Twins at Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates may be a bit bleary-eyed as they play their home opener versus the Minnesota Twins on Monday afternoon, but a three-game season-opening sweep in Detroit should make them a little less tired. Pittsburgh completed a day-night doubleheader sweep caused by the second rainout of the series with an 8-6 victory Sunday night after winning 1-0 in the afternoon on the strength of Trevor Williams' six hitless innings.
Minnesota also began the season in encouraging fashion, taking two of three in Baltimore - including a 7-0 victory on Sunday behind a three-hitter by Jose Berrios and a pair of home runs from Brian Dozier. "Just a lot of positives, getting off to a start like that," Twins manager Paul Molitor told reporters after his club outscored the Orioles 15-5. "Our starters haven't given up a run yet." Lance Lynn makes his debut for Minnesota as he opposes Jameson Taillon, who overcame testicular cancer last season and could emerge as the ace of the Pirates' staff. "I wanted to go somewhere where they had a chance to win, no matter what," Lynn told reporters after signing a one-year, $12 million contract with the Twins on March 13 following six seasons with St. Louis. "It seemed like the perfect fit, and I look forward to doing what I have to do, which is take the ball when it is my turn."
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Lance Lynn (2017: 11-8, 3.43 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Jameson Taillon (8-7, 4.44)
Lynn would like to forget his last start in Pittsburgh on Sept. 23 as he allowed eight runs and six hits in two-thirds of an inning, telling reporters with a smile: “Yeah, I didn’t get out of the first. That was pretty much it. And it was last year, so I’m not really worried about it.” The 30-year-old Indiana native is 7-7 with a 5.10 ERA in 23 games (21 starts) versus the Pirates, including 3-4, 5.57 in 12 contests (10 turns) at PNC Park. Lynn allowed 151 hits and posted a 1.23 WHIP last year - both career lows for a full season - in 186 1/3 innings.
Taillon posted a 2.13 ERA in 12 2/3 innings during spring training, telling reporters: “Everything felt good. I’m healthy and ready to go.” The 26-year-old Floridian finished 2017 strong, going 1-1 with a 2.12 ERA in his final three starts - all against teams that either made the playoffs or were in contention. Taillon, who never has faced Minnesota, is 6-7 with a 4.04 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in 26 starts at PNC Park.
WALK-OFFS
1. Twins 3B Miguel Sano is 2-for-14 to start the season, homering in each of his last two games.
2. Pirates 1B Josh Bell, who finished third in National League Rookie of the Year voting after recording 26 home runs and 90 RBIs last season, is 6-for-13 with three RBIs to begin 2018.
3. Minnesota 1B Logan Morrison, who recorded 38 home runs and 85 RBIs with Tampa Bay last year, went 0-for-11 with four strikeouts in his first three games with the Twins.