Pregame Notes & Lineups: San Francisco Giants Host Minnesota Twins

The Giants are back home after a brief 3 (2.5) games in Colorado. If you missed it yesterday, the Giants and Rockies were suspended in the middle of a tie game. They will resume in September when the Giants are in Denver once again.

As for tonight’s matchup, it’s the Minnesota Twins coming to town for 3 games to start this 6-game home stand. For Minnesota, RHP Kyle Gibson (4-3, 4.20 ERA) gets the start against RHP Tim Lincecum (3-3, 4.74 ERA). Insert your own “Timmy is jealous of the other guy’s ERA” joke here.

The Twins are 23-21 and in second place in the AL Central. If the season were to end today (I’m not ready for that) the Twins would currently be a Wild Card team.

The Giants are still 3 games up on Colorado and 4.5 games ahead of Los Angeles in their own division. They are 29-18, the best record in the National League. The Giants have also been hot at home winning 12 of their last 17.

The lineups for the first game of this rare Twins-Giants series.

#SFGiants tonight vs. Twinkies: CF Pagan, RF Pence, 1B Posey, 3B Sandoval, LF Morse, C Sanchez, SS Crawford, 2B Hicks, P Lincecum
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) May 23, 2014

5.23.14 #Twins lineup:
Dozier 2B
Mauer 1B
Plouffe 3B
Parmelee RF
Suzuki C
Kubel LF
Escobar SS
Hicks CF
Kyle Gibson P
— Amy Gutierrez (@amygmultimedia) May 23, 2014

You’ll noticed that yes, Buster Posey is in the lineup, but at first base tonight. It’s just a precaution after a long day yesterday.

Bochy said Posey is at 1B as a precaution. Delays yesterday (and collision with Morse) wasn't ideal for his back, but he said he's fine.
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) May 23, 2014

It’s also starting to look as if Matt Cain will be able to make his next start. He played catch today and also took batting practice.

Matt Cain is walking fine and headed out for BP. That's a good sign. (I wonder if he'd swing at a 3-0 pitch too.)
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) May 23, 2014

Matt Cain will play catch today after seeing doc last night. "He's bouncing around here pretty good," Bochy said.
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) May 23, 2014

If you’re headed to the game tonight, be advised that Southbound I-280 will be closed near the park. The Northbound lane will be open.

Travel Advisory for tonight's game: Southbound I-280 will be closed in the vicinity of AT&T Park. Northbound I-280 will remain open.
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) May 23, 2014

Anything else you may want to know about this history of the Giants and the Twins can be found over at McCovey Chronicles from Grant Brisbee. Spoiler Alert: There isn’t a whole lot to know.

"The complete history of Twins/Giants relations"

Schedule