Twins-Tampa Bay series preview
April 20, 2018 at 4:15AM
Friday 6:10 p.m. • FSN PLUS, 830 AM
RHP Lance Lynn (0-1, 5.00) vs. RHP Chris Archer (1-1, 7.84)
Saturday 5:10 p.m. • FSN PLUS, 830 AM
RHP Kyle Gibson (1-0, 3.68) vs. LHP Blake Snell (2-1, 2.95)
Sunday 12:10 p.m. • FSN, 830 AM
RHP Phil Hughes (0-0, 0.00) vs TBA
TWINS UPDATE: Joe Mauer, who turned 35 on Thursday, hits the Rays like no other opponent. He hit .381 against them last season when at home, pushing his career batting average to .360 against Tampa Bay, the highest against any AL opponent … Mauer also is hitting .381 with a 1,055 on base-plus-slugging percentage in Tropicana Field, the best numbers of any road park … Hughes makes his return Sunday and has a manageable matchup against a rebuilding Rays squad. Andeiny Hechavarria is the only current member of the Rays with a homer against him. Denard Span has the most plate appearances against him and is 4-for-12 against him, career wise.
RAYS UPDATE: The Rays, in their post-Evan Longoria, post-Jake Odorizzi stage, could be a really bad team. Their leader in RBI is former Twins center fielder Denard Span, who has 11. The next player has seven … The Rays have had three quality starts this season — pitch at least six innings while giving up no more than three earned runs — but none of them are by staff ace Chris Archer … In addition to Span, Tampa Bay also employs former Twins in catcher Wilson Ramos and outfielder Carlos Gomez … Brilliant center fielder Kevin Kiermaier is on the 60-day DL after tearing a thumb ligament.
La Velle E. Neal III
about the writer
After an incredible 25-year career that saw him become MLB's all-time stolen bases leader and the greatest leadoff hitter ever, Rickey Henderson died Friday at age 65.
