Minnesota Twins: Michael Pineda suspended 60 games
By David Hill
Minnesota Twins pitcher Michael Pineda has been suspended 60 games for violating the MLB drug policy.
The Minnesota Twins were hoping that this would be the year. It has been 17 years since they had last won a series in the playoffs, and have not won a postseason game since 2004. However, with a strong pitching staff and the top slugging offense in the American League, the Twins were looking to change that narrative this October.
However, those hopes took a major hit on Saturday. Michael Pineda received a 60 game suspension for violating the MLB drug policy after testing positive for a banned diuretic, taking him out of the rotation for the rest of this year, and throughout the postseason.
Twins starter Michael Pineda has been suspended for 60 games for a drug violation, sources tell ESPN. He originally got an 80-game suspension, but it was reduced to 60 on appeal, as a compelling case was made that a banned diuretic he used was not a masking agent for PEDs.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) September 7, 2019
Pineda had been in the final months of a two year deal he signed following the 2017 campaign. After missing all of last season as he recovered from Tommy John surgery, the Twins were hoping that he could be the missing piece they needed for the rotation.
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He had rewarded those hopes with a solid year. Pineda had posted an 11-5 record, along with a 4.01 ERA and a 1.158 WHiP. In his 146 innings, Pineda had struck out 140 batters with just 28 walks, providing the Twins with a solid third starter to join Jose Berrios and Jake Odorizzi.
Pineda also had what may have been a solid parting gift for Minnesota. In his final start of the year on Friday, he threw six innings of four hit ball, allowing just one run as he walked two batters with ten strikeouts. This continued an excellent run over his past 11 outings, when he was 7-1 with a 2.76 ERA, striking out 73 batters in 65.1 innings.
As solid as he had been, Pineda will be taken from the Twins as they need him the most. Although they have been able to open up a lead over the Indians, winning the AL Central is not enough. Minnesota is looking to finally end that postseason drought, something that a healthy Pineda would certainly help with.
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Instead, Michael Pineda will be watching the playoffs from his couch. His loss could make the difference in whether or not the Minnesota Twins are able to advance come October.