Another left-handed starter by a spring opponent, another lefty batter leading off for the Twins. Matt Wallner gets the assignment against Caleb Ferguson, like he did earlier in Grapefruit season against Atlanta's Chris Sale. Wallner is 1-for-5 with a home run so far in spring play, and he's been making hard contact frequently. Wallner leads a lineup with everyday players for the Twins.
Wallner told Dan Hayes of The Athletic in a story published Wednesday that he's not as bulky from lifting weights in the offseason as he was a year ago. The extra weight and mass, along with less flexibility, put him out of sorts physically, and he got off to a rough start at the plate as a result. He even required a demotion to Triple-A. Overall, he hit .259/.372/.523 with 13 homers in 75 games, and projects to be one of the Twins best hitters in 2025.
Could Wallner be a leadoff man for 150 games — even against lefties? Possibly. Sale is one of the elite arms in MLB, and while Ferguson projects to make the Bucs roster as a middle reliever, he worked two innings in his first spring appearance and is said to be in play for a rotation spot. He also had experience as an opener with the Dodgers. No matter: manager Rocco Baldelli placing Wallner at the top of the lineup also gives him a better chance to see more plate appearances against likely major league pitchers in Spring Training.
Pittsburgh's starting nine lacks big names like Tommy Pham, Bryan Reynolds, Andrew McCutchen and Ke'Bryan Hayes.
Pirates (3-2) starting lineup
1. Jack Suwinski LF
2. Nick Yorke 2B
3. Oneil Cruz CF
4. Joey Bart C
5. Henry Davis 1B
6. D.J. Stewart DH
7. Enmanuel Valdez 3B
8. Nick Solak RF
9, Alika Williams SS
Starting pitcher: Caleb Ferguson (0.00 ERA in 2 IP)
Ferguson career vs. Twins: 0-0 record, 4 games/0 starts, 0.00 ERA in 3 IP, 6K, 3 H, BB
Pirates previous result: Beat Orioles 7-3 on Wednesday
Twins (3-1) starting lineup
1. Matt Wallner DH
2. Carlos Correa SS
3. Byron Buxton CF
4. Trevor Larnach RF
5. Royce Lewis 3B
6. Willi Castro 2B
7. Christian Vázquez C
8. Ty France 1B
9. Harrison Bader LF
Starting pitcher: Pablo López (first start of Spring Training)
López career vs. Pirates: 3 G, 18 IP, 2-0 record, 2.00 ERA, 14 K, 7 BB
Twins previous result: Beat Tigers 4-0 on Wednesday
Watch/listen: No TV | MLB Audio/Audacy App and TIBN (affiliate list)
First pitch: 12:05 p.m. (Central)
Location: Hammond Stadium at Lee Sports Health Complex in Fort Myers, Fla.
Weather: 81 degrees and partly sunny
Notes:
• Bader, France and DaShawn Keirsey are among six Twins players hitting at least .500.
• The Twins' collective slash line of .171/.274/.342 ranks 28th, but their six home runs rank tied for 10th.
Twins pitchers collectively have a 2.57 ERA with 36 strikeouts, 11 walks and 23 hits allowed in 35 innings so far.
• The Pirates have hit five homers in five games, and their .285/.361/.455 slash ranks eighth.
• Slugger Matt Gorski isn't in the Bucs lineup but he might be making a bid to get put there (first base?). Gorski, 27 and with zero MLB appearances in his career, is 3-for-6 with three home runs and nine RBIs in three games.