This is the first if three games between two unexpectedly crummy teams. The Astros finished the month 7-17, just like the Twins, and it can be argued that their fall is more shocking given that Houston made the playoffs last season and have top end young talent in Carlos Correa, George Springer and others. It shows how hard it can be to take the next step after that breakthrough year.
The Astros even did something the Twins declined to do during the offseason. The Astros added closer Ken Giles during the offseason to shut down the end of games. He was supposed to be the proven reliever the Twins failed to land.Giles has been awful and hasn't been used as the closer - and has scuffled as a set-up man..
These are two bad, underachieving teams.
But Houston has their skid-stopper on the mound tonight in Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel, who is 2-3 with a 4.41 ERA but has has won 17 straight at Minute Maid. That's 17-0 with a 1.36 ERA.
The Twins, however, had Keuchel on the ropes here last year. Brian Dozier and Eduardo Escobar hit solo homers as the Twins led 2-0 heading to the bottom of the seventh before Houston scored five runs, four on Jed Lowrie's grad slam.
Third baseman Trevor Plouffe has rejoined the team after playing two rehab games with Class A Fort Myers. He has recovered from his right intercostal strain and should be activated after the game. Jorge Polanco is the guess here as to who heads to the minors to make room for Plouffe's return.
Righthander Ervin Santana will throw between 30-40 pitches on Tuesday during a simulated game. If that goes well, the Twins would like to start him on Saturday against the White Sox in Chicago. So the pitch-off is on to determine who will be sent out to make room for him.
Twins
