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Brooks Lee Brooks Lee Absent from Minnesota lineup
Thu, Apr 9, 2026, 9:13 AM
Lee is not in the lineup for Thursday's tilt against the Tigers.
Analysis: It's a routine day off after Lee had started each of the previous five contests. Tristan Gray will fill in at shortstop and bat eighth for the Twins. |
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Ryan Jeffers Ryan Jeffers Out of lineup for matinee
Thu, Apr 9, 2026, 9:11 AM
Jeffers is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest versus the Tigers.
Analysis: Jeffers was behind the dish for the past two games, so he'll get a breather in Thursday's matinee. Victor Caratini is catching and batting fifth as the Twins attempt a four-game sweep. |
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Luke Keaschall Luke Keaschall Getting first day off Thursday
Thu, Apr 9, 2026, 9:07 AM
Keaschall is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Tigers.
Analysis: It's the first day off this season for Keaschall, who has reached base five times and driven in four runs in the first three games of the series. Kody Clemens will get the start at second base and slot into the No. 6 spot in the lineup as the Twins go for the sweep. |
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Kody Funderburk Kody Funderburk Collects first save
Wed, Apr 8, 2026, 11:24 PM
Funderburk walked one and hit one batter while not allowing a hit or a run in two-thirds of an inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 8-6 win over the Tigers.
Analysis: Funderburk made things interesting, but he managed to get the job done for his first save of the season. The Twins utilized Justin Topa and Cole Sands earlier in the contest, and Taylor Rogers may have been unavailable after pitching three times in the previous four days, leaving the bullpen short staffed. This was a fifth straight scoreless outing for Funderburk, who has pitched three hitless innings while issuing four walks in that span. He has a 3.18 ERA and 6:6 K:BB over 5.2 innings while adding a 1-1 record and three holds so far. While he may continue to see some high-leverage work, his early performance suggests his pitching will cause some stress. Funderburk is the fourth Twins pitcher to log a save this season, leaving no clarity to who will get the bulk of the closing duties. |
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Bailey Ober Bailey Ober Earns first win
Wed, Apr 8, 2026, 11:18 PM
Ober (1-0) allowed two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out two over 5.2 innings to earn the win over the Tigers on Wednesday.
Analysis: Ober came up an out short of a quality start, but this was still his best outing of the season. The 30-year-old had gone just four innings in each of his first two games. Ober threw 64 of 99 pitches for strikes Wednesday and limited the damage to the sixth inning. He has a 5.27 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 7:4 K:BB through 13.2 innings so far. Ober's lack of strikeouts is a concern, especially after he posted a career-worst 7.4 K/9 during the 2025 regular season. He's averaging just 89.1 mph on his four-seam fastball this year, down from 90.3 mph last year, so his strikeout numbers are unlikely to rebound if the velocity remains down. Ober is tentatively projected to make his next start at home versus the Red Sox. |
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Trevor Larnach Trevor Larnach Remaining out against lefty
Wed, Apr 8, 2026, 4:49 PM
Larnach is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers.
Analysis: Larnach will take a seat for the second straight game while the Tigers send another lefty (Framber Valdez) to the bump. Austin Martin will replace Larnach in left field and will bat second. |
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Josh Bell Josh Bell Collects three hits vs. Detroit
Tue, Apr 7, 2026, 10:15 PM
Bell went 3-for-4 with an RBI double during the Twins' 4-2 win over the Tigers on Tuesday.
Analysis: Bell gave the Twins a 4-0 lead in the fifth after he smacked an RBI double off Tarik Skubal. Bell leads the Twins with four doubles, and his eight RBIs is tied with Tristan Gray for the clubhouse lead. Bell has gone 9-for-34 (.265) with two home runs to open the 2026 campaign. |
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Justin Topa Justin Topa Collects first save of 2026
Tue, Apr 7, 2026, 10:03 PM
Topa earned the save in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Tigers, allowing one walk and no hits in two-thirds of an inning.
Analysis: Eric Orze was given the initial save opportunity but was pulled after yielding an RBI double to Kevin McGonigle. With Cole Sands and Taylor Rogers already deployed earlier in the game, the Twins turned to Topa, who proceeded to seal the win for Minnesota after getting two of the next three batters to ground out. Topa is one of three Twins pitchers to record a save this season, but there doesn't appear to be a clear-cut favorite for the closing job in Minnesota as of yet. |
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Taj Bradley Taj Bradley Fans 10 for second win of 2026
Tue, Apr 7, 2026, 9:58 PM
Bradley (2-0) came away with the win against the Tigers on Tuesday, allowing one run on six hits while striking out 10 across 6.1 innings. He did not issue a walk.
Analysis: Bradley set the tone by striking out each of the first two batters he faced and struck out at least one batter in each of the next six frames. He was tagged with an earned run after Parker Meadows came around to score in the seventh, but that was the only blemish to what was otherwise an outstanding start for Bradley, the latter of whom generated 15 whiffs while logging 68 strikes on 104 pitches (65.4 percent). Bradley has logged back-to-back quality starts and has yielded only two runs while striking out 22 batters across 16.2 innings to open the season. He's slated to start this weekend on the road against the Blue Jays. |
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Joe Ryan Joe Ryan Earns first win
Mon, Apr 6, 2026, 11:15 PM
Ryan (1-1) earned the win Monday, allowing three runs on three hits and three walks over five innings against the Tigers. He struck out seven.
