Twins @ Blue Jays

liondragonx5y · #1 09-01-2008, 04:13 PM

(77-61)
@

(71-66)

Wesnesday Lineup:

Twins
1.Denard Span, RF.
2.Alexi Casilla, 2B
3.Joe Mauer, C
4.Justin Morneau, 1B
5.Jason Kubel, LF
6.Brian Buscher, DH
7.Nick Punto, SS
8.Matt Tolbert, 3B.
9.Carlos Gomez, CF

Blue Jays
1.Joe Inglett, 2B
2.Marco Scutaro, SS
3.Alex Rios, RF
4.Vernon Wells, CF
5.Adam Lind, LF
6.Rod Barajas, C
7.Lyle Overbay, 1B
8.Scott Rolen, 3B
9.Travis Snider, DH

Tuesday, September 2 6:07 P.M.

Glen Perkins, LHP (12-3, 3.96)

Scouting Report:
Twins: Perkins continued to eat up innings for the Twins in his last start, lasting seven and allowing just four runs on eight hits. The left-hander was in line for the loss until an eighth inning comeback by the Twins gave Perkins his 12th win of the season. Home runs were one problem for Perkins against the Mariners as three of his runs came via the long ball. He'll try to keep the ball in the park when he opens the series against the Blue Jays in Toronto. It will be Perkins second start against Toronto this season. He gave up two runs over six innings in a no-decision on May 15.

David Purcey, LHP (2-5, 5.53)

Scouting Report:
Blue Jays: Purcey enjoyed the strongest start of his young career on Wednesday, but wound up with a hard-luck loss in light of no run support. The 6-foot-5 lefty tied a Blue Jays rookie record with 11 strikeouts and issued no walks in an eight-inning complete-game effort against the Rays. It marked just the second time this season that an American League pitcher fanned at least 11 and had no walks in an outing. With an improved curveball, Purcey threw 20 first-pitch strikes and struck out eight batters on four or fewer pitches. Purcey is 2-4 with a 4.37 ERA in six starts since being recalled from Triple-A Syracuse.

Wednesday, September 3 6:07 P.M.

Nick Blackburn, RHP (9-8, 3.75)

Scouting Report:
Twins: Blackburn continues to be the unlucky starter for the Twins. Despite giving up just two runs over 5 2/3 innings in his last start at Oakland, Blackburn saw the team lose for his fourth straight start. Blackburn hasn't allowed more than four earned runs in each of his last four starts, but said that he's been frustrated by every mistake pitch he throws ending up being costly. Blackburn will see if he can pick up his first win since Aug. 6 when he faces the Blue Jays for the first time this season.

A.J. Burnett, RHP (16-10, 4.48)

Scouting Report:
Blue Jays: Burnett logged his first complete game of the season on Friday, but still wound up with a loss against the Yankees. The right-hander struck out eight to up his American League-leading total to 193 and he finished with one walk and two runs allowed on seven hits in the loss. The defeat snapped a six-game winning streak for Burnett, who is 7-2 with a 3.18 ERA over his past 10 starts. Over that span, he's compiled 75 strikeouts and 18 walks over 68 innings. In his career against the Twins, Burnett is 1-1 with a 4.26 ERA in three outings.

Thursday, September 4 6:07 P.M.

(game time changed due to stadium)

Kevin Slowey, RHP (11-8, 3.70)

Scouting Report:
Twins: Slowey has been one of the most consistent starters of late for the Twins, giving up two earned runs or less in each of his last five starts. In his last start at Oakland, Slowey allowed just two runs on six hits over six innings. The pitcher hasn't been known for his ability to blow hitters away but he recorded his second double-digit strikeout against the A's by striking out 10. Slowey will see if he can extend his winning streak to five games when he faces the Blue Jays for the first time this season.

Jesse Litsch, RHP (9-8, 4.01)

Scouting Report:
Blue Jays: On Thursday, Litsch turned in his 10th quality start of the season in a loss on the road to the Rays. The 23-year-old right-hander gave up three runs -- two on a pair of solo home runs -- on 10 hits with two strikeouts and no walks over 6 2/3 innings. Since returning from Triple-A Syracuse, Litsch has gone 1-1 with a 1.37 ERA for the Jays. In his last start, he allowed a run in the first inning to end a run of 13 consecutive shutout innings. Litsch is 2-0 with a 3.18 ERA in three career starts against Minnesota.

Bound To Lose · #2 09-01-2008, 06:28 PM

Text is a little big. But it's good enough.

brandonwarne52 · #3 09-01-2008, 06:43 PM

Looks pretty good.

Bound To Lose · #4 09-01-2008, 06:53 PM

We should take 2/3 and salvage this road trip.

JJohnson0522 · #5 09-01-2008, 07:42 PM

Only guy i'm really woried about is Burnett...

WSU Tony · #6 09-01-2008, 07:53 PM

His ERA is higher than any of our 5 starters. I'd worry about striking out against him but as far as getting guys on and us earning our runs, it's very possible.

Bound To Lose · #7 09-01-2008, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WSU Tony

His ERA is higher than any of our 5 starters. I'd worry about striking out against him but as far as getting guys on and us earning our runs, it's very possible.

Burnett is 7-2 with a 3.17 ERA in his last 10 starts. His numbers don't do justice how well he is pitching right now, since he had such a poor start. (9-8 5.23 ERA)

Killebrewcrew3 · #8 09-01-2008, 08:47 PM

Is it me do we always suck when we play the jays. it seems like they own us for some reason. we always play poorly against them

WSU Tony · #9 09-01-2008, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bound To Lose

Burnett is 7-2 with a 3.17 ERA in his last 10 starts. His numbers don't do justice how well he is pitching right now, since he had such a poor start. (9-8 5.23 ERA)

I get what your saying about him pitching well as of lately but taking what could be his best 1/3 GS this season isn't a good way to look at it imho. He is better than his ERA, granted, but he hasn't pitched like a second tier ace (can you say that?) like years past.

Bound To Lose · #10 09-01-2008, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WSU Tony

I get what your saying about him pitching well as of lately but taking what could be his best 1/3 GS this season isn't a good way to look at it imho.

The important thing in my mind is that he's pitching his best 1/3 right now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WSU Tony

He is better than his ERA, granted, but he hasn't pitched like a second tier ace (can you say that?) like years past.

For sure. He has been sub par this season in comparison to years in the past.

liondragonx5y · #11 09-01-2008, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WSU Tony

I get what your saying about him pitching well as of lately but taking what could be his best 1/3 GS this season isn't a good way to look at it imho. He is better than his ERA, granted, but he hasn't pitched like a second tier ace (can you say that?) like years past.

that is very true. He has been much better in the past.