Cardinals @ Twins

Who will WIN this matchup?

St. Louis Cardinals (2-1)

@ Minnesota Twins (2-1)

Starting Pitchers:

Martinez (STL): 0-0; 0.00 ERA

Bailey (MIN) 0-0; 0.00 ERA

Current odds:

St. Louis Cardinals: (+135)

Minnesota Twins: (-145)

• The Minnesota Twins set a major league record with 307 home runs last season and the offense might be even better in 2020. The Twins put up 27 runs in taking two of their first three games and will try to bash their way to another win when they host the St. Louis Cardinals in the home opener on Tuesday. Minnesota put up double-digit runs in each of its two victories during opening weekend, capped by a 14-2 drubbing of the Chicago White Sox on Sunday that included a first-inning grand slam from Jake Cave and a pair of homers from 40-year-old designated hitter Nelson Cruz. Cruz finished 4-for-5 with four runs scored, seven RBIs and a pair of doubles to become the second-oldest player in American League history (Rickey Henderson) to record four extra-base hits in a game.

• The Cardinals are coming off a series win as well but missed out on a chance to sweep the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 5-1 loss on Sunday. “We want to obviously win every single game, but at the end of the day, a series win is what we’re trying to do,” St. Louis second baseman Kolten Wong told reporters. “As many series as we can win, it’s going to keep us in the positives and pushing toward that goal of getting us to the playoffs and World Series.”

• Martinez is returning to the rotation after serving as the team’s closer last season and is hoping to rediscover the form that made him an All-Star in his last campaign as a full-time starter in 2017. The 28-year-old posted a 42-27 record with a 3.24 ERA in 94 games – 92 starts – from 2015 to 2017 but dealt with shoulder discomfort in 2018 before moving to the bullpen. Martinez made the rotation with a strong showing in summer camp and built up to four innings during an exhibition game last week.

• Bailey made 31 starts while splitting the season between Kansas City and Oakland in 2019 – his most since making 32 starts for the Cincinnati Reds in 2013 – and signed a one-year, $7 million deal with Minnesota in the offseason. The 34-year-old bounced back after going 1-14 with a 6.09 ERA in 2018 with Cincinnati but his struggles against NL opponents persisted. Bailey posted a 5.55 ERA in five starts against NL opponents in 2019 and was ripped for five runs on four hits – two homers – and two walks in 1 2/3 innings at St. Louis on May 22.

• Twins CF Byron Buxton (foot) could make his season debut on Tuesday.

• Cardinals DH Matt Carpenter is off to a slow start at 1-for-10 with four strikeouts.

• Minnesota 3B Josh Donaldson is 1-for-10 but scored his first two runs of the season after drawing two walks on Sunday.