Minnesota Twins DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (back) is starting in center field and is batting second for the Twins in Game 1 of Friday's doubleheader against the visiting division-rival Cleveland Guardians and left-hander Joey Cantillo. Buxton developed some lower-back stiffness after crashing into the outfield wall last Sunday and missed the team's last three games, but he's ready to go for a big weekend series against Cleveland. However, there's a good chance the Twins will keep the 30-year-old oft-injured outfielder out of the lineup for the second game of the twin bill. Although he's hit just .227 (10-for-44) in 13 games since the All-Star break, Buxton does have five home runs, three doubles, eight RBI, six walks and a stolen base in that span and will be hoping to pick up where he left off before tweaking his back.

Minnesota Twins right-hander Joe Ryan (triceps) is undergoing an MRI exam on Thursday after being forced to leave his start early on Wednesday against the Chicago Cubs with right-triceps tightness after two innings of work. We should have word on the results sooner than later and whether Ryan will be forced to the 15-day injured list. The Twins were optimistic on Wednesday that the 28-year-old's injury wasn't a long-term one, but that doesn't mean they won't put him on the IL and have him rest up for at least two weeks. In four starts since the All-Star break in mid-July, Ryan is 1-3 after allowing 10 runs (nine earned) on 14 hits (three homers) while walking four and striking out 23 in 20 1/3 innings. With a 27.3% strikeout rate and career-low 4.3% walk rate, Ryan has been a fantasy asset in most leagues in 2024.

Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli noted on Wednesday that shortstop Carlos Correa (heel) is ramping up his running, but he is not sprinting yet. "When he's able to sprint and run the way that he needs to, he's going to go on a rehab assignment and go get some at-bats," Baldelli said. "Then he'll be on his way back at that point." Correa jogged on the field for the first time on Saturday since going on the injured list on July 20 due to right plantar fasciitis, and there is still optimism that the 29-year-old star infielder will be able to return to the Twins sometime in mid-August. Until Correa is back, switch-hitting utility man Willi Castro should be rostered in all fantasy leagues. Castro is slashing .257/.344/.403 with eight home runs, 25 doubles, 64 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases in 404 at-bats this year.

Minnesota Twins right-hander Joe Ryan (triceps) left his outing early in the bottom of the third inning on Wednesday versus the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field due to right-triceps tightness. Before calling for trainers, Ryan had allowed an earned run on a home run while walking none and striking out two in two innings pitched. Fantasy managers should be pretty worried until we know more about the severity of the 28-year-old's injury. Coming into Wednesday's start, Ryan had gone 7-7 with a 3.59 ERA (3.38 FIP), a 0.99 WHIP, 145 strikeouts and only 23 walks in 133 innings over 22 starts in his fourth year in the big leagues. His combination of a 27.3% strikeout rate and career-low 4.3% walk rate made have made him relevant in all fantasy leagues, but fantasy managers may want to brace for a potential stint on the injured list.

Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis is getting the day off at Wrigley Field against the hosting Chicago Cubs. With Lewis on the bench to start, Jose Miranda will make the start at third base and bat third, with Matt Wallner serving as the designated hitter and batting cleanup against Cubs right-hander Javier Assad. Lewis will take a seat after starting each of the team's last eight games. The 25-year-old right-handed slugger has started off the month of August by going 5-for-17 (.294) with three home runs, a double and 10 RBI in five games for the Twins. The former first overall pick in 2017 has been as injury-prone as they come early in his big-league career, but when healthy, he's a must-start in fantasy with elite power production. Lewis currently has 14 homers, 31 RBI and a .280 average (35-for-125) in only 35 games in 2024.