Friday Night Interleague Action: Braves and Twins

Francisco Liriano and the Minnesota Twins take on the National League East leading Atlanta Braves in a match-up of division leaders. Minnesota has won 4 out of their last 6 games, and is looking to maintain their lead in the American League Central over the Detroit Tigers. The Twins are the only team in the division to be on the plus side In runs differential. They have taken advantage of their new confines at Target Field as they have won 20 of their first 30 contests at home this year.

Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer are perhaps the best 1-2 punch in the Majors. Mauer is the reigning American League batting champion, and Morneau currently leads the team in batting average (.365), homeruns (13), runs batted in (43), runs (39) and OPS (1.139). Minnesota as a team is more of a run manufacturing type of squad as they are ranked 6th in batting average and hits in all of baseball.

Their power numbers are average, but they tend to win with good pitching and timely hitting. Minnesota’s team ERA is 3.74 which ranks 7th in the MLB. The bullpen has been steady and has the ability to shut teams down in the middle innings with pitchers like Ron Mahay, Matt Guerrier, Jesse Crain and closer Jon Rauch.

The Atlanta Braves will be a true test for the Twins. They are very similar is that they have almost the identical record, and are also dominant at home with around a .500 road record. Tim Hudson takes the mound for the Braves Friday night. He is having one of the best starts of his career as he is 6-1 with a 2.44 ERA in 12 starts. After allowing just 7 earned runs in the entire month of May, Hudson has begun June with two consecutive bad starts. He allowed 3 runs to the Dodgers last Sunday on 9 hits through 7 innings.

This should be a low scoring affair as neither team has faced the opposing pitcher. It generally takes a couple times through the line-up to adjust to a new pitcher, so expect the runs to come late in this game. Baseball predictions at the beginning of the season had the Twins winning their division, but Atlanta’s resurgence has been a surprise to many MLB experts. Tune in Friday as 2 of the best teams in baseball square off in Game 1 of a 3 game series.

Related posts:

1. Braves take on Arrieta/ Baltimore in Interleague Battle
2. Yankees & Twins battle with transplant Pitchers
3. White Sox and Twins fight for A.L. Cental Title
4. Verlander goes for 20th Win against Twins
5. Athletics/ Twins: Battle of Underachievers

Comments