Ober will start Saturday against the Astros in Game 1 of the ALDS, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Ober wasn't even on the Twins' AL Wild Card Series roster, but he'll be entrusted with the series opener in Houston. The big right-hander was sent to the minors following a midseason swoon, but he returned in September to post a 2.08 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 21.2 innings of work. Ober will be opposed by Justin Verlander in Game 1.
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Twins' Bailey Ober: Under consideration for Game 1
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Ober is being considered to start Saturday's Game 1 of the ALDS in Houston, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
Joe Ryan was going to start a potential AL Wild Card Series Game 3 for the Twins, so he's also a candidate for Game 1 of the ALDS and perhaps the favorite for the start. Kenta Maeda is also in the mix. Ober wasn't even on the AL Wild Card Series roster because the team needed only three starters, but he told Hayes that the Twins "have dropped hints he'll pitch at some point" during the ALDS. Ober posted a 2.08 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 21.2 innings after rejoining the club Sept. 15 following a stint in the minors.
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Twins' Bailey Ober: Punches out nine
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Ober allowed one run on two hits over 6.2 innings during Sunday's loss to Colorado. He struck out nine and did not factor in the decision.
Ober was terrific aside from coughing up a solo shot to Nolan Jones in the fourth inning. Ober matched his season high with nine punchouts while forcing a season-high 22 whiffs. He gave up two or fewer runs in each of his final four starts of the regular season, registering a 2.08 ERA and a 26:3 K:BB during that stretch. Ober ended the year with a strong 3.43 ERA and 146:29 K:BB through 144.1 innings.
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Twins' Bailey Ober: Blanks Athletics
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Ober (8-6) earned the win Tuesday, allowing two hits over five scoreless innings against the Athletics. He struck out eight.
While Ober didn't go deeper than five innings for a ninth consecutive start, he turned in one of his best starts of the season, tying his season high in strikeouts while not allowing a homer for the first time since mid-July. Ober could have a tougher time in his next projected start, which will come Sunday against the Rockies at Coors Field.
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Twins' Bailey Ober: Allows two runs in no-decision
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Ober did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing two runs on three hits and three walks over five innings against the Reds. He struck out three.
Ober surrendered just two runs on the afternoon despite allowing the leadoff man to reach base in three of his five innings. He's now given up exactly two runs in four of his last five starts and has surrendered at least one homer in 10 straight. It also marked the third time in his last five outings that he's issued at three walks, though he still carries a solid 9:3 K:BB through two September starts to along with a 3.60 ERA.
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Twins' Bailey Ober: Sticking in rotation
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Ober will make a start during the team's upcoming series against the Reds in Cincinnati that begins Monday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
In his return to the Minnesota rotation Friday, Ober struck out six and limited the White Sox to two runs over five innings en route to claiming the win. The performance was solid enough to convince the Twins to keep him in the rotation for at least one more turn, with Ober most likely getting the ball Wednesday in Cincinnati if manager Rocco Baldelli elects to keep him on normal rest. Dallas Keuchel has been moved to the bullpen to open up the rotation spot for Ober.
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Twins' Bailey Ober: Collects win in return to rotation
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Ober (7-6) picked up the win Friday, giving up two runs on five hits over five innings in a 10-2 victory over the White Sox. He struck out six without walking a batter.
Ober tossed 60 of 93 pitches for strikes as he made his first start in the big leagues since Aug. 27 and recorded his first MLB win since July 18, blanking Chicago for four frames until Elvis Andrus tagged him for a two-run homer in the fifth. Ober may have only been making a spot start, but with Dallas Keuchel stumbling to an 8.03 ERA through his first three outings in September, the Twins may elect to keep the right-hander in the rotation for the last couple weeks of the regular season instead.
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Twins' Bailey Ober: Recalled for spot start
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Ober was recalled from Triple-A St. Paul on Friday, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Ober will make a spot start for the Twins on Friday against the White Sox as the Twins give their regular rotation members a little breather in the final month of the regular season. The right-hander struck out three over five innings of one-run ball in his last start for St. Paul. Ober posted a 2.61 ERA for the Twins in the first half but was demoted after holding a 5.85 ERA in eight starts after the All-Star break.
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Twins' Bailey Ober: Could get start Friday
Rotowire
Ober could be recalled from Triple-A St. Paul to start Friday versus the White Sox, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
Pablo Lopez would be available Friday on regular rest, but the Twins look set to use the game as an opportunity to give their regular rotation members some extra recovery time down the stretch. Ober last pitched for St. Paul on Sept. 9, so he would be available on five days' rest Friday.
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Twins' Bailey Ober: Ineffective Sunday
Rotowire
Ober allowed five runs on five hits and a walk while striking out four over four innings in a no-decision versus the Rangers on Sunday.
Ober's winless streak reached seven outings, and this was the first time in August he failed to complete five innings. He gave up a solo home run to J.P. Martinez and a grand slam to Jonah Heim in the contest, continuing a stretch of eight straight starts in which Ober has allowed a homer. For the season, the right-hander has a 3.67 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 120:26 K:BB through 122.2 innings over 22 starts. He's projected for a road rematch against the Rangers next weekend.
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Twins' Bailey Ober: Surrenders two hits in no-decision
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Ober did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks over five innings against the Brewers. He struck out three.
