Minnesota Twins DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Minnesota Twins rookie starting pitcher David Festa improved to 2-2 in Monday's 3-0 win over the Cubs. Festa pitched five innings, allowing just two hits and two walks with nine strikeouts. The 24-year-old has made five appearances with the Twins this season, four of them starts and owns a 5.55 ERA with an 11.10 K/9 rate and a 2.22 BB/9 rate in 24 1/3 IP. Festa is the Twins' top pitching prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and showed high strikeout potential with Triple-A St. Paul, although he did struggle a bit with home runs. Both his strikeout upside and HR issues have carried over in his limited big-league sample size. His next start is scheduled to be a tough one against the Guardians. Fantasy managers may want to consider sitting him if they can.

Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli says third baseman Brooks Lee's (shoulder) right shoulder is a little sore, which is part of the reason why the infielder was out of the lineup for a second day in a row for Monday's series opener against the hosting Chicago Cubs. Baldelli said Lee could have started on Monday, though. After the session, Lee was taking ground balls at shortstop in batting practice and hit on the field. Fantasy managers should look for the 23-year-old top prospect to return to Minnesota's starting nine as early as Tuesday's matchup against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Through 92 at-bats to begin his major-league career, Lee is slashing a lukewarm .250/.311/.326 with two home runs, 14 RBI, and two stolen bases.

Minnesota Twins infielders Jose Miranda and Brooks Lee are absent from the starting lineup at Wrigley Field on Monday against the hosting Chicago Cubs. Royce Lewis is playing third base and is batting third, while Matt Wallner will operate as the designated hitter and bat cleanup against Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks. Austin Martin is at the keystone and batting ninth for the Twins. Miranda was on fire at the dish before going on the injured list before the All-Star break and has gone 6-for-20 (.300) with two doubles and an RBI in six games since coming off the IL on July 27. Lee started in 24 straight games after his first big-league call-up but will head to the bench for the second straight day. The 23-year-old has gone 4-for-23 (.174) since Miranda returned from the IL and will need to start swinging a hotter bat to hold off Martin at second base.

Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (undisclosed) is not in the team's starting lineup on Monday against the hosting Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Buxton ran into the outfield wall while making a catch on Sunday against the Chicago White Sox and was pulled from the game due to an undisclosed injury. Although the 30-year-old veteran was medically cleared, the Twins will play it safe and keep the oft-injured outfielder out on Monday. For now, fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day and check back on Tuesday to see if he's back in the fold. Manuel Margot will start in center field and bat eighth on Monday against Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks. Margot carries very little fantasy upside with a .238 average (54-for-227) with only three homers, 25 RBI and four steals on the year, especially batting out of the eight-hole.

Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton was removed early during Sunday's game against the Chicago White Sox. The speedy outfielder collided into the wall making an incredible catch to end the sixth inning. After that, Buxton was removed from the game but it was likely for precautionary reasons. The Twins were already running away with the game so there was no reason to push Buxton back out there. He was checked out by the medical staff and appears to be fine going forward. Fantasy managers should double check on Monday just in case something does pop up.