After a rollercoaster week at Target Field, the Minnesota Twins find themselves locked in a tight battle with the Toronto Blue Jays, with the series knotted at one game apiece heading into Saturday's matinee.
First pitch is set for 1:10 pm CDT, with coverage on Twins.TV, TIBN, WCCO 830, and The Wolf 102.9 FM. It's a classic early-season test as these two clubs jockey for position in the standings.
The writer's personal week at the ballpark was a mixed bag—free tickets to Tuesday's deflating loss to the Mariners in less-than-ideal weather, followed by skipping Thursday's even colder game, only to watch the Twins win without him. Sometimes, you just can't win—even in the stands.
On the mound, the Blue Jays are handing the ball to Known Good Pitcher Dylan Cease, the mustachioed right-hander who's terrorized AL hitters for years. After two seasons with the San Diego Padres, the former White Sox ace is now in the first year of a seven-year deal north of the border. The Twins know him well, but this will be their first look at Cease in a Toronto uniform—and you can bet the scouting report is fresh.
Countering for the Twins is Supposed Good Pitcher Connor Prielipp, making just his third big-league start. The young righty has been impressive so far, blanking the Mets and Mariners with poise beyond his years. Last time out, he tossed five one-hit innings with three walks to earn his first career win. The Blue Jays lineup presents another stiff challenge—Prielipp will need to bring his A-game and hope for a little run support.
Friday night's game was a convincing win for Toronto, marred by some uncharacteristically sloppy defense from Minnesota. The Twins will look to clean things up and even the series before heading out on the road. With Cease on the hill for the Jays and Prielipp looking to build on his early success, this afternoon's matchup has all the makings of a pitchers' duel. Grab your gear, settle in, and enjoy the baseball—it's going to be a good one.
