AUGUST 12, 2021•STARTRIBUNE.COM
Wednesday's Twins-White Sox game recapFollow the StarTribune for the news, photos and videos from the Twin Cities and beyond.
Jorge Polanco - Clubs 21st homer in winPolanco went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a triple in Wednesday's 1-0 win over the White Sox.
ImpactPolanco was the only Twin to post multiple hits, and he managed to log seven total bases in the low-scoring contest. The 28-year-old has gone deep six times through 10 games in August. He's slashing .274/.334/.494 with 21 homers, 62 RBI, 69 runs scored and nine stolen bases through 452 plate appearances overall. The infielder is one long ball shy of matching his career-high 22 from 2019.
AUGUST 12, 2021•ROTOWIRE
Caleb Thielbar - Picks up fourth winThielbar (4-0) walked one and struck out one without allowing a hit or a run in 1.1 innings, earning the win Wednesday over the White Sox.
ImpactThielbar continued the good work of starter Bailey Ober, and the former was rewarded when Jorge Polanco hit a solo home run for the only scoring play in the contest. Since the start of July, Thielbar has allowed eight runs in 13 innings, although all of those runs have come in just three of his 13 appearances. He's logged a 3.95 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 55:15 K:BB while adding seven holds across 43.1 innings this season.
AUGUST 12, 2021•ROTOWIRE
Alex Colomé - Locks down seventh saveColome walked one in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 1-0 win over the White Sox.
ImpactSince retaking the closer role at the start of August, Colome has pitched 5.1 scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and two walks in his last six appearances. He has just two strikeouts in that span, but he's also converted five of his seven saves this month. The right-hander has a 4.12 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 38:18 K:BB through 43.2 innings overall, but he should remain firmly in the ninth-inning conversation with no guarantee Taylor Rogers (finger) will return this season.
AUGUST 12, 2021•ROTOWIRE
Bailey Ober - Strong in no-decisionOber allowed six hits and a walk with six strikeouts over 5.1 scoreless innings in a no-decision versus the White Sox on Wednesday.
ImpactThe right-hander again saw a limited workload, throwing 54 of 82 pitches for strikes. He was able to work effectively, but Minnesota didn't open the scoring until the bottom of the sixth inning on Jorge Polanco's solo home run. Ober remains unlikely to be allowed to throw much more than 80 pitches down the stretch, which greatly limits how deep he can work in games if he's not at his best. He has a 4.53 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 62:16 K:BB across 57.2 innings this year. The 26-year-old is projected to make his next start versus Cleveland next week.
AUGUST 12, 2021•ROTOWIRE
José Ruiz - Yields lone run in lossRuiz (1-2) allowed a run on one hit and one walk with two strikeouts in one inning, taking the loss Wednesday versus Minnesota.
ImpactRuiz pitched the sixth inning, and he allowed the game's only run on a solo home run by Jorge Polanco. Since the start of July, Ruiz has given up nine runs (seven earned) across 14.2 innings. The 26-year-old has mainly seen a low-leverage relief role with three holds, a 3.57 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 47:18 K:BB through 45.1 innings this year.
AUGUST 12, 2021•ROTOWIRE
Reynaldo López - Works three innings in spot startLopez allowed a hit and two walks with four strikeouts over three scoreless innings in a no-decision versus Minnesota.
ImpactThe 27-year-old was making a spot start after Carlos Rodon (shoulder) was placed on the injured list. Lopez pitched well, throwing 30 of 51 pitches for strikes while covering the most innings of any Chicago pitcher in the contest. He's mainly worked out of the bullpen this season with a 1.35 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 22:5 K:BB across 20 innings. It seems more likely Lopez will return to the bullpen rather than stay in the rotation long-term.
AUGUST 12, 2021•ROTOWIRE
