The Minnesota Twins will host the New York Yankees in four games at Target Field this weekend. The Twins schedule has the two teams meeting this week for the second and final time this season. The season average for Twins tickets on the secondary market is $59.92 and two of the four will see below-average average ticket price. The series as a whole will be 7% below the season average.
7/3 – Masahiro Tanaka vs Phil Hughes | Avg. Price: $35 | Get-in Price: $9
The series begins Thursday when former Yankee Phil Hughes takes the mound for the Twins against Yankee ace Masahiro Tanaka. Average price for Thursday Twins vs Yankees tickets is $35, the lowest of the series at 41.59% below season average, with a get-in price of $9. In his first year in Minnesota, Hughes has gone 8-4 with a 3.58 ERA in 16 starts over the first half. Tanaka has been even better, however, earning All-Star honors with his 11-3 record and 2.10 ERA over the same amount of starts.
7/4 – Chase Whitley vs Kyle Gibson | Avg. Price: $56.27 | Get-in Price: $23
Friday’s game will see the Twins’ Kyle Gibson go up against Yankees pitcher Chase Whitley. Average price for Friday Twins vs Yankees tickets is $56.27, 6.1% below season average, with a get-in price of $23. Gibson enters Friday’s start at 7-6 with a 3.77 ERA while Whitley has gone 3-2 with a 4.70 ERA in nine starts this season. The first 10,000 fans in attendance will also receive a Lou Gehrig bobblehead in honor of the late Hall of Fame Yankee.
7/5 – David Phelps vs TBA | Avg. Price: $64.71 | Get-in Price: $27
Saturday afternoon will see the Yankees give David Phelps the nod against a Twins starter to be named later. Average price for Saturday Twins vs Yankees tickets is $64.71, 8% above season average, with a get-in price of $27. Phelps has had a forgettable first half, losing four straight starts in late-May and early-June while posting a 3-4 record and 4.26 ERA over 11 starts and nine bullpen appearances this season. The Twins will also offer a Tom Brunansky bobblehead to the first 10,000 fans.
7/6 – Hiroki Kuroda vs Ricky Nolasco | Avg. Price: $66.57 | Get-in Price: $23
The final game of the series will see Twins pitcher Ricky Nolasco face the Yankees’ Hiroki Kuroda. Average price for Twins vs Yankees tickets is $66.57. The highest priced game of the series, Sunday’s game will be 11.09% above season average and have a get-in price of $23. Nolasco has struggled over the first half, going just 5-6 with a 5.49 ERA in 17 starts this season. Kuroda hasn’t fared much better as he’s posted a similar 5-6 record and a 4.08 ERA in 17 starts.
The Yankees have had an underwhelming first half despite several major offseason acquisitions. While their 41-41 record is good enough for third place, they sit just 3.5 games behind the first place Blue Jays in an AL East that has the lowest first place win percentage in the Majors. At six games under .500, the Twins’ playoff hopes are minimal as they sit nine games behind the Tigers.