The Minnesota Twins head to American Family Field on Saturday, August 8, for a 7:10 PM ET matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers. Taj Bradley gets the ball for Minnesota opposite Brewers left-hander Robert Gasser in what shapes up as an intriguing pitching duel between two arms the Twins will need to lean on. With the dog days of summer in full swing, every game counts in the standings, and road wins in a division rival's park carry extra weight. Catch it on Twins.TV Presented by Progressive or on the radio at WCCO 830.

Twins vs. Brewers: Saturday August 8 Pitching Matchup

Taj Bradley draws the start for the Twins. The right-hander has been part of Minnesota's rotation conversation all season, and Saturday night gives him a chance to solidify his standing with a quality outing away from Target Field. Bradley will face a Milwaukee lineup that is built for contact and capable of manufacturing runs, so staying ahead in counts and limiting traffic on the bases will be essential.

Robert Gasser toes the rubber for Milwaukee. The Brewers southpaw has shown the ability to keep hitters off-balance, and a Twins lineup that features several right-handed bats will need to be disciplined and patient against him early in the game.

Minnesota Twins Starting Lineup at Milwaukee

• 1. Austin Martin, LF
• 2. Ryan Jeffers, C
• 3. Royce Lewis, 1B
• 4. Josh Bell, DH
• 5. Kody Clemens, 2B
• 6. Luke Keaschall, RF
• 7. Kaelen Culpepper, SS
• 8. Brooks Lee, 3B
• 9. Ryan Kreidler, CF

Keys to Watch for the Twins

Royce Lewis in the Middle of the Order

Lewis slots in at first base and bats third, giving the Twins their most dangerous presence in the heart of the lineup. How he handles Gasser early will set the tone for the entire Minnesota offense. If Lewis can get on base and create traffic, Bell and the middle of the order have a chance to do damage.

Bradley Navigating the Brewers' Contact-Oriented Lineup

Milwaukee's lineup is built around players who put the ball in play. Jackson Chourio bats second, William Contreras cleans up at catcher, and veteran Christian Yelich slides into the DH spot at seventh. Bradley cannot afford to let the bottom third of the Brewers order get on base ahead of the top, where Brice Turang and Chourio are capable of creating chaos on the basepaths.

Depth at the Bottom of Minnesota's Lineup

The Twins are sending out a lineup with several players — Keaschall, Culpepper, and Kreidler — who are still carving out their roles at this level. How those bats contribute in pressure spots against a capable Brewers pitching staff will be worth monitoring as the season moves toward its final stretch.

Prediction

This feels like a low-scoring game decided by a handful of key at-bats. Bradley has enough stuff to keep Milwaukee's lineup honest for five or six innings, and the Twins have enough offensive potential in their top three to scratch out runs against Gasser. Minnesota steals one on the road, 4-2, with a strong outing from Bradley being the difference.