Minnesota Twins DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Chris Paddack (head) exited Saturday's spring training contest early with a head contusion. Paddack was hit in the head by a deflected line drive. He did not suffer a concussion. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status but it appears that Paddack avoided a significant injury. The 29-year-old is currently one of the favorites to earn one of the final spots in the Minnesota rotation. Last summer, Paddack logged 88 1/3 innings of work to the tune of a 4.99 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. He tallied 79 punchouts and held a strong 5.5 percent walk rate. However, he generated a high 4.84 xERA with a .272 xBA. If he does claim one of the final spots in the Minnesota rotation, he will have value as a streaming option in deeper leagues.

Minnesota Twins right-handed pitcher Justin Topa (shoulder) is dealing with shoulder tightness and is set to play catch later on Saturday to determine the extent of the injury. The 34-year-old was removed from a spring training contest on Wednesday due to this injury. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he could be sidelined if the injury is serious. Last season, Topa logged just two 1/3 innings of work in the major leagues as he spent most of the season on the injured list due to left patellar tendinitis and a tear in his left patellar tendon. During the 2023 campaign, the 34-year-old posted a strong 2.61 ERA with a 1.14 WHIP across 69 innings of work. When he does return to the mound, fantasy managers should expect him to compete for a middle-relief role in the Minnesota bullpen.

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Zebby Matthews (hip) is recovering well from his hip strain and is expected to throw a bullpen on Sunday. This is a great sign as the 24-year-old exited Thursday's spring training contest early with this injury. Fantasy managers should monitor his status after the bullpen as he could be nearing a return to game action if he performs well. Matthews is currently competing for a spot at the back of the starting rotation. Last season, Matthews made his MLB debut and logged 37 2/3 innings to the tune of a 6.69 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. However, removing two starts in which he allowed six or more runs, he held a solid 3.58 ERA with a 1.29 WHIP in the majors. Earlier in the summer, the Western Carolina product held a stellar 1.95 ERA and a 0.76 WHIP across 55 1/3 innings at Double-A. If this injury were to keep Matthews sidelined for a longer period in camp, David Festa could have a better opportunity to make the Opening Day roster.

Minnesota Twins right-hander Zebby Matthews (ankle, foot) left Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the New York Yankees after making a nice play on a slow chopper near the foul line. Matthews' right ankle/foot slipped as he was making the play, but he was able to walk off the field under his own power. We'll have an update on the 24-year-old's injury once the Twins provide an update. The former eighth-round pick in 2022 out of Western Carolina University made his major-league debut in Minnesota last year and struggled to a 1-4 record, 6.69 ERA (5.71 FIP), 1.65 WHIP, 43 strikeouts and 11 walks in 37 2/3 innings in his first nine starts. Matthews began the year all the way down in High-A but rose quickly through the farm system, but he was unable to duplicate his strong control and high strikeout rates in his small sample size. He's a young arm to watch, though, given his combination of control and batt-missing stuff.

Minnesota Twins outfielder Austin Martin is expected to primarily play in the outfield during spring training. Last season, Martin spent most of his time in the outfield but did see occasional starts at second base. Throughout the early part of spring training games, Martin has served as the team's center fielder. Manager Rocco Baldelli noted that he wants Martin to be a "defensive star out there." The 25-year-old is currently fighting for a spot on the Opening Day roster. Last season, Martin spent most of his season in the majors but had a brief stint with Triple-A. Across his first 93 MLB contests, Martin posted a .253/.318/.352 slash line. He tallied 18 doubles and swiped seven bags. He will compete alongside Willi Castro and Harrison Bader for a depth role in the Minnesota outfield during camp.