On Deck: Break Up the Twins

On Deck is FanHouse's look at the day's most intriguing matchups

San Diego Padres (32-47) vs. Minnesota Twins (42-36) - 3:35PM Est.

I tried to put an end to it yesterday by mentioning it in the On Deck, but apparently the On Deck Curse is only effective when I lead the post with it. So today, now that the Minnesota Twins have climbed within a half-game of the White Sox and won their last eight games, the Twinkies are getting the star treatment.

As I've already explained in recent days, I have no idea how the Twins are winning so much this season, yet here they are. Earlier this month the Twins were three games under .500 and 6.5 games behind the White Sox, and I thought their record then was a lot more indicative of the type of team they had.

It was only a matter of time before the suddenly resurgent Tigers and maybe even the Indians passed them by, and the Twins became merely a footnote in the 2008 season. All they've done since then is win, win, and win some more.

They'll try to finish off a sweep of the Padres in San Diego this afternoon, and extend their season-high win streak to nine games in the process. Scott Baker (3-2 3.47) gets the ball today, and he picked up his first win since April 9th his last time out against Arizona. In fact, even though he hasn't been picking up wins, Baker has been very good since coming off the disabled list earlier this month, going 1-1 with a 2.63 ERA in four starts.

Baker also loves pitching in the National League, where he's 3-1 with a 4.07 ERA in four starts.

Josh Banks (2-1 1.62) will look to salvage a win for the Padres and end their four-game slide. Banks is coming off his first loss of the season after allowing two runs in 5.1 innings against the Yankees, but he's been very consistent for the Padres this season. In his four starts, he's allowed two runs or less, and if he pitched for a team that could actually score, he'd probably be 4-0.

Toronto Blue Jays (37-42) vs. Cincinnati Reds (36-43) - 7:07PM Est.

When Edinson Volquez (10-2 1.71) came over from the Rangers to Cincinnati in the offseason and immediately began dominating anybody who dared step into a batter's box to face him, it was somewhat surprising. Not because the talent wasn't there, but it was a pretty quick turnaround for a kid who had been 3-11 with a 7.20 ERA in limited action his first three seasons.

I remember talking to a friend about him, and he told me that he thought it was the switch over from the AL to the NL, as if the difference in the two leagues for a pitcher is about 8 wins and 5.5 runs in the ERA. I laughed at this assessment, and Volquez has proven me right so far. Edinson will be going for his third straight win over an American League team this season after holding the Yankees to two runs in seven innings his last time out.

Volquez has allowed three earned runs or less in 14 of his 15 starts this season, and another win today will move him into a tie with Joe Saunders and Brandon Webb for the most in baseball.

Jesse Litsch (7-4 4.06) will start for the Jays, and he's in charge of helping Toronto avoid it's eighth straight series loss. Litsch started his season much like Volquez, but June hasn't been too kind, as Jesse's gone 0-3 with a 6.46 ERA in four starts this month. He's no better in interleague, either, going 0-3 with a 7.91 ERA.

Detroit Tigers (37-40) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (45-34) - 1:05PM Est.

The third and decisive game in the rematch of the 2006 World Series will take place at Comerica Park this afternoon with the Tigers hoping to get some revenge. They won't get a trophy if they win, but they'll probably be happy just as long as their pitching staff commits less than four errors this time around.

Of course, the Cardinals have other things on their mind that are more important than "defending" their World Series title against the Tigers today. Something about the possibility that they could be getting Albert Pujols back this afternoon.

If Pujols does play, he'll be facing off against Nate Robertson (6-6 5.60), who's won is last three starts and looks to set a career-high with his fourth straight win today. Nate has enjoyed facing the NL, whom he's won four of his last five starts against, and is 6-3 with a 3.19 ERA against in his career.

Todd Wellemeyer (7-2 3.67) starts for the Redbirds, and he's coming off his worst performance of the season. Todd allowed 8 runs in only 3.1 innings against the Phillies, and has been having some problems with his elbow. Wellemeyer has faced the Tigers seven times before, going 1-0 with a 5.17 ERA, but today will be his first time starting a game against them.

Everybody Else

• Marlins vs. Rays - 12:10PM
  
• Cubs vs. Orioles - 2:20PM
• Dodgers vs. White Sox - 3:10PM
• Athletics vs. Phillies - 3:35PM
• Indians vs. Giants - 7:05PM
• Pirates vs. Yankees - 7:05PM
• Astros vs. Rangers - 8:05PM