Twins take on the Nationals in first of 3-game series
Minneapolis; Friday, 8:10 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Nationals: MacKenzie Gore (4-9, 3.59 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 140 strikeouts); Twins: Zebby Matthews (1-2, 6.26 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 31 strikeouts)
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Twins -142, Nationals +120; over/under is 8 1/2 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Minnesota Twins host the Washington Nationals on Friday to begin a three-game series.
Minnesota has a 49-53 record overall and a 28-20 record in home games. The Twins have a 37-15 record in games when they record eight or more hits.
Washington is 20-30 on the road and 41-61 overall. The Nationals have a 29-10 record in games when they scored at least five runs.
The teams meet Friday for the first time this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Byron Buxton leads the Twins with 41 extra base hits (14 doubles, four triples and 23 home runs). Royce Lewis is 11 for 35 with three doubles, three home runs and six RBIs over the past 10 games.
James Wood has 24 home runs, 62 walks and 70 RBIs while hitting .272 for the Nationals. Brady House is 13 for 38 with three doubles, two home runs and five RBIs over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Twins: 4-6, .252 batting average, 4.91 ERA, even run differential
Nationals: 3-7, .222 batting average, 5.96 ERA, outscored by 28 runs
INJURIES: Twins: David Festa: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Bailey Ober: 15-Day IL (hip), Pablo Lopez: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Luke Keaschall: 60-Day IL (forearm)
Nationals: Dylan Crews: 60-Day IL (back), Trevor Williams: 60-Day IL (elbow), Keibert Ruiz: 7-Day IL (concussion), Derek Law: 60-Day IL (forearm), DJ Herz: 60-Day IL (elbow), Josiah Gray: 60-Day IL (elbow)
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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an hour ago
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'I think we felt like we added players that not only are great prospects, and guys who are maybe part of a longer term future, but we were able to actually access a lot of players who are going to find their ways up to help this team really soon.' After languishing in the standings all summer, following a 12-27 collapse down the stretch last year that kept them out of the postseason, Twins players found themselves in an increasingly uncomfortable clubhouse after the All-Star break as trade speculation intensified. Their most recent home game grew tense, even chaotic, when manager Rocco Baldelli removed the popular Castro in the ninth inning of a 13-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday to recognize his effort, a move that ignited immediate speculation he'd been dealt. Turned out he was, just not then. Jax was also upset by his removal from the game, leading to an apology to Baldelli afterward. 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Associated Press
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