4/8/09 Wednesday - Twins vs. Mariners

Pitching Probables

Twins: Kevin Slowey (2008): 3.99 ERA, 160.1 IP, 161 H, 123K, 24 BB, 22 HR

Background: Right about this time last year, the question most often asked about Slowey was whether he would develop a strikeout pitch. With 123 K in 161 innings in 2008, the question this year is just how good he can be.

Watch For: He'll throw the fastball 2/3 of the time and then mix his curve and slider evenly, and add the changeup when facing left-handers. His control is his true strength, and he'll stay with his mix of pitches whether he's ahead or behind in the count.

Mariners: Carlos Silva (2008): 6.46 ERA, 153.1 IP, 213 H, 69 K, 32 BB, 20 HR

Background: Hittable pitchers are always viewed as a risk, and after years of proving his detractors wrong with a mixture of control and courage, Silva had that year that critics had predeicted. It was made of all the worse because it was his first year with his new team after signing a huge contact. He'll try and rediscover the mix of pitches that made him successful several years with the Twins.

Watch For: At the beginning of Silva's Twins career, he relied heavily on a slider, but after a subpar 2006, they worked on him using his changeup more. Last year 75% of the pitches he threw were fastballs, with the changeup and slider almost evenly splitting the others.

Considering that the Twins mostly faced Silva last year when he was struggling, it should be too big a surprise that the team is batting .386 against him as a group. Newcomer Joe Crede has the most experience against him, hitting .333 with 3 HR over 33 at-bats, good for a 1020 OPS.