This is a huge series as the White Sox currently lead the Twins by half a game atop the wild card race, and we give the edge to Minnesota here in the series opener given this pitching match-up.
Brad Radke is 12-9 with a 4.35 ERA for the year, but that does not tell the full story. He has actually pitched much better than that after a poor start to the season, bringing his numbers back to respectability by posting nine Quality Starts in his last ten outings, with a scintillating 2.76 ERA over those ten efforts! Radke has also posted Quality Starts in each of his last two outings vs. the White Sox this season, allowing a total of three earned runs in 11 innings.
Now Javier Vazquez is 11-8 on the season, but he has benefited from some nice run support as evidenced by his high 5.13 ERA. He continues to be erratic, with a 4.67 ERA and a very poor 1.62 WHIP in his last three starts, and he has not pitched well vs. Minnesota. In fact Vazquez has yet to record a Quality Start in three appearances vs. Minnesota this year, instead posting a horrendous 7.71 ERA in 18 2/3 innings! Finally the Twins hold a huge edge in the bullpen as they currently lead the Major Leagues in pen ERA.
Play: Minnesota Twins 110.
Last edited by SBRforum Staff; 08-25-06 at 03:45 PM.
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