On The Horizon: Cubs vs. Twins series preview

These teams played two games at Target Field August 31 and September 1.

The first one ran 3:34, even though the score was 3-1. There weren’t a lot of walks (only four), but of the 71 plate appearances in this game, 22 ran 3-2 counts. That’s a lot.

The second one ran 2:28. That’s the fastest nine-inning game the Cubs have played all year. (The shortest nine-inning game by time at Wrigley Field this year was 2:34, June 13 against the Cardinals.) There have been 2,250 games played so far this year in MLB. Just 38 games (1.7 percent) have gone 2:28 or shorter.

Which type of game will we get tonight? (I’m rooting for one like the second.) The weather forecast both nights calls for cool, but dry conditions with the wind blowing in strongly.

As noted in my article about draft position this morning, the Twins currently “lead” the Cubs for the No. 7 pick in next year’s draft by two games, 65-85 for Minnesota, 67-83 for the Cubs. So these games do have meaning for something, at least.

One more note: Since these teams last met three weeks ago, the Twins are 7-10 and the Cubs are 8-8.

Fun fact

Since 2015, the Cubs are 8-3 against the Twins overall and all-time against Minnesota at Wrigley Field are 12-6 against them.

Probable pitching matchups

Tuesday: Alec Mills, RHP (6-6, 4.50 ERA, 1.396 WHIP, 4.27 FIP) vs. Griffin Jax, RHP (3-4, 6.65 ERA, 1.391 WHIP, 6.35 FIP)

Wednesday: Kyle Hendricks, RHP (14-6, 4.81 ERA, 1.368 WHIP, 4.91 FIP) vs. Joe Ryan, RHP (1-1, 2.12 ERA, 0.529 WHIP, 3.39 FIP)

Times & TV channels

Tuesday: 6:40 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network

Wednesday: 6:40 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network

Prediction

The Cubs swept the Twins in Minneapolis in a two-game set a few weeks ago. I don’t see any reason why they can’t do that again.

Up next

After another off day Thursday, the Cubs host the Cardinals for a four-game series at Wrigley Field (including a makeup game for a rainout in July) beginning Friday afternoon, their final home games of 2021.