Series Preview: Twins at Pirates

The 3-0 Pirates open their home schedule with a pair of games with the 2-1 Twins in what we can all agree is a likely World Series preview.

Minnesota, the second straight interleague opponent for the Pirates opening the season, went 85-77 under first-year manager Paul Molitor for a surprise run to the 2017 American League Wild Card Game, which it lost to the Yankees. The Twins lost in extra innings at Baltimore on Opening Day, but followed with back-to-back wins, including a 7-0 victory on Sunday.

Schedule

Monday, 1:05 p.m. — Lance Lynn vs. Jameson Taillon, TV: AT&T SportsNet

Wednesday, 6:05 p.m. for some reason — Jake Odorizzi (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Ivan Nova (0-0, 3.60), TV: AT&T SportsNet

Twins

Offense

Miguel Sano had a pair of home runs in the Twins’ three-game series in Baltimore. Max Kepler, Brian Dozier, Jason Castro and Eduardo Escobar also have homers. Joe Mauer is 4-for-11 (.364) and Dozier is 5-for-14 (.357) on the young season.

Pitching

Lance Lynn had big eyes going into free agency, but eventually settled for a one-year, $12 million deal with Minnesota. He bounced back from an injury-plagued 2016 with a solid enough 2017, going 11-8 with a 3.43 ERA, but a 4.82 FIP. Jake Odorizzi, acquired in an offseason trade with Tampa Bay, struck out seven and walked two in six scoreless innings in Thursday’s opener.

Outlook

The Pirates do have a weak early schedule and we can get excited about whatever we damn well please, especially a couple wins at home if we’re fortunate enough.