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Minnesota Twins series preview: Twins look to buck Target Field woes against Nationals

By Chris Schad

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 07: Mitch Garver #18 and Willians Astudillo #64 of the Minnesota Twins celebrate defeating the Cleveland Indians after the game at Target Field on September 7, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Indians 5-3. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 07: Mitch Garver #18 and Willians Astudillo #64 of the Minnesota Twins celebrate defeating the Cleveland Indians after the game at Target Field on September 7, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Indians 5-3. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 2: Max Kepler #26 of the Minnesota Twins runs for first base on a two-run single to take the lead against the Detroit Tigers in the eighth inning at Comerica Park on September 2, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. The Twins defeated the Tigers 4-3. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 2: Max Kepler #26 of the Minnesota Twins runs for first base on a two-run single to take the lead against the Detroit Tigers in the eighth inning at Comerica Park on September 2, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. The Twins defeated the Tigers 4-3. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

About the Twins

The good news for the Twins is that they still hold a four-game lead in the American League Central even after dropping two of three games to the Indians last weekend. The bad news is that nearly everything else went against the Twins last weekend.

Michael Pineda was popped with a 60-game suspension for violating MLB’s performance-enhancing drugs policy on Saturday before Max Kepler left Sunday’s game with shoulder inflammation. The Twins also acquired Ryan LaMarre to help soften the blow, but are still waiting on the services of Jake Cave and Nelson Cruz in the lineup.

The Twins’ pitching staff has also not been immune to the injury bug as Sam Dyson is still out after feeling discomfort in his biceps last week and Kyle Gibson remains on the injured list with ulcerative colitis but is scheduled to return in a start for Thursday night’s finale.

As much as the Twins need to build momentum for this weekend’s series in Cleveland it might be more important to get a clean bill of health. If the Twins can use some of their players that are deeper on the bench, they might be able to rest up some of the key cogs to help try to put the AL Central away this weekend, but also need to pick up a victory or two to help keep their lead where it currently sits.

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