Minnesota’s Bailey Ober is going through one of the best stretches of his career, and he hopes to keep the ball rolling in the finale of a three-game road series against the Detroit Tigers on Sunday.
Ober (9-5, 4.04 ERA) has posted six consecutive quality starts, going 4-1 with a 2.23 ERA during that stretch.
One of those outings came at the Tigers’ expense on July 4. He allowed three runs (one earned) on seven hits in six innings while racking up eight strikeouts in the 12-3 win.
His control has been outstanding during his hot streak. He has issued just seven walks while posting 45 strikeouts.
In his most recent start, Ober held the Philadelphia Phillies to two runs and four hits in seven innings on Monday in a 7-2 win. He said feels he is in a good place mentally.
“I feel like the biggest thing, when stuff’s going right, is the mental side,” Ober said. “You’re on the current pitch, and then when that one’s over, you’re on to the next one. Nothing else is really going through your mind. You’re just in that kind of flow state of getting outs and executing pitches — and right now, I’m feeling pretty good.”
Ober threw only 83 pitches against the team with the best record in the major leagues.
“He looked great,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “You could almost make an argument to just leave him in the game and let him keep throwing.”
In 10 career starts against the Tigers, Ober is 3-2 with a 3.91 ERA.
The Tigers are scheduled to counter with right-hander Alex Faedo (5-1, 3.47), who will lead off the bullpen game for Detroit. This will be his second start and 32nd appearance.
Detroit has only three starters in the rotation at the moment — Tarik Skubal, Jack Flaherty and rookie Keider Montero. Reese Olson (shoulder) and Casey Mize (hamstring) are on the injured list, and Kenta Maeda recently was sent to the bullpen due to ineffectiveness.
Maeda could eat up some innings on Sunday.
Another injury issue for the Tigers arose this week. All-Star outfielder Riley Greene was placed on the 10-day injured list due to a mild hamstring strain.
“The tests revealed a small strain in his right hamstring,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “Despite him being able to do some things, we have to protect him. We’re going to put him on the injured list and see if some time off can mend this faster than trying to work through it.”
With Kerry Carpenter still trying to rehab a back injury and former No. 1 overall pick Spencer Torkelson banished to Triple-A Toledo, the middle of Detroit’s batting order is lacking in pop.
They found power from other sources on Saturday, when they bounced back from a 9-3 loss in the series opener with a 7-2 victory. Colt Keith had a run-scoring triple and a two-run homer, while Javier Baez homered for the third time in as many games.
“I love Javy. I love everything about him,” Skubal, the winning pitcher, said. “He plays the game hard. I’ve always admired that about him.”
Third baseman Royce Lewis homered in his second game since coming off the injured list (adductor strain) for the Twins. Second baseman Jose Miranda went 1-for-4 on Saturday after being activated following a back strain.
–Field Level Media
