Twins at Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates battled weather issues and travel issues en route to a 4-0 start and are trying to keep it going. The Pirates will try to make it five straight wins to begin the campaign when they host the Minnesota Twins in the second of a two-game interleague series on Wednesday.
Pittsburgh swept a doubleheader at Detroit on Sunday and dealt with ice and snow early in the day on Monday before Colin Moran belted his first career grand slam in the first inning and the team went on to grab a 5-4 win. "It's been really fun," Moran told reporters of the team's hot start. "Not too many other words to describe it. This has been a great start. Looking forward to keeping it going. It's been a good start, to start 4-0. Try to build on that." Twins pitching allowed a total of five runs in the first three games of the season at Baltimore and matched that number in the first inning on Monday. "It's tough coming back on a five-run lead but I'm proud of the way guys battled," Minnesota second baseman Brian Dozier told reporters. "That's the thing about this team. We never feel like we're out of it."
TV: 6:05 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Jake Odorizzi (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Ivan Nova (0-0, 3.60)
Odorizzi worked six scoreless innings in his Minnesota debut on Opening Day but was held out of the decision. The 28-year-old scattered two hits and two walks while striking out seven against the Baltimore Orioles. Odorizzi is making his first career start against Pittsburgh and is 6-3 with a 3.33 ERA in 17 career interleague starts.
Nova was long gone before the fireworks started at Detroit on Friday and ended up allowing two runs over five innings in a game the Pirates went on to win 13-10. The Dominican Republic native issued just 36 walks in 187 innings in 2017 but struggled with his control against the Tigers while walking three. Nova is 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA in three career games - two starts - against the Twins and is 11-4 with a 2.93 ERA in 23 career interleague games.
WALK-OFFS
1. Twins CF Byron Buxton is 3-for-15 with six strikeouts.
2. Pittsburgh placed RHP Joe Musgrove (shoulder) on the 10-day DL.
3. Minnesota C Mitch Garver, who was struck on the side of the head with a backswing on Sunday, was cleared to play.