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Emilio Pagan Emilio Pagan Getting start after save Fri, Sep 29, 2023, 10:43 PM Pagan will start Saturday's game in Colorado after earning a save in Friday's 7-6 win over the Rockies, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports. Analysis: Pagan needed just nine pitches in an easy bottom of the ninth inning Friday to earn his first save of the season and will now turn right back around make his first career start. The 32-year-old right-hander will probably only be asked to cover the first inning Saturday for the AL Central-champion Twins.
Jorge Polanco Jorge Polanco Removed with sore ankle Fri, Sep 29, 2023, 9:30 PM Polanco is considered day-to-day after exiting Friday's game at Colorado due to right ankle soreness, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports. Analysis: Polanco tweaked his ankle on a fourth-inning strikeout, though he was able to gut it out until the bottom of the sixth. Donovan Solano slid over from first base to second base with Alex Kirilloff entering to play first. This is the same ankle Polanco has twice had surgically repaired, but it sounds like he could be available as early as Saturday for the AL Central-champion Twins.
Matt Wallner Matt Wallner Takes seat versus lefty Fri, Sep 29, 2023, 6:07 PM Wallner is not in the lineup Friday against the Rockies. Analysis: Jordan Luplow will start in left field and bat third versus the Rockies and left-hander Ty Blach. Wallner has struggled to a .481 OPS in 46 plate appearances against southpaws this season.
Alex Kirilloff Alex Kirilloff Sitting versus lefty Fri, Sep 29, 2023, 6:05 PM Kirilloff is absent from the lineup Friday at Colorado. Analysis: Donovan Solano will play first base and bat leadoff as the Twins take on Rockies left-hander Ty Blach. Kirilloff, a left-handed hitter, has slashed just .125/.232/.250 in 56 plate appearances versus southpaws this year.
Edouard Julien Edouard Julien Gets breather Friday Fri, Sep 29, 2023, 6:01 PM Julien is not in the lineup Friday against the Rockies. Analysis: This looks to be a planned day of rest for Julien, who boasts an .825 OPS with 15 homers and three steals through his first 107 major-league games. Christian Vazquez will serve as the Twins' designated hitter Friday at Colorado. Donovan Solano is batting leadoff.
Sonny Gray Sonny Gray Sharp over four innings Fri, Sep 29, 2023, 6:00 AM Gray did not factor into the decision Thursday, allowing one run on three hits and one walk over four innings against Oakland while striking out four. Analysis: Gray allowed three hits over the first two innings, with the last one driving home JJ Bleday to give the Athletics their first run of the game. However, the right-hander would not allow another hit until being relieved by Kenta Maeda to start the fifth. Gray now finishes the month of September with a sparkling 2.00 ERA and 27:4 K:BB as the Twins prepare for the postseason.
Kenta Maeda Kenta Maeda Will not make another start Thu, Sep 28, 2023, 11:48 AM Maeda is not scheduled for another start this season, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports. Analysis: Maeda last pitched on Sept. 19, when he struck out eight over five scoreless innings in Cincinnati. He projects to be used as a reliever in the postseason, and the Twins look to be shifting him to that role now. Maeda figures to see some bullpen work this weekend in Colorado so he doesn't go into the playoffs following such a long layoff. A scheduled bullpen game Saturday would seem to be a prime opportunity.
Pablo Lopez Pablo Lopez Starting Game 1 for Twins Thu, Sep 28, 2023, 11:37 AM Lopez will start Game 1 of the Wild Card Series for the Twins, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports. Analysis: It comes as no surprise since it's the way the pitchers have been lined up, but it will be Lopez in the first game and Sonny Gray in Game 2 against a yet-to-be-determined opponent. Lopez is certainly deserving of the honor, as he finished the regular season with a 3.66 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 234:48 K:BB over 194 innings in his first year in Minnesota.
Carlos Correa Carlos Correa Won't return this weekend Thu, Sep 28, 2023, 11:30 AM Correa (foot) will not rejoin the Twins before the end of the regular season, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. Analysis: The original plan had been for Correa to travel with the Twins to Colorado for their final series of the regular season. However, the decision has been made for him to stay back and participate in simulated games instead. It is not being viewed as a setback, as Correa still appears in line to play in Game 1 of the Wild Card round next week. The veteran shortstop has been plagued by plantar fasciitis and will finish the 2023 season having slashed a disappointing .230/.312/.399 with 18 home runs over 135 games.
Max Kepler Max Kepler Sitting out Thursday Thu, Sep 28, 2023, 9:48 AM Kepler is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game against the Athletics. Analysis: Kepler had started the previous three contests but will begin Thursday's afternoon tilt on the bench. Trevor Larnach is in right field for the Twins.
Jorge Polanco Jorge Polanco Absent from lineup Thu, Sep 28, 2023, 9:45 AM Polanco is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest versus the Athletics. Analysis: Polanco will take a seat for the afternoon game after starting the previous three contests. Donovan Solano is at second base and Willi Castro is at third.
