 | 3.9 | 0.245 | 0.297 | 0.401 | 0.698 | 5.1 | 0.267 | 0.331 | 0.414 | 0.745 | | Night Games | 2-9 | -9.5 | 6-5 | 2.7 | 0.226 | 0.275 | 0.360 | 0.635 | 5.0 | 0.261 | 0.329 | 0.421 | 0.751 |
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| All Games | 3.9 | 0.245 | 0.297 | 15 | 511 | 125 | 19 | 2 | 19 | 0.401 | 56 | 38 | 111 | 5 | 93 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 4 | | Home Games | 3.7 | 0.272 | 0.324 | 9 | 298 | 81 | 15 | 2 | 8 | 0.416 | 33 | 23 | 57 | 4 | 60 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 4 | | Righty Starters | 4.0 | 0.249 | 0.295 | 10 | 341 | 85 | 16 | 2 | 13 | 0.422 | 38 | 22 | 74 | 5 | 57 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 4 |
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| All Games | 3.61 | 1.509 | 52.3 | 24 | 21 | 51 | 1 | 28 | 49 | 3-4 | 5 | 4 | 55.6% | | Home Games | 2.96 | 1.317 | 27.3 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 1 | 15 | 31 | 1-2 | 3 | 2 | 60% |
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| 4/10/2015 | MILONE(L) | @ CHI WHITE SOX | NOESI(R) | 6-0 | W | 100 | 9 un | U | 10 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | | 4/11/2015 | PELFREY(R) | @ CHI WHITE SOX | SAMARDZIJA(R) | 4-5 | L | 140 | 8.5 un | O | 8 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 6 | 2 | | 4/12/2015 | HUGHES(R) | @ CHI WHITE SOX | SALE(L) | 2-6 | L | 155 | 7.5 ev | O | 7 | 7 | 2 | 12 | 7 | 0 | | 4/13/2015 | MAY(R) | KANSAS CITY | DUFFY(L) | 3-12 | L | +120 | 8.5 un | O | 7 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 7 | 0 | | 4/15/2015 | GIBSON(R) | KANSAS CITY | VOLQUEZ(R) | 3-1 | W | +115 | 8 un | U | 5 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 1 | | 4/16/2015 | MILONE(L) | KANSAS CITY | VARGAS(L) | 8-5 | W | +105 | 7.5 un | O | 14 | 8 | 2 | 10 | 10 | 1 | | 4/17/2015 | PELFREY(R) | CLEVELAND | KLUBER(R) | 3-2 | W | +170 | 8.5 un | U | 6 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 10 | 2 | | 4/18/2015 | HUGHES(R) | CLEVELAND | SALAZAR(R) | 2-4 | L | -105 | 8.5 un | U | 6 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 0 | | 4/19/2015 | MAY(R) | CLEVELAND | HOUSE(L) | 7-2 | W | +105 | 9 ev | P | 11 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 1 | | 4/20/2015 | GIBSON(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | VOLQUEZ(R) | 1-7 | L | 125 | 8 un | P | 5 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 1 | | 4/21/2015 | MILONE(L) | @ KANSAS CITY | VARGAS(L) | 5-6 | L | 135 | 8 un | O | 10 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 9 | 0 | | 4/22/2015 | PELFREY(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | GUTHRIE(R) | 3-0 | W | 135 | 8.5 un | U | 10 | 12 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 1 | | 4/24/2015 | HUGHES(R) | @ SEATTLE | HERNANDEZ(R) | | | 4/25/2015 | MAY(R) | @ SEATTLE | PAXTON(L) | | | 4/26/2015 | GIBSON(R) | @ SEATTLE | IWAKUMA(R) | | | 4/27/2015 | MILONE(L) | DETROIT | PRICE(L) | | | 4/28/2015 | PELFREY(R) | DETROIT | SANCHEZ(R) | | | 4/29/2015 | HUGHES(R) | DETROIT | GREENE(R) | | | 4/30/2015 | | CHI WHITE SOX | | | | 5/1/2015 | | CHI WHITE SOX | | |
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| 4/10/2015 | WALKER(R) | @ OAKLAND | POMERANZ(L) | 0-12 | L | -105 | 7 un | O | 3 | 4 | 1 | 16 | 8 | 0 | | 4/11/2015 | HAPP(L) | @ OAKLAND | GRAY(R) | 5-4 | W | 130 | 7 ov | O | 10 | 8 | 0 | 12 | 10 | 1 | | 4/12/2015 | HERNANDEZ(R) | @ OAKLAND | HAHN(R) | 8-7 | W | -135 | 6.5 ov | O | 7 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 8 | 2 | | 4/13/2015 | PAXTON(L) | @ LA DODGERS | MCCARTHY(R) | 5-6 | L | 110 | 7 ov | O | 6 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 0 | | 4/14/2015 | IWAKUMA(R) | @ LA DODGERS | HUFF(L) | 5-6 | L | -115 | 7.5 un | O | 10 | 10 | 1 | 12 | 9 | 0 | | 4/15/2015 | WALKER(R) | @ LA DODGERS | ANDERSON(L) | 2-5 | L | 120 | 7.5 un | U | 8 | 7 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 1 | | 4/17/2015 | HAPP(L) | TEXAS | GALLARDO(R) | 1-3 | L | -160 | 7 ov | U | 8 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 0 | | 4/18/2015 | HERNANDEZ(R) | TEXAS | LEWIS(R) | 3-1 | W | -200 | 6.5 ov | U | 11 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | | 4/19/2015 | PAXTON(L) | TEXAS | DETWILER(L) | 11-10 | W | -165 | 7 un | O | 17 | 12 | 2 | 13 | 10 | 0 | | 4/20/2015 | IWAKUMA(R) | HOUSTON | WOJCIECHOWSKI(R) | 5-7 | L | -205 | 7.5 ev | O | 10 | 10 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 1 | | 4/21/2015 | WALKER(R) | HOUSTON | MCHUGH(R) | 3-6 | L | -125 | 7 un | O | 7 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 0 | | 4/22/2015 | HAPP(L) | HOUSTON | HERNANDEZ(R) | 3-2 | W | -160 | 7.5 ev | U | 7 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 0 | | 4/24/2015 | HERNANDEZ(R) | MINNESOTA | HUGHES(R) | | | 4/25/2015 | PAXTON(L) | MINNESOTA | MAY(R) | | | 4/26/2015 | IWAKUMA(R) | MINNESOTA | GIBSON(R) | | | 4/27/2015 | WALKER(R) | @ TEXAS | GALLARDO(R) | | | 4/28/2015 | HAPP(L) | @ TEXAS | DETWILER(L) | | | 4/29/2015 | HERNANDEZ(R) | @ TEXAS | RODRIGUEZ(L) | | | 4/30/2015 | | @ HOUSTON | | | | 5/1/2015 | | @ HOUSTON | | |
