Twins Shake Up Lineup After Offensive Breakout Against Orioles

The Minnesota Twins scored nine runs on Monday evening to get the series win, and now they are changing up the lineup.

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Bailey Ober Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Minnesota Twins finally found the offense they have been looking for. Monday night’s win against the Orioles was a success. Now they will try to build on that going into Tuesday, once again facing Baltimore, but with a noticeably different lineup.

Minnesota, who is now at 59-61, beat the O’s 9-5 in the series opener at Target Field. Over the course of the night, they collected 14 hits and truly exploded in the seventh inning with five runs. The victory moved the Twins to within 3.5 games of the first-place Chicago White Sox in the American League Central.

They are even closer in the Wild Card race, where the team sits just 1.5 games back of the final spot currently held by the Texas Rangers.

Dean Kremer came through once again and gave Minnesota seven innings of one-hit baseball against his former team. Austin Martin, Ryan Jeffers and Josh Bell were the powerhouses behind the offense for the Twins.

Now, Minnesota is putting its faith in Bailey Ober on Tuesday to toe the rubber against Baltimore’s right-hander Brandon Young. Ober will take the mound with a 7-3 record and having posted a 4.45 ERA over the season. Young, on the other hand, is 8-3 with a 3.43 ERA.

Changing It Up After a Nine-Run Night

Minnesota Twins left fielder Trevor Larnach Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

An interesting note is the decision at the top of the order. First of all, one of the changes will occur because the team is now facing a right-hander.

Martin produced one of his better games this season on Monday. He went 4-for-5 with a home run, double, three runs scored and a stolen base. But, fans aren’t going to get to see him in the starting lineup on Tuesday.

This fits with how Minnesota has often times handled the lineup against right-handed pitching.

The left-handed-hitting Trevor Larnach will take the top spot and the duties at left field against Young. While Martin isn’t always excluded against righties, Larnach regularly gets the call when the Twins have the platoon advantage.

So, not seeing Martin in the lineup isn’t really a surprise, even given that he put forth a stellar effort on Monday.

Minnesota Twins Starting Lineup

1. Trevor Larnach, LF
2. Ryan Jeffers, C
3. Josh Bell, DH
4. Kody Clemens, 2B
5. Royce Lewis, 1B
6. Brooks Lee, 3B
7. Luke Keaschall, CF
8. Alan Roden, RF
9. Kaelen Culpepper, SS

Starting pitcher: Bailey Ober (7-3, 4.45 ERA)

There are several notable changes over Monday. Kody Clemens is returning to the lineup and moving all the way up into the cleanup spot. Royce Lewis is moving to first base and finds himself batting third rather than fifth.

Luke Keaschall moves from right field to center and Alan Roden is starting in right field. Kaelen Culpepper is staying put at shortstop but fell to ninth in the order after striking out four times on Monday.

What’s at Stake

The Twins have an opportunity on Tuesday to secure a series victory on Tuesday. Should they accomplish this, it will put more pressure on the White Sox in the AL Central.

Minnesota is still two games below .500, but is just 3.5 games out of first place. A series win opportunity is one they can’t afford to waste.