The Minnesota Twins, owners of the worst record in Major League Baseball as of today, are putting their traveling shoes on again for their first West Coast swing of the 2011 season. They will start their trip with an abbreviated two-game set against another struggling team in the Seattle Mariners.
The Mariners, who have seen their last two games rained out, have dropped their last six games. With the Twins riding an eight-game losing streak of their own, something's going to have to give on Monday night at Safeco Field in Seattle.
The opening game of this two-game set will see Scott Baker (2-2, 3.71 ERA) taking the mound for the Twins. Baker got roughed up a bit in his last start, Minnesota's 9-7 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday. Baker allowed five earned runs and six hits in just 4.1 innings pitched. He will be opposed by Seattle right-hander Michael Pineda (4-2, 2.84 ERA). Pineda has had an outstanding season thus far for Seattle, but wasn't spectacular in his last start as he allowed three runs on seven hits on Tuesday to the Baltimore Orioles. He didn't figure in the decision in a game that the Mariners ultimately lost 7-6.
The first pitch from Seattle is scheduled for 9:10 PM Central time. Our friends over at Twinkie Town will be burning the midnight oil in their Game Thread, and we'll have the recap up here for you when it's over.