The Twins will take on the Brewers Tuesday night and be relying on a left-handed rookie who was just called up to make his MLB debut.
Devin Smeltzer, 23, will get the start and take the roster spot of right-handed pitcher Michael Pineda, who on Tuesday was placed on the 10-day injured list with tendinitis in his right knee.
The Twins acquired Smeltzer in last summer’s trade that sent former All-Star second baseman Brian Dozier to the Dodgers. Dozier is now with the Washington Nationals, where he’s hitting .211/.303/.363 with seven home runs and 16 RBI in 52 games.
Smeltzer is not a flamethrower with a 91-92 mph fastball, but it’s his change-up that’s his best pitch, according to a 2017 scouting report when he was in the Dodgers.
Between Double-A Pensacola and Triple-A Rochester this year, Smeltzer is 3-2 with a 1.15 ERA and has allowed just seven earned runs in 54 2/3 innings. He’s struck out 48 batters and walked 10 while holding opponents to a .199 batting average.
Milwaukee will counter Smeltzer with right-hander Zach Davies, who is second in the National League with a 2.43 ERA, although he did get hit around for six earned runs in his most recent start.
The Twins and Brewers start at 7:10 p.m. Tuesday.
