Even the most stubborn critics of analytics would concede that it usually helps to know about the opponent.

Taj Bradley apparently hadn’t devoted much time to pre-game preparation. The third-year starting pitcher admitted, per the Minnesota Star Tribune’s Bobby Nightengale , that he never read a scouting report until Saturday’s start.

“I just never did it at all,” Bradley said. “I was kind of out there blind the whole time. After my last outing, I had a lot of soft contact, so I figured now is the time. OK, get your head in the books, learn a bit about the hitters you’re going up against.”

Bradley might want to do it more. The 24-year-old allowed one hit (a solo home run) over five innings in his second start with the Minnesota Twins. He notched six strikeouts, but the bullpen implode

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