All the damage against Ober came early, with Willy Adames launching a two-run home run in the first inning to mark Ober's seventh consecutive start allowing a long ball, a streak that dates back to the All-Star Break. He also tied his season high in walks and was pulled after 78 pitches despite holding the Brewers to a pair of hits. The outing continued a mildly concerning stretch of brief starts for Ober, who has gone five or fewer frames in five consecutive appearances. He'll likely have a tough time pitching deep in his next start, which is tentatively scheduled to come against the Rangers.
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Twins' Bailey Ober: Adequate in no-decision
Rotowire
Ober did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks over five innings against the Tigers. He struck out six.
Ober scattered five hits but issued three walks, which tied a season high. The 28-year-old allowed two runs, both of which came on Miguel Cabrera's 509th career home run in the second inning. After a stellar first half, Ober has struggled in his six starts since the All-Star break, posting a 5.52 ERA and 1.55 WHIP despite an impressive 34:4 K:BB across 31 innings during that span. He is currently lined up to face the Brewers on the road early next week.
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Twins' Bailey Ober: Strikes out nine in loss
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Ober (6-6) took the loss Wednesday, allowing five runs (four earned) on 11 hits and a walk over five innings in a 9-5 loss to the Tigers. He struck out nine.
Ober tallied a season high in strikeouts, though he surrendered 11 hits for the second time in his last three starts as he fell to the Tigers. The 28-year-old Ober is now 1-2 with a 5.88 ERA over his previous five starts. Overall, his ERA is up to 3.40 to go with a 1.11 WHIP and 107:19 K:BB across 19 starts (108.2 innings) this season. Ober will look to get back on track in his next outing, currently scheduled as a home rematch with Detroit early next week.
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Twins' Bailey Ober: Tosses five innings
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Ober yielded two runs on six hits over five innings in Friday's win against Arizona. He struck out three and did not factor in the decision.
Ober coughed up a solo homer in the second inning and another run in the fourth. While the three strikeouts were his fewest since June 2, he's turned in four straight starts without issuing a walk. Ober lowered his ERA to 3.21 to go alongside a 98:18 K:BB across 103.2 frames. He's projected to take the mound in Detroit next week.
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Twins' Bailey Ober: Rocked by Royals
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Ober (6-5) took the loss Saturday, surrendering six runs on 11 hits over four innings as the Twins were downed 10-7 by the Royals. He struck out five without walking a batter.
The right-hander was maybe catching a bit too much of the plate in this one, as homers by Bobby Witt in the first inning and Michael Massey in the second helped dig an early hole. Ober hadn't given up more than four runs in a start all season coming into Saturday, but keeping the ball in the park is becoming an issue, as 10 of the 13 home runs he's served up have come in his last nine starts -- a stretch in which he has a 3.96 ERA despite a strong 1.11 WHIP and 55:7 K:BB through 52.1 innings. He'll look to bounce back in his next outing, likely to come at home next weekend against Arizona.
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Twins' Bailey Ober: Solid six innings Sunday
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Ober did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing three runs on five hits and no walks over six innings against the White Sox. He struck out six.
Ober gave up two solo home runs early as the Twins fell behind only to rally to tie the game in the ninth inning and win in the 12th. The right-hander has allowed just six earned runs in his last four starts (2.16 ERA) with a 24:3 K:BB ratio, and he's delivered a quality start in each of his past seven outings.
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Twins' Bailey Ober: Collects sixth win
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Ober (6-4) allowed three runs on seven hits and a hit batsman and struck out five without walking a batter over six innings to earn the win Tuesday over the Mariners.
Ober had a rough first inning, in which he allowed six of the seven hits he gave up. He settled in after that and retired 12 of the last 13 batters he faced to walk away with his sixth straight quality start. The right-hander now has a 2.74 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 84:18 K:BB through 88.2 innings over 15 starts in what's been a quietly impressive campaign. Ober is projected for a home start versus the White Sox this weekend.
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Twins' Bailey Ober: Delivers quality start
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Ober allowed a run on four hits and three walks while striking out five over six innings in a no-decision versus the Orioles on Friday.
Ober limited the damage to a sixth-inning sacrifice fly from Cedric Mullins. This was Ober's fifth straight quality start -- in that span, he's given up nine runs over 31 innings with a 32:5 K:BB. The right-hander now has a 2.61 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 79:18 K:BB through 82.2 innings across 14 starts this season.
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Twins' Bailey Ober: Fires seven shutout frames
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Ober (5-4) earned the win Saturday against the Orioles after he allowed just two hits and no walks across seven scoreless innings. He struck out eight.
The 27-year-old needed only 85 pitches to get through seven frames, and the Minnesota bullpen maintained a 1-0 advantage to give him his second win in his past eight starts. Despite the lack of victories during that stretch, Ober has pitched well of late with quality starts in five of his last six outings, and he has a 37:4 K:BB during that six-start span. A rematch at home versus Baltimore likely awaits next weekend for the right-hander.
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Twins' Bailey Ober: Strikes out seven in loss
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Ober (3-3) took the loss Thursday, allowing four runs on three hits and two walks over 5.1 innings against Tampa Bay. He struck out seven.
Ober ran right through the Rays' lineup the first time around, striking out the side in both the second and third innings while not allowing a baserunner through the first three frames. The second time around didn't go as smoothly, however, as the right-hander surrendered three runs with two outs in the fourth, including a two-run bomb to Harold Ramirez. Ober has now lost his last three decisions (a span of four starts), though his seven strikeouts Thursday tied his season high. He also produced an impressive 15 swinging strikes in the contest.
