Minnesota Twins DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Minnesota Twins outfielder Matt Wallner went 2-for-4 with a home run and a double during Monday's 8-6 extra-inning win over the Chicago White Sox. Wallner hit a two-run homer in the top of the seventh that tied the game at 5-5, his second and first since April 13. He was called up on Sunday after the team placed utility player Austin Martin (oblique) on the injured list and has recorded three hits in five at-bats since returning. Wallner is slashing .167/.333/.433 with six RBI and two runs scored in 30 at-bats. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues should keep an eye on him, as Wallner's power can provide a needed jolt.

Minnesota Twins closer Jhoan Duran improved to 5-3 in Monday's 8-6 extra-innings win over the White Sox. Duran came in to pitch the bottom of the 10th inning with the game tied and pitched a scoreless inning, allowing no hits and a walk with a strikeout. The Twins would score in the top of the 11th and Kody Funderburk closed out the game, making Duran the winning pitcher. The 26-year-old has not provided the strikeouts fantasy managers were expecting but has been solid overall, converting 13 of 14 save opportunities with a 3.14 ERA, an 8.16 K/9 rate, and a 3.14 BB/9 rate in 28 2/3 innings pitched. He did miss the start of the season with a right oblique strain and his pitches are all down about one MPH, but he still has electric stuff, which should help boost his strikeout rate.

Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton continued to produce at the plate in Monday's 8-6 extra-innings win over the White Sox. Buxton went 3-for-5 with a single, a pair of doubles, an RBI, and a strikeout. The 30-year-old is having a great offensive summer and now owns a .282/.332/.496 slash line for the season with nine home runs, 41 runs scored, 38 RBI, and five stolen bases in 259 plate appearances. Fantasy managers know how productive Buxton can be from a fantasy perspective when healthy, and it looks like things are clicking for him in one of baseball's hottest lineups.

Minnesota Twins first baseman Carlos Santana is taking the day off on Monday for the series opener against the hosting Chicago White Sox. Jose Miranda will take over at first base and bat cleanup, while rookie Brooks Lee will start at third and bat seventh against White Sox right-hander Chris Flexen. The 38-year-old veteran switch-hitter has been solid but not spectacular as Minnesota's regular first baseman this year, hitting .247 (72-for-291) with 12 homers, 40 RBI and an above-average .752 OPS. He'll make way for one of the hottest hitters in baseball in the early portion of July. Since June 26, Miranda has gone 22-for-38 (.579) with a homer, six doubles, 13 RBI, a steal and 11 runs scored in only 11 games. Meanwhile, Lee, one of the club's top prospects, looks like a seasoned vet with a .474 average (9-for-19) with a homer and six RBI in his first five big-league games.

Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa (finger) is starting at shortstop and batting second for the Twins on Monday against the hosting Chicago White Sox and right-hander Chris Flexen. Correa left Sunday's win over the Houston Astros in the first inning after he was hit by a pitch on his right hand, but fortunately X-rays came back negative and he won't have to miss any time at all. The 29-year-old Puerto Rican infielder has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball in the first half of the season, slashing .305/.376/.508 with an .883 OPS, 11 home runs, 45 RBI and 48 runs scored in 262 at-bats. He'll enter Monday's contest carrying a nine-game hitting streak that has seen him go 12-for-34 (.353) with three homers, two doubles, nine RBI and 11 runs scored. Correa is also hitting .313 with an RBI in 16 career at-bats against Flexen. Get him back into starting fantasy lineups everywhere.