Live Game Thread 14 – Toronto Blue Jays (7-6) at Minnesota Twins (6-6)

Mar 28, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Munenori Kawasaki (66) celebrates with catcher Dioner Navarro (30) after scoring the winning run in the ninth inning against the New York Mets at the Olympic Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

It was nice to see the bats for the Toronto Blue Jays catch fire in that final game of the Baltmore series, giving Toronto another series win before heading on to Minnesota. Given the winter conditions in Minneapolis tonight, the Blue Jays may hope that some of that heat comes with them. As of right now, the temperature at Target Field is a balmy 37 degrees a temperature they are expected to sit at much of the evening. Of course, they are also predicting snow overnight tonight, which begs the question:

Why did they build an outdoor only stadium in Minnesota?

There’s another need to bring the big sticks as well. Entering play tonight, the Twins own the 3rd highest scoring team in the American League, which is odd since they rank 21st in team batting average.

To face that offense, the Blue Jays will send Brandon Morrow to the mound. This is Morrow’s third start of the 2014 campaign, with the right-hander last appearing on April 9th when he went 6 innings against the Houston Astros, allowing 3 earned runs and 5 hits while walking 1 and striking out 9. He’ll be opposed by former Yankee Phil Hughes who has been hit hard, having thrown 5 innings and allowed 4 earned runs in each of his two Twins outings.

Toronto Blue Jays Line-up

• Melky Cabrera – LF
• Munenori Kawasaki – 2B
• Jose Bautista – CF
• Adam Lind – DH
• Edwin Encarnacion – 1B
• Dioner Navarro – C
• Moises Sierra – RF
• Brett Lawrie – 3B
• Jonathan Diaz – SS

• Brandon Morrow – P

Minnesota Twins Line-up

• Brian Dozier – 2B
• Joe Mauer – 1B
• Trevor Plouffe – 3B
• Chris Colabello – RF
• Jason Kubel – LF
• Josmil Pinto – DH
• Kurt Suzuki – C
• Aaron Hicks – CF
• Pedro Florimon – SS

• Phil Hughes – P

Worth Watching

Today marks two significant events for the Blue Jays. Firstly, it is the return of Munenori Kawasaki to the line-up, which apparently has Japanese reporters flocking to the frozen tundra of Target Field. Secondly, John Gibbons opted to start Jose Bautista in center field rather than move Melky to center and Sierra in left with Colby Rasmus sitting.

For those of you scrambling to find out if Bautista can play center, he has appeared in 73 games in center field during his career. However, you have to go all the way back to 2010 to find the last time he appeared in the middle of the outfield. That season, he appeared in exactly 1 game in center. Yup, total faith right now in this decision working out well.

Tune back in at 8:10pm for our live thread!