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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. | | 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. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER AL PREVIEW (MINNESOTA-SEATTLE) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Twins-Mariners Preview* ========================
By KEVIN CHROUST STATS Writer
Minnesota (6-9) at Seattle (6-9), 10:10 p.m. EDT
Felix Hernandez has been nearly unhittable in his first two home starts, and the team he's about to face hasn't won a road series since early August.
The Seattle Mariners' ace will try to keep a promising start at Safeco Field going Friday night against the Minnesota Twins, who need their own No. 1 starter to get back to 2014 form.
Hernandez (2-0, 2.37 ERA), who has made two home starts sandwiching one in Oakland, has allowed two runs and four hits in 14 innings at home. Dating to his last 2014 start at Safeco, he's 3-0 with a 0.93 ERA and .082 opponent batting average while striking out 29 in 19 1-3 innings. The right-hander is 10-2 in his last 15 home starts dating to May 23, and among pitchers with at least 10 home starts in that time, he leads the majors with a 1.56 ERA and 0.77 WHIP.
The latest impressive effort came in Saturday's 3-1 win over Texas with Hernandez striking out 12 in seven innings of one-run, two-hit ball.
"Any time he's out there you feel like you're going to win one," shortstop Brad Miller told MLB's official website. "He came out and gave us exactly what we needed. When he gets out there, you know your fortunes can change pretty quick."
That's been especially true against Minnesota with a 3-0 record, 0.79 ERA and 0.65 WHIP in four starts over the previous three seasons. That comes despite Joe Mauer being 14 for 37 (.378) in their career matchups, while returning Twin Torii Hunter is 24 for 75 (.320).
He'll be opposed by Phil Hughes, whose individual matchups have been downright daunting. Hughes (0-3, 5.30) has faced Detroit's David Price and the Chicago White Sox's Chris Sale, but that's not the reason for his winless start after going 16-10 a season ago.
His control has been impressive - as it was all last season - with two walks in 18 2-3 innings, but he's been more hittable with a .308 OBA after a .268 mark in 2014. More of those also happen to be clearing the fence. The right-hander has allowed four home runs, and his 1.93 home runs per nine inning is up from 0.69 a season ago.
It's probably not a long-term concern considering Hughes had a 7.20 ERA through three starts a season ago.
"Maybe that's a sign the next one will be good," Hughes said. "But it's a slow progression and it's not like the light bulb just goes on and you're in midseason form. You gain a little bit of arm strength and command as you go along."
He might have to wait two more. April is far and away his worst career month with a 6-15 record and 6.05 ERA in 31 starts. None of those have come against Seattle, though, and Hughes has won his last two at Safeco without allowing an earned run in 14 1-3 innings. Mariners newcomer Nelson Cruz is 3 for 18 (.167) against him, while Seth Smith is 5 for 10.
Both Minnesota (6-9) and Seattle (6-9) are coming off victories to avoid a three-game sweep. The Mariners are 3-3 on a nine-game homestand after Wednesday's 3-2 victory over Houston, and the Twins won 3-0 in Kansas City for just their second victory in nine road games.
The Twins haven't won a road series since taking two of three in Houston from Aug. 11-13, going 8-18 since. They've had no such problems with Seattle, going 9-5 in the series with at least a split from four series over the past two seasons with three straight wins at Safeco.
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| | Last Updated: 4/26/2024 1:19:56 AM EST. |
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