The Twins have been consistently inconsistent since returning from the All-Star break. They’ve alternated wins and losses through their last nine games, and are 4-5 during that nine-game stretch. They suffered a 9-6 setback at the hands of the Detroit Tigers yesterday, as they dropped two out of three games in the series.
Veteran Bartolo Colon will now look to get them back on track as he makes his second start as a Twin tonight. The 44-year-old had another rough start against the Yankees in his Minnesota debut. He lasted just four innings, giving up four earned runs on eight hits. That’s now the fourth start in a row that Colon has failed to log at least five innings.
Dating back to his time in Atlanta, Colon’s teams have now gone just 2-6 in the last eight games the right-hander has started.
The Dodgers survived a scary sight of Clayton Kershaw leaving early after back tightness to beat the Atlanta Braves 5-4 yesterday and earn a split of their four-game series. The usually dependable Kenley Jansen blew his first save of the season to give up a three-run lead, but the Dodgers were able to get to the Braves’ closer to get the win in extra innings.
After having their 11-game win streak snapped by the Braves, Hyun-Jin Ryu will look to extend the Dodgers’ current win streak to three when he gets the start tonight. The Korean is set to take the mound for the first time after missing close to a month with a foot injury.
Prior to his injury, Ryu had had three consecutive starts with at least five innings and two earned runs. The Dodgers have gone 5-1 in Ryu’s last six starts at home, averaging six runs per game in those games.
Writer’s Prediction
The Dodgers (-240) down Colon and the Twins with a big home win.
