Minnesota Twins DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Minnesota Twins right-handed pitching prospect Zebby Matthews was officially recalled from Triple-A St. Paul and will make his major-league debut in a start on Tuesday against the visiting division-rival Kansas City Royals. The Twins' No. 6 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, has an opportunity to stick around in Minnesota's starting rotation for a bit if he pitches well, with both Joe Ryan (shoulder) and Chris Paddack (forearm) on the injured list. The 24-year-old stands at 6-foot-5, 225 pounds and comes with plenty of swing-and-miss stuff. The former eighth-rounder in 2022 out of Western Carolina dominated at Double-A Wichita this year before posting a 5.68 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in four starts for St. Paul. Matthews fanned 114 with just seven walks at three minor-league levels, though. His first MLB matchup against KC isn't ideal, but Matthews could be worth a look as a deep-league streamer if he sticks around in the Twins' rotation.

Minnesota Twins infielder/outfielder Willi Castro hit a home run and drove in three runs in the Twins' win over Kansas City on Monday. The homer was the ninth of the season for the versatile Castro. In August, Castro is hitting .261 with two homers and 10 RBI in 11 games. The 27-year-old has 12 stolen bases this season and provides a nice mix of speed and production at the plate. Nothing wows the fantasy manager with Castro, but he is a valuable player with position flexibility to have on a roster.

Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis hit his 15th homer in Monday's 8-3 win over the Kansas City Royals. Lewis' two-run shot off Brady Singer capped off a six-run second inning for the Twins as he finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored. He is batting .279/.356/.664 with 34 RBI and 28 runs scored while equaling his 2023 home run total in just 40 games. Lewis' 1.021 OPS would be second to New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge if he was able to avoid injury this season. He is a must-start in all fantasy formats, and as long as he's in the lineup, Lewis is a top-end run producer.

Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton was removed from Monday's game against the division-rival Kansas City Royals at Target Field after striking out in the fifth inning. Manuel Margot replaced him in center field. There's no word yet from the Twins regarding the status of Buxton, as there wasn't an apparent reason why he was pulled on Monday night against the Royals. Fantasy managers should stay tuned for more details sometime during or after the contest. The oft-injured 30-year-old star outfielder is slashing a strong .275/.334/.528 with 16 home runs, 23 doubles, 49 RBI, and six stolen bases in 305 at-bats for Minnesota this year. Along with Margot, Austin Martin would be in line for more action if Buxton needs to miss additional time beyond Monday's matchup. UPDATE: Buxton left the game with right-hip discomfort and is considered day-to-day.

Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton went 2-for-4 with a pair of homers and three RBI in a 5-3 loss to the Cleveland Guardians. Buxton hit his 15th homer in the second inning and then knocked his 16th in the eighth. The 30-year-old has been terrific since late June and has managed to stay on the field for most of the year, something he hasn't been able to do much in his career. When he is playing, though, he's a terrific power hitter who can chip in some steals and sometimes manage a decent average. He should be rostered universally at this point but he is still available in some leagues. Be sure to check the waiver wire and make sure he isn't hanging around.