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Saturday doubleheader Orioles game thread: vs Twins, 4:05

Dan Straily will start game one, Alex Cobb gets game two, and Branden Kline will likely make his MLB debut at some point.

By Tyler Young
Baltimore Orioles Photo Day Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

The Minnesota Twins are one of those teams that the Orioles play often enough that I’m aware of many of their players, but seldom enough that I’m not fully familiar with how good any of them truly are.

Of course, we all know Nelson Cruz and Jonathan Schoop. Neither of them needs an introduction. Cruz has been nearly as good in the Twin cities this year as he was during his lone season in Baltimore, whereas Schoop as struggled away from Camden Yards. But there is much more to this team than two players that used to don the black and orange.

Byron Buxton is one of the most exciting players in the game and is literally the fastest person in the sport. If he can get on base, he will be a headache for the Orioles pitchers and catchers.

Willians Astudillo is a statistical anomaly. The 27-year-old made his big league debut last season after nearly a decade in the minor league systems of the Phillies, Braves, Diamondbacks and finally the Twins. Over 638 career minor league games he walked 85 times and struck out 81 times. During spring training, he did not walk nor strikeout in 51 plate appearances. His 90.4% contact rate is in the top 10 of the American League. The dude just puts the ball in play.

There is certainly more to go into about the Twins, and there will be plenty mentioned in today’s broadcast of TWO games.

On the Orioles side of things, the big story is that Branden Kline is in Baltimore today to serve as the 26th man for game two. Kline’s story of battling through injuries and being a local guy is a good one, and he has performed well over the last two seasons, earning time in big league camp during the spring.

It’s unclear what will be done with the roster in order to make room for both Kline and Alex Cobb in that game. One would assume that an option-able pitcher that appears in game one may be headed to Norfolk after that. It’s likely to be one of Evan Phillips, Tanner Scott or Josh Lucas.

Be advised, this thread will serve to contain your excitement for BOTH of today’s games.

Orioles game one lineup

  1. Jonathan Villar, SS
  2. Trey Mancini, RF
  3. Dwight Smith Jr, LF
  4. Renato Nunez, DH
  5. Rio Ruiz, 3B
  6. Hanser Alberto, 2B
  7. Chris Davis, 1B
  8. Pedro Severino, C
  9. Cedric Mullins, CF

RHP Dan Straily

Twins game one lineup

  1. Jorge Polanco, SS
  2. Marwin Gonzalez, 3B
  3. Nelson Cruz, 3B
  4. Eddie Rosario, Lf
  5. Willians Astudillo, 1B
  6. Jake Cave, RF
  7. Jonathan Schoop, 2B
  8. Jason Castro, C
  9. Byron Buxton, CF

RHP Jose Berrios

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