Royce Lewis Royce Lewis Plays simulated game Wed, Sep 27, 2023, 4:15 PM Lewis (hamstring) played in a simulated game Wednesday at Target Field, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports. Analysis: He even hit a homer, per Park. Lewis has made a swift recovery from the mild left hamstring strain he suffered last Tuesday and could be activated from the injured list when first eligible this Sunday, the final day of the regular season. The 24-year-old is a key potential run producer for the Twins as they head into the playoffs.
Byron Buxton Byron Buxton Moves workouts to Minneapolis Tue, Sep 26, 2023, 11:21 PM Buxton (knee) will work out with the Twins this week with the minor league season over as Minnesota evaluates him for a possible addition to the postseason roster, MLB.com reports. He went 1-for-8 during two games at Triple-A St. Paul last weekend. Analysis: It seems unlikely he'll be activated from the injured list ahead of the playoffs especially with the Twins playing their final series on the road in Colorado. Buxton's last rehab stint in early September was shut down after two games due to a flareup of the patella tendinitis in his right knee. It's encouraging he made it through two games over the weekend without a setback, but he didn't play in the field and didn't get much work due to a rainout in St. Paul. He may not be activated for the postseason roster as a result. It's hard to see how the Twins could elect to use him in center field in the playoffs even though that was probably the plan when his first rehab stint started in early September.
Royce Lewis Royce Lewis Taking swings Tue, Sep 26, 2023, 4:35 PM Lewis (hamstring) was swinging a bat Tuesday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports. Analysis: The 24-year-old has been sidelined by a strained hamstring since Sept. 20, so his relatively quick return to swinging a bat is an encouraging sign. Lewis will be eligible to be reinstated from the injured list on the final day of the regular season Sunday, though it remains to be seen if he's expected to be healthy by that point.
Dylan Floro Dylan Floro DFA'd by Minnesota Tue, Sep 26, 2023, 4:23 PM Floro was designated for assignment by the Twins on Tuesday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports. Analysis: The right-hander was acquired from the Marlins for Jorge Lopez in late July but had a 5.29 ERA over 17 innings for the Twins. Floro will be a free agent this winter and wasn't likely to be included on Minnesota's playoff roster, so the organization opted to cut its losses late in the regular season.
Brock Stewart Brock Stewart Back from injured list Tue, Sep 26, 2023, 4:19 PM Stewart (elbow) was reinstated from the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.comreports. Analysis: The right-hander has been sidelined by elbow tendinitis since late June but is ready to rejoin the Twins for home stretch of the regular season. Stewart posted a 0.70 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 35:11 K:BB across 25.2 innings prior to the injury, but he may need to pitch well in his appearances this week in order to crack Minnesota's playoff roster.
Ryan Jeffers Ryan Jeffers Receives Tuesday off Tue, Sep 26, 2023, 4:07 PM Jeffers is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game versus Oakland. Analysis: Jeffers has an .857 OPS over 45 at-bats in September but continues to split time behind the plate with Christian Vazquez, who is starting and batting eighth Tuesday.
Yunior Severino Yunior Severino Up to 35 homers Mon, Sep 25, 2023, 9:23 PM Severino has hit .272 with 35 home runs in 120 games across stops at Double-A and Triple-A this season. Analysis: A former middle infielder, Severino is now a power-hitting corner infielder, splitting time at Triple-A primarily between first base and third base. His 36.1 percent hart-hit rate, 12.2 percent soft-hit rate and 113.1 mph max exit velocity are elite marks, but Severino's 36.6 percent strikeout rate at Triple-A is a pretty big red flag. The Twins will need to add him to the 40-man roster this offseason if they want to protect the switch hitter from the Rule 5 draft.
Jorge Polanco Jorge Polanco Chips in with solo home run Mon, Sep 25, 2023, 9:06 AM Polanco went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Sunday's win over the Twins. Analysis: Polanco took Carson Fulmer deep in the third and now has a hit in 18 of his last 22 games dating back to Aug. 26. Over that span, he's slashing .295/.376/.568 with six homers, 19 RBI, 17 runs scored and a 12:27 BB:K. He should continue to hit near the top of the order as the Twins gear up for the playoffs.
Ryan Jeffers Ryan Jeffers Powers Twins to victory Mon, Sep 25, 2023, 9:01 AM Jeffers went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer, a triple, three RBI and two runs scored in Sunday's win over the Angels. Analysis: Jeffers picked up a triple in the sixth inning that traveled 416-feet and would've been a home run in 24 of 30 parks and followed up with a two-run blast in the seventh to put the Twins up 9-3. Although he's been a much more impactful hitter than Christian Vazquez (.841 OPS compared to .597 for Vazquez), the two continue to split time behind the dish, and it's unclear if that would potentially change during the playoffs. For the year, Jeffers is slashing .270/.367/.474 with 12 home runs, 39 RBI, 43 runs and a 32:90 BB:K in 317 plate appearances.