After three straight games facing left-handed starting pitchers, the Twins get Seattle right-hander Chris Flexen for the tie-breaking game game on Sunday, and the effect is obvious on the Twins' lineup: Luis Arraez, batting .320 on the season, is back at the top of it.
"It's certainly a good feeling any time you can write Luis' name at the top of the lineup, especially against right-handed pitching," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. "He does such a phenomenal job getting us going. It's very comfortable lineup move to make."
Baldelli said that doesn't mean he prefers this lineup, though. The batting order he uses against left-handed pitching, with more power at the top — Kyle Garlick batted second in each of the past three — "It's just a different type of lineup, but I definitely think that can work well."
He's got a point .The Twins are batting .259 against right-handed starting pitchers so far, with eight home runs in five games. Those numbers are .276 with four homers against left-handed starters.
Here are the lineups for today's 1:10 p.m. game at Target Field:
MARINERS
Haniger RF
France 2B
Seager 3B
Marmolejos 1B
Torrens DH
Trammell CF
Murphy C
Crawford SS
Bishop LF
Flexen RHP
TWINS
Arraez 3B
Polanco 2B
Cruz DH
Buxton CF
Kepler RF
Sanó 1B
Cave LF
Jeffers C
Simmons SS
Shoemaker RHP
