Game 29: Mariners at Twins

First Pitch (CT): 6:40 PM
TV: Twins.TV
Radio: TIBN/830 WCCO/102.9 The Wolf /Audacy App
Know Yo’ Foe: Lookout Landing

After the latest bout of losing, it appears I need to adjust my previews back to “look at the bright side” mode. So, after losing 5 straight and 9 of their last 10, let’s pull a few positives.

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1. Brooks Lee: Since infamously hitting himself in the face on a botched bunt (please watch it if you haven’t), the Twins’ shortstop is hitting .277/.338/.538 with 5 HR, 13 RBI, and a 140 wRC+ in 71 plate appearances. The defense has been poor and his pitch-level metrics say he’s been much worse (.227 xBA, .363 xSLG, hard hit rate lower than 2025, somehow) but this is probably the longest, successful stretch Lee has had at the plate in the Majors. Let’s appreciate it for now.

2. Connor Prielipp: His workload will still be limited for now, but you saw exactly why he’s the Twins’ top pitching prospect in his debut. Six strikeouts, a ton of swings and misses, and a slider that can make the best hitters look lost. Prielipp may have already jumped SWR in the rotation heirarchy, but we’ll cross that bridge when Mick Abel returns.

3. Austin Martin: You don’t need any fancy advanced stats to know he’s been arguably the Twins’ best hitter in the young season. Getting on base in 50% of your PAs will do that. But perhaps even more important, the early defensive metrics like his work so far, ranking above average in every system in all three of left field, right field, and center. Martin has reverse splits in the minors for his career, and combined with his new defensive strength, he should probably be in the lineup every day right now. With Wallner, Keaschall, Lewis, and Clemens all seriously struggling, it’s only a matter of time.

Now back to the game at hand. Prielipp is back on the mound in start two of his young career. He’ll face MVP runner-up Cal Raleigh and perennial All-Star Julio Rodriguez who are both struggling, but have found their footing a bit over the past week. The good news for Prielipp is outside of those two and postseason hero Randy Arozarena, the rest of the lineup is extremely poor with numbers rivaling the Minnesota’s own offensive incompetence.

For the the Twins, they’ll be facing veteran Luis Castillo who is probably past his prime at this point. Shelty is running out the usual lineup, with newly crowned Brooks Lee filling into the two hole amid Keaschall’s continued struggles. Unfortunately, my personal nemesis Kody Clemens (who has about 6 good weeks of baseball in his entire MLB career) continues to get starts at 1B. He’s a bad defender, hasn’t hit a lick, and doesn’t run the bases well. I know Josh Bell is a poor defender in his own right, but at least then you can get Martin or Caratini’s bats in the lineup.

Or start getting Martin reps at first at this point. Less Kody Clemens = better Minnesota Twins.

Lineups