Analysis: Ryan wasn't dominant but was able to limit damage and grind through five innings to earn his first win of the 2026 season. It was an encouraging bounce-back performance after the right-hander was tagged for five runs in his previous outing against the Royals. Through three starts, the 29-year-old owns a 4.40 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with a 17:5 K:BB across 14.1 innings, and his next outing is slated for Saturday against the Blue Jays. |
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Ryan Jeffers Ryan Jeffers Getting breather Monday
Mon, Apr 6, 2026, 3:03 PM
Jeffers is not in the lineup for Monday's tilt against the Tigers.
Analysis: Victor Caratini will be behind the dish in Monday's series opener. Jeffers is off to a slow start offensively this season, going 4-for-24 without an RBI across his first seven contests. He'll get a day to regroup and should be back in the lineup Tuesday. |
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Kody Clemens Kody Clemens Out of lineup versus righty
Mon, Apr 6, 2026, 3:01 PM
Clemens is absent from the lineup for Monday's tilt versus the Tigers.
Analysis: It's the first time in five games against right-handed pitching this season that Clemens is not in the starting lineup. Josh Bell will handle first base, Byron Buxton will be the designated hitter and James Outman will grab a start in center field for the Twins. |
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Simeon Woods Richardson Simeon Woods Richardson Solid again in no-decision
Sun, Apr 5, 2026, 8:29 PM
Woods Richardson did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 4-1 extra-inning loss to the Rays, allowing one run on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts over 6.2 innings.
Analysis: Despite throwing just 51 of 88 pitches for strikes, Woods Richardson turned in a quality start and kept the Rays in check aside from a solo homer by Junior Caminero in the fourth inning. While he's posted a modest 6:3 K:BB through two starts, the 25-year-old owns a 2.31 ERA and 1.11 WHIP across 11.2 innings. He lines up for a road matchup against the Blue Jays next weekend. |
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Royce Lewis Royce Lewis Not in lineup Sunday
Sun, Apr 5, 2026, 11:59 AM
Lewis is not starting Sunday versus Tampa Bay.
Analysis: Lewis will open the game on the bench after starting Minnesota's first eight games of the campaign. He's batting just .167 so far, though he's belted two homers, collected five RBI and stolen one base. Tristan Gray is getting a start at the hot corner in Lewis' stead. |
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Byron Buxton Byron Buxton Back in lineup Sunday
Sun, Apr 5, 2026, 10:14 AM
Buxton (forearm) is starting at DH and batting second against Tampa Bay on Sunday.
Analysis: Buxton was hit in the forearm by a pitch Friday and was held out of Saturday's contest. However, he appears to have avoided a major injury given his return to the lineup Sunday. The All-Star outfielder has struggled to begin the campaign, slashing .154/.207/.269 with just one RBI and a 1:9 BB:K through seven games. |
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Garrett Acton Garrett Acton Called up to Minnesota
Sun, Apr 5, 2026, 9:33 AM
The Twins recalled Acton from Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday.
Analysis: Minnesota acquired Acton in a trade with Miami on Thursday, and the right-hander will quickly get a chance to show the Twins what he can do. Acton worked just one MLB game last year while with the Rays, walking two batters in a hitless and scoreless inning, and he posted a 4:1 K:BB over two outings spanning 2.1 frames this season in the minors before being called up. In a corresponding roster move. Zak Kent was optioned to St. Paul. |
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Zak Kent Zak Kent Sent down to minors
Sun, Apr 5, 2026, 9:28 AM
The Twins optioned Kent to Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday.
Analysis: Kent has pitched in two games for Minnesota this season, allowing two earned runs on four hits (including two homers) while posting a 2:5 K:BB over 3.2 innings. He's struggled with his control in the minors and majors, so he may be asked to focus on that aspect of his game while with St. Paul. Right-handed pitcher Garrett Acton was called up from Triple-A in a corresponding move. |
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Mick Abel Mick Abel Tagged with loss Saturday
Sat, Apr 4, 2026, 9:33 PM
Abel (0-2) was tagged with the loss Saturday against the Rays after allowing four runs on six hits and three walks while fanning three across four innings.
Analysis: Abel had to labor through 84 pitches (53 strikes) just to get through four innings, and by the time he left the game, the Twins were down 4-1 already. Abel, who made his season debut in relief in a loss to the Orioles on March 29, has enjoyed a disappointing start to the season. Through 7.1 innings and two appearances, he's already allowed nine earned runs on 14 hits and seven walks while fanning seven. If he stays in the rotation, his next start would be lined up for next week against the Tigers. |
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Brooks Lee Brooks Lee Returning Saturday
Sat, Apr 4, 2026, 5:13 PM
Lee (illness) will start at shortstop and bat eighth against the Rays on Saturday.
Analysis: After missing two games due to an illness, Lee seems to be feeling better and will return to the starting nine Saturday to face left-hander Steven Matz. Lee had recorded hits in back-to-back contests before falling ill. |
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Byron Buxton Byron Buxton Not in Saturday's lineup
Sat, Apr 4, 2026, 4:07 PM
Buxton (forearm) isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Rays, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: X-rays on Buxton's forearm came back negative after he was hit by a pitch Friday, but the Twins will keep him out of the lineup Saturday as a precaution. An extended absence doesn't seem likely, however, as manager Derek Shelton said he believes the 32-year-old outfielder could be back in the starting nine within a day or two and could even be available off the bench for Saturday's contest. |
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