Twins-Cincinnati series preview
The Twins return home to face to formidable Reds starting pitchers.
June 21, 2021 at 4:46AM
Monday, 7:10 p.m., BSN, 830-AM: RHP Tyler Mahle (7-2, 3.39 ERA) vs. LHP J.A. Happ (3-3, 6.12)
Tuesday, 12:10 p.m., BSN, 830-AM: LHP Wade Miley (6-4, 2.88) vs. RHP Bailey Ober (0-0, 3.71)
REDS UPDATE
Cincinnati (35-35) is 14-13 all-time vs. the Twins, and 4-2 at Target Field, having taken two of three in both 2018 and 2020. … They are 19-19 on the road, and were swept in a four-game series in San Diego over the weekend. They are 4-3 in interleague play. … LF Jesse Winker leads the NL in hitting at .344, and 3B Nick Castellanos is second at .341. … Mahle owns a 2.08 ERA in two career starts vs. the Twins. … Subtract an eight-run start at Coors Field and Miley's 2021 ERA is 1.92. He has not given up a run in four of his 12 starts. Miley has made two appearances at Target Field, giving up one run in 6⅔ innings. … Lucas Sims has seven saves in nine opportunities.
TWINS UPDATE
They are 14-21 at home and 3-3 vs. NL teams. They have won four in a row, their longest winning streak of the season. Their starting pitchers have a 3.10 ERA during the streak. … They have not won a home series since sweeping Baltimore in May. … DH Nelson Cruz has reached base in all 15 games he has played in June. His .475 on-base percentage for the month is second-best in the AL. Cruz has also hit 31 home runs since turning 40 last July 1, tying him with Dave Winfield for most homers by a player in his 40s in Twins history. … 3B Josh Donaldson, who did not play in the Texas series (sore right calf), is a .315 career hitter against the Reds, with five home runs. … RHP Luke Farrell pitched in nine games for the Reds in 2017, with a 2.61 ERA.
Milwaukee’s Pat Murphy and Cleveland’s Stephen Vogt had the unenviable task of taking over for successful and well-liked predecessors when they were named managers of their respective teams during the offseason.
