Minnesota Twins DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler (neck) left the game early on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Rays with neck spasms. Kepler appeared to get hurt while sliding head-first into first base. He was replaced by Manuel Margot in left field, with Trevor Larnach moving to right field. Before leaving the contest early, Kepler went hitless in his lone at-bat to drop his season average to .251. Until we know more about the 31-year-old's status, he should be considered day-to-day. Fantasy baseball managers will want to check back to see if he's back in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener in Oakland against the Athletics. If Kepler's injury is serious enough to force him to the injured list, Margot would likely be the biggest beneficiary in Minnesota's outfield. In addition to his injury, Kepler has struggled in June, going 11-for-57 (.193) with two homers, eight RBI and 17 K's in 15 games played.

Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis continued his hot hitting in a 3-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday. Lewis went 3-for-4 with a solo homer in the losing effort. The fifth-inning blast gave the Twins a 2-1 lead and traveled 410 feet with an exit velocity of 108.7 MPH. Lewis has just 50 at-bats in 2024 but he has already racked up eight homers, 13 runs, and 12 RBI to go along with a .380 batting average. The 25-year-old is a must-start in all fantasy formats moving forward.

Minnesota Twins utilityman Willi Castro went 2-for-4 with a walk, two doubles and a three RBI in Tuesday's victory versus the Tampa Bay Rays. Castro was leading off in the contest, his fourth straight start at the top of the order. The versatile veteran has been having a good season for the Twins, hitting .265 with five homers, 21 RBI, 41 runs and eight stolen bases in 249 at-bats. The Twins have dealt with different injuries throughout the season, but Castro's flexibility has made him a staple for the Twins this season. He will not blow away any particular category, but he offers just enough across the board to be valuable in deeper leagues, especially being eligible at multiple positions.

Minnesota Twins outfield prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez (thumb) was placed on the 7-day injured list on June 7 and remains sidelined at Double-A Wichita. Rodriguez was having a nice season at Wichita with a .298 average, eight home runs, and 20 RBI to go with a 1.100 OPS. He has added nine stolen bases. The No. 3 prospect in the Twins' system has shown good plate discipline (46 strikeouts, 40 walks) and possesses 60-grade power. Unfortunately, the injury has stalled some of his progress but he could still be looking at a promotion to Triple-A at some point this season. The 21-year-old is likely looking at 2025 for a major-league debut but his hitting profile makes him one of the top young outfielders for fantasy purposes.

Minnesota Twins outfielder Matt Wallner went 2-for-5 with two runs, three RBI and a home run for Triple-A St. Paul. Wallner's home run would be the 16th of the season for Wallner, who opened the season with the big-league club. To go along with his impressive 16 longballs, Wallner has driven in 43 runs and hit .250 over 200 at-bats. Wallner made his debut last season and hit 14 homers in 76 games, but struggled with his time in the big leagues earlier this season with two hits in 25 at-bats. Wallner has light tower power, but doesn't offer much else and could eventually become a Quad-A type of player. The power is nice, but dynasty managers could feel safe swapping him for a player with better upside.