Minnesota Twins DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

The Chicago Cubs have placed right-handed pitcher Caleb Thielbar (paternity) on the paternity list. In a corresponding move, the Cubs have recalled Tom Cosgrove from Triple-A Iowa. Thielbar has been deployed as a high-leverage option out of the bullpen through the opening month of the campaign. Across his first 13 2/3 innings of work, Thielbar has held a 3.29 ERA with a 1.10 WHIP. Across this stint, he has struck out 14 batters and served up seven walks. Thielbar has typically been deployed in the seventh inning and has tallied three holds and one save. He has also blown two save opportunities. While he is sidelined, fantasy managers should expect Ryan Pressly to continue to operate as the go-to option in the ninth inning, with Porter Hodge being the setup man. When Thielbar does return, he will only hold value in NL-only formats that reward holds.

Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis is absent from the team's starting lineup for Friday's series opener at Target Field against the visiting San Francisco Giants. Brooks Lee will man third base and bat cleanup against Giants right-hander Jordan Hicks. Lewis has gone 0-for-9 with a strikeout in his first three games of the 2025 season after being activated from the injured list on Tuesday due to a hamstring strain he suffered in spring training. The 25-year-old former first overall pick in 2017 has quickly developed an injury-prone label but has high-end power from the right side, making him valuable in all fantasy leagues. Lewis should be back for Game 2 of the series against San Fran on Saturday. Lee's .253/.309/.387 slash line doesn't say much, and he's gone 7-for-30 (.233) with three doubles and two RBI in seven games in May. He has never faced Hicks early in his MLB career.

The Minnesota Twins announced on Thursday that right-hander Joe Ryan (illness) will make his next start on Saturday against the San Francisco Giants at Target Field in Minnesota. Right-hander Chris Paddack will get the ball for the series opener on Friday night. Ryan was originally scheduled to start Thursday's series finale against the Baltimore Orioles, but he was scratched due to an illness. The 28-year-old is obviously feeling better now and he'll take his next turn through the rotation this weekend. Although the matchup against the Giants isn't as good as the one against the struggling Orioles would have been, Ryan is still deserving of being in starting fantasy lineups on Saturday. In his seven starts so far in 2025, Ryan has an ERA under 3.00, a 0.90 WHIP, 47 strikeouts and only five walks in 40 innings pitched. He's allowed just one earned run with 19 K's in his last 13 innings pitched.

The Minnesota Twins have scratched right-hander Joe Ryan (illness) from his scheduled start on Thursday in the series finale against the Baltimore Orioles due to an illness, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune's Bobby Nightengale. Right-hander Bailey Ober will make the start in Ryan's place. It's unclear if Ryan will have his turn in Minnesota's rotation skipped entirely, or if he'll make a start at some point during the team's three-game home weekend series against the San Francisco Giants. After a six-run outing on April 20 against the Atlanta Braves, Ryan has been excellent his last two times out against the Angels and Red Sox, allowing just an earned run with two walks and 19 strikeouts in 13 innings. Ryan should be fine to take the ball this weekend against the Giants, but it represents a downgrade in matchup instead of facing the offensively-challenged Orioles.

Colorado Rockies infielder Kyle Farmer is not in the team's starting lineup for Thursday's contest against the visiting Detroit Tigers at Coors Field. Adael Amador will make the start at the keystone for Colorado and will hit eighth against Tigers rookie right-hander Jackson Jobe. Farmer has been the team's primary second baseman early in the 2025 season. The 34-year-old veteran hasn't been much of a fantasy contributor, though, even in deep leagues, as he enters Wednesday's action with just a .240 average (23-for-96) with no home runs, seven RBI and two runs scored in 29 games in his first year in Colorado. Amador, 22, will be playing in just his 26th MLB game. In 15 games so far this year, he's struggled by going 7-for-39 (.179) with a homer and three RBI. He has never faced Jobe in his career and will be a low-upside DFS sleeper on Wednesday.