FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Twins’ first two rounds of cuts trimmed the number of players in camp down from 57 to 45 but did nothing to clarify the shape of the Opening Day roster.
Sunday’s sure did.
The Twins made a handful of moves official after their 6-5 loss to the Boston Red Sox at Hammond Stadium. Among them, David Festa and Zebby Matthews were optioned to Triple-A.
Though it has been widely assumed that Simeon Woods Richardson would join Pablo López, Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober and Chris Paddack in the rotation, those moves cement the Twins’ starting five.
Woods Richardson, who took hold of a rotation spot in late April last season, has had a strong spring, giving up just one earned run in 11 innings pitched (0.82 earned-run average). The news comes on the heels of a four-inning outing against most of the Atlanta Braves’ starters in which Woods Richardson allowed just one hit.
While Matthews, whose meteoric rise through the farm system last year saw him go from Class-A Advanced to the majors, has been among the most impressive pitchers in camp this spring (9⅓ innings pitched, no runs allowed), it was going to be a challenge for both he and Festa to jump Woods Richardson for a rotation spot.
“Both of those guys, they don’t just have upside. They are already very good pitchers and they have a chance to be exceptional,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “But they really have to keep working and they have to keep getting better. They’re at the very beginning of their careers, and if they’re hungry and want to be here right now, good. I want them to feel like that and want to be here.”
With all their starters currently healthy, both Festa and Matthews are slated to start the season in Triple-A where they will serve as important depth for the Twins.
Certainly more so than in years past, the Twins have plenty of starting rotation depth, even beyond those two, that they can turn to when needed.
“We have options that we really like, so you’ve got to feel good about that,” Baldelli said. “You’re optimistic about looking at the names that are out there throwing the ball, the way they’re throwing the ball. Feels good. You’ve got to maintain that starter depth and … you’ve got to continue to develop others.”
Pablo vs. Sonny
The St. Louis Cardinals made a long-expected announcement on Sunday morning: Sonny Gray will get the ball on Opening Day.
That will mark the second time López and Gray, former rotation mates in Minnesota, have dueled since Gray left as a free agent last offseason. López and the Twins got the best of Gray the last time the two squared off with López throwing seven scoreless innings and Gray giving up five runs in six frames.
“I know Sonny’s a competitor. His mindset’s going to be like, ‘I’m going to get people out. I’m going prevent runs,’ ” López said. “That’s going to be my mentality, too, but it’s always fun when you’re challenging yourself against a former teammate.”
In his penultimate tune up of the spring, López gave up four runs in six innings pitched against the Red Sox, striking out eight. Two of those runs came on longballs in his fourth inning of work.
It was the closest he had gotten to the feel of a regular-season game this spring, and López walked away from the outing pleased.
“I’m really happy with the sequencing, the pitch velo, the shapes, the strikeouts. Everything was there,” he said. “It felt really game-like and then I’m really satisfied with that.”
Briefly
Along with Matthews and Festa, the Twins optioned left-handed reliever Kody Funderburk to Triple-A. Luke Keaschall, one of the Twins’ top prospects, and pitcher Alex Speas were reassigned to minor league camp. They now have 40 active players in camp. … The Twins will head north to Bradenton on Monday to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates. Joe Ryan is scheduled to start opposed by Pirates ace Paul Skenes.
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