New York Yankees vs. Minnesota Twins: Gerrit Cole vs. Kenta Maeda

After drubbing the Twins last night to win their eighth straight game and close to within four games of the division-leading Rays, the Yankees take on Minnesota in a daytime tilt. Another victory today would not only extend the win streak, but it would also continue to apply pressure to Tampa. Momentum can be a fickle creature, but the Yankees seemingly have it in abundance. Another win today further stokes the fire.

Recently returned from the COVID-IL, Gerrit Cole makes his second start since coming back. Outside of a rough patch shortly before the All-Star break, Cole has been everything the team and its fans could have hoped for a rotation that has sometimes seemed to be held together with nothing but gumption and Nestor Cortes’ moustache. Cole has averaged more than six innings per start and is striking out 12.24 batters per nine innings. This is his second start this season against Minnesota. In the prior, he pitched six innings of two-run ball and struck out nine Twins. That’d likely do just fine today.

For the Twins, Kenta Maeda will have the unenviable task of pitching to a Yankees lineup that put 10 runs on the board last night. Maeda has been okay for the Twins this season, although discrepancies between his xERA and xFIP compared to his ERA and FIP suggest he has been a bit unlucky. He has been somewhat susceptible to the dinger this season, though, surrendering round-trippers to the tune of 1.41 HR/9. With any luck, the Bombers will tag him today and provide a second consecutive low-stress game.

Speaking of dingers and runs, 2020 home run champion Luke Voit is bound and determined to remind everyone how good he is when he is healthy and raking. Coming off a four-hit performance last night, Voit is batting .289/.357/.509 over his last 30 games. In the last seven, he is absolutely demolishing opposing pitching, hitting .423 and slugging .846. Batting sixth as the designated hitter today, here’s hoping Luke keeps swinging the magic bat.

Stay hot, Yankees. That starts with beating the Twins today with Gerrit Cole on the mound. Everything is just a bit more satisfying when the Yankees are winning games.

How to watch

Location: Yankee Stadium – Bronx, NY

First pitch: 1:05 pm ET

TV broadcast: FS1

Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280

Online stream: MLB.tv

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