Twins-Brewers Preview (6/2-6/5)

Brewers previews to get you ready for the series where we have five things to watch, pitching matchups and prediction. We add a YouTube video in the mix, it could be really anything.   

Pitching Matchups
Monday:      Kyle Gibson (4-4 4.18) vs. Matt Garza (2-4 4.84)              6:20 pm FSNWI
Tuesday:      Samuel Deduno (1-3 3.86) vs. Yovani Gallardo (2-3 3.56) 7:10 pm FSNWI
Wednesday: Marco Estrada (5-2 4.03) vs. Ricky Nolasco (3-5 5.70     7:10 pm FSNWI
Thursday:     Wily Peralta (4-5 2.73) vs. Kevin Correia (2-6 5.87)         7:10 pm FSNWI

Five Things To Watch
1.) Brewers continued Interleague success - For the last couple years, Milwaukee struggled against
American League teams, but this year has been different. Brewers have won seven of their nine games against the American League taking each series against the AL East foes they have faced this season. Stark contrast from the last two years where the Crew went 6-14 in 2013 and 6-9 in 2012. Last year, the Twins swept the Brewers in this four-game series during Milwaukee's abysmal May, and Minnesota has good fortune usually against the Brewers as well.

2.) Early inning scoring for the Crew - One of the big things that has helped the Brewers with their offense revival is the early inning scoring. They tend to put up runs quick and fast. They added a first inning run in five straight games last week which is really impressive. Twins have not been pitching well this season so Milwaukee could be poised to continue their success in the early innings. Even with their shutout loss, the Brewers are averaging 6.8 runs a game since May 25th. Twins have a little bit lumber, but they will need to be hitting if they expect to win some games this week.

3.) Gibson or Deduno will give the Brewers trouble - The first two pitchers Milwaukee is facing they haven't seen very much. Kyle Gibson is virtually new to the Brewers bats, and Samuel Deduno gave Milwaukee some trouble last year going seven innings, four hits and only giving up a run. Granted, the 2013 May team is way way different than the team we are watching on a nightly basis. Even though, their early inning scoring been a theme of late, I could see both games at Miller Park featuring the Brewers jumping on these pitchers, the second or third time through the order.

4.) Twins pitching has been a sore spot this season - They are not a good pitching team by any means even if I am concerned about Gibson and Deduno in the first two games. . The second batch of Twins starters feature two guys, Kevin Correia and Ricky Nolasco, having five-plus ERAs. Only three relief pitchers are under a three ERA for the Twins right now with one of them being their closer, Glen Perkins. Minnesota overall team ERA is 4.41 with opponents hitting .270 against them. Scary thing to think about if you're a Minnesota fan given how well the Brewers offense has been in the last 10 games.

5.) Josh Willingham, known Brewer killer - This is one of the Babe Ruth's of Miller Park. Willingham had two grand slams in one game at Miller Park along with other bad things happening to Brewers pitching. Willingham is coming off an injury, and naturally, he is red hot coming into this series. He has a home run in three of his last four games including a game-tying ninth inning home run yesterday in a win against New York Yankees. He would be the one player for the Brewers to avoid this week.  

Appropriate YouTube video


If you missed Grantland's Jonah Keri talking to Luke Edwards, the star of Little Big League, also known as Billy Heywood. It is awesome stuff.  I am pretty sure he will be involved in Wednesday game, but I might be drunk.

Prediction 
I am satisfied with a split in any which way it happens. Whether it is two wins at Miller Park or two wins at Target Field. It could also be one and one, whatever works for the Brewers to get two of the four.

Charlie.