Dozier, Twins like to feast on National League pitching
The Minnesota Twins' offense has been surging as of late. Playing against a National League team -- like the Twins will be doing Tuesday and Wednesday against Atlanta -- should only give it a further boost.
The Twins run production has increased every month this season up to the point where Minnesota is averaging 5.90 runs per game in its 20 games in July, which is the third-highest runs per game in the majors this month.
Minnesota has been very productive in interleague games, averaging 5.62 runs in 13 games with a .273 batting average and .794 OPS. The Twins are hitting .295 with runners in scoring position against the NL this season.
One Twins player who has been particularly feasting on the National League is second baseman Brian Dozier.
That always hasn't been the case, though. In 2012-13, Dozier batted just .207 with one home run, eight RBI and a .502 OPS in 37 games in interleague play.
However, since 2014, Dozier is batting .299 with 10 homers, 30 RBI and a .895 OPS in interleague play. This season, in 13 games vs. NL teams. Dozier is hitting .321 with three homers, 11 RBI and a .984 OPS.
Other notes:
-- This is the fifth regular-season matchup between Minnesota and Atlanta.
-- In their last 12 games, the Braves are averaging just 2.83 runs per contest while batting .180 with a .379 slugging percentage.
-- Minnesota rookie Max Kepler has 29 RBI since June 19, which is third in the majors over that time period, behind just the Angels' Albert Pujols (33) and Houston's Carlos Correa (31).
-- Atlanta's Nick Markakis is batting .321 away from home since June 27.
Statistics courtesy STATS LLC and baseball-reference.com
