Twins Home Opener Preview - What We Know at 3-2
Just like that, three percent of the Twins’ season is gone. While they’re 3-2, both Detroit (4-0) and Cleveland (5-2) have shown signs they could be serious contenders. I’m dubious on the Tigers.
Here’s five things Twins fans learned in the season’s first week, heading into today’s chilly home opener against the Guardians.
Pablo López is The Man
Don’t delay finding parking and getting to your seat if you’re going to today’s game. Or any game that Pablo López pitches.
The man’s got the confidence to go along with the arm. Don’t expect many first-pitch balls or three-ball at bats. He’s in the first year of his four-year contract extension that pays him just less than $9 million this year. That’ll raise to more than $21 million the next three years, and it’ll be money well spent.
If the Twins are to go anywhere this year, it’ll be on López’ shoulders. He averaged six innings per start last year, and he’ll need to better that this year. He took the ball on Opening Day against the Royals and just gave the power blues no chance. López has had an entire off-season to work on his sweeper, which he began throwing for the first time in 2023.
While it seems like he’s been around forever, would you believe López is just a year older than No. 2 starter Joe Ryan? It will be López, Ryan and pray for rain. Bailey Ober got rocked in his first start, Louie Varland has potential but needs to prove it over the long haul, and Chris Paddack could be anything after returning late last season after missing 16 months after Tommy John surgery.
Protect Byron Buxton at All Costs
Who’d have thought that Byron Buxton isn’t the most fragile player on this roster? The Twins may be without Royce Lewis for two months with a quad injury, and that makes Minnesota’s second best player (come at me bro) even more important.
There’s just a swagger to this entire lineup when Buxton is active. And he has to stay active. He’s got to stay out of the way of the racing sausages in Milwaukee, Wanda the Walleye and both Mr. and Mrs. Met.
https://twitter.com/TheAthletic/status/1775322547648606367
I have been the first to rag on Buxton for his lack of appearances in the daily lineup. I wasn’t thrilled he was not in the field in game three of the season. But whatever Rocco Baldelli needs to do to get Buxton in the field for 100 games, and another 25 as designated hitter. Just look at what he did in the opener in K.C., knocking in the winning run in the eighth. And Michael A. Taylor was a fine centerfielder, but he’s got nothing on Buck when he’s 100 percent.
Margin of Error is Slim
The Twins are without their cornerstone third baseman Royce Lewis, plus closer Jhoan Duran and setup man Caleb Thielbar. They signed righty Anthony DeSclafani in the off-season, and all he did was need season-ending Tommy John surgery before the clock struck April.
The Twins are going to need to win some games, like they have, 3-2. Blowout wins or losses will be hard to come by, Sunday’s 11-0 shellacking of Bailey Ober notwithstanding.
Expect to see Rocco manage every game like its Game 7 of the World Series. But we’re used to that. He doesn’t need players to go rogue, like Manuel Margot attempting to bunt for a base hit as a pinch hitter with the bases loaded in the fourth inning. That’s the kind of move that leads an analytics driven front office to drive a guy personally to Triple-A ball in St. Paul.
Speaking of Lewis, it’s worth noting that Jose Miranda played third base for the Saints last night. He was the next big thing in 2022 - I called him the future captain - but was quickly and pretty rightfully banished to the minors early last season. It’d be great to see Miranda back up here making a difference.
Carlos Correa Can Hit in April
We’ve all kind of given Carlos Correa a pass the last two seasons when he doesn’t hit a lick until the weather warms up. Well, he’s reached base safely in 10 of 21 plate appearances, including six walks. Only Bob Allison and Chili Davis have more walks in the season’s first five games, per The Athletic’s Aaron Gleeman.
Alex is the K Factor
Alex Kirilloff staying healthy is a big question mark (seems to be a theme for 2024 like it was in 2023, 2022, 2021…), but how about his start? Small sample size yes, but Kirilloff is batting .444 after going 4-for-4 with a walk yesterday in Milwaukee. Remember, this is a guy who’s had his last three seasons end in surgeries (wrist and arm). Could he finally stay healthy, and can he transfer his star Triple-A numbers into above average numbers in the bigs? He’s got one of the smoothest swings around.
Between Kirilloff and Matt Wallner, the Twins need someone to be a 20-homer, corner outfield guy.
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