At 25-18, the Twins open a weeklong homestand at Target Field today with their best record since the final day of the 2010 season.
Brian Dozier hopes you've noticed.
"You don't want to get too high or too low in this game, but at the same time, we're going good, and I think people need to see that," said the Twins' second baseman. "Get on the bandwagon and come on with us. We're going good, so let's go."
The clubhouse excitement is understandable; Dozier has played in 429 games in his career, but only 192 victories, so he has good reason to enjoy it. "Every time you win," he said, "you enjoy it as much as possible."
The Twins had optimism as they left spring camp, but not as much Fort Myers' other spring residents, the Red Sox. But while the Twins' pitching has taken a big step forward from a year ago, Boston's has fallen apart. Four of the Red Sox' five starters own ERAs over 5.00, and as a result, Boston has had only one winning streak even three games long so far this season. The Red Sox have been outscored by 32 runs this year, the second-worst differential (after Chicago) in the American League.
The teams will play seven times in the next 11 days, beginning with this Memorial Day matinee, so it'll feel a little like spring training.
It's worth remembering that the last time these teams met in the regular season, last July in Fenway Park, the Twins held the Red Sox to five runs in three games — and got swept. On the other hand, none of the three Boston starters who held the Twins to two runs in the series remain on the roster. And the Twins have been hitting lately.
Both teams will wear special Memorial Day uniforms for the 1 p.m. game, with camouflage brims on the caps, and camouflage lettering on the uniforms.
Here are the lineups for today's game:
RED SOX
Pedroia 2B
Betts CF
Ortiz DH
Ramirez LF
Sandoval 3B
Napoli 1B
Bogaerts SS
Nava RF
Swihart C
Kelly RHP
TWINS
Dozier 2B
Hunter RF
Mauer 1B
Plouffe 3B
Suzuki C
Escobar SS
Nunez DH
Rosario LF
Hicks CF
Nolasco RHP