Nationals at Twins
The Minnesota Twins’ biggest fear this month in their quest for the American League Central title may ultimately be health, as they prepare to host the Washington Nationals for the opener of a three-game interleague series Tuesday night. The Twins were missing four regulars and another left the game early Sunday as they dropped a 5-2 decision to Cleveland, which reduced their lead in the division to 5 1/2 games.
Marwin Gonzalez (oblique), Byron Buxton (shoulder) and Miguel Sano (back tightness) were unavailable Sunday, Nelson Cruz (wrist) was held out an extra day to rest and Max Kepler left in the second inning with upper-chest discomfort for Minnesota, which is 7-10 in interleague play this season. “This team, we believe in these guys, we believe in every player here. There’s no need to panic. …” Twins infielder Ehire Adrianza told reporters. “We are the ones who are in first place.” Jose Berrios gets the call to start the series opener for Minnesota against the Nationals, who snapped a four-game slide with a 9-4 victory over Atlanta on Sunday and held a three-game lead over the Chicago Cubs for the National League’s top wild card to start the week. Veteran Anibal Sanchez starts on the mound for Washington on Tuesday and teammate Anthony Rendon takes a 23-game on-base streak into the series, going 18-for-41 over his last 11 contests.
TV: 7:40 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), FS North (Minnesota)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Anibal Sanchez (8-7, 4.11 ERA) vs. Twins RH Jose Berrios (11-8, 3.78)
Sanchez suffered his first loss since May 10 last time out when he allowed seven runs and eight hits (three homers) with three walks over five innings in an 8-4 setback versus the New York Mets. The 35-year-old Venezuela native had been 8-0 with a 3.16 ERA over his previous 17 outings after starting the season with six straight losses in eight appearances. Cruz boasts four homers and Kepler has three versus Sanchez, who is 6-5 with a 3.44 ERA in 13 road contests this year.
Berrios has managed just one victory in his last six trips to the mound after giving up six runs over five innings at Boston in a loss last Wednesday. The 25-year-old Puerto Rico native, who is poised to make his 100th major league start, has served up eight homers in his last six outings and is within one of matching his career high of 25 in 2018. Asdrubal Cabrera is 1-for-2 with a homer against Berrios, who faces Washington for the first time and is 5-8 lifetime in interleague play.
WALK-OFFS
1. Washington LF Juan Soto became the sixth player in major league history to record 100 RBIs in a season before his 21st birthday over the weekend.
2. Minnesota C Mitch Garver needs one homer and OF Eddie Rosario two to give the club at least three with 30 blasts for the fifth time in franchise history, joining Cruz (35) and Kepler (36).
3. Washington C Kurt Suzuki (elbow inflammation) is considered day-to-day after missing Sunday’s game.