Minnesota Twins Official Lineup for ALWC Game 1 vs Astros

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Photo: Jennifer Buchanan / USA Today

The Minnesota Twins have released their roster for game one of the American League Wild Card Series vs the Houston Astros. Josh Donaldson is out, due to his calf injury, and Byron Buxton has been ruled ready, by the MLB’s concussion protocol. Alex Kirilloff has been called up but will watch from the bench.

Without Josh Donaldson in the lineup, the Twins will hit Byron Buxton in the 2-hole. Luckily (for today), we don’t have to worry about what it would look like without him. Things with Josh’s calf seem to run day-to-day but he’s been ruled out for the entire series (left off the series roster below). His teammates will have to win this one without him, and then hope he is ready for the California bubble should they advance (which many believe they will).

It’s also notable that Ryan Jeffers got the start over Mitch Garver. The move makes a lot of sense. Garver has been terrible all of 2020 and Jeffers hasn’t. His pitch-framing matters, too… He’s one of the best I’ve seen. when it comes to that part of catching.

On offense, Jeffers has been really good. He is hitting .273 with a near .800 OPS (.791). He isn’t projected as a “flash in the pan”, either. Jeffers entered the season as the #6 prospect in a stacked Minnesota Twins system. Garver, on the other hand, hit .167 in 2020 with a .511 OPS, just one season removed from an all-time great season for any catcher (.273 BA, 31 HR, 67 RBI, and .995 OPS).

Twins Roster for Houston Series

Jorge Alcala didn’t make the Wild Card series roster, which is a bit surprising. I’m also glad that turtle (Willians Astudillo) is there as well. On the bench or in the field, they are a better team when he is around.

To deep dive this pitching matchup between Kenta Maeda and Zack Greinke, CLICK HERE.

If you’d like to see the Houston Astros lineup and roster for this game, CLICK HERE.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

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