All Things 2026 Minnesota Twins In-Season Thread


Swing batter batter, swing

How good was Taj Mahal’s stuff last night (per Hayes’ article on the game) -



25 swings-and-misses, the fourth most by any major-league pitcher this season.

Bradley’s 25 swings-and-misses overall (in 101 pitches) are tied for the 151st most by a pitcher dating to 2008, according to Baseball Savant. His 17 swings-and-misses on the cutter are tied for the third most ever for that pitch, with the Boston Red Sox’s John Lackey (2013) and the Houston Astros’ Luis Garcia (2023) previously generating 19 whiffs.

If he doesn’t get hurt, misses starts and then has to find his groove again after returning from the IL, he has double digit WS and is an AS.
 



Interesting. Shelton has Keaschall in CF tonight.
I like it, he’s been excellent in RF and him there vs. Kreidler keeps Gray off the field; can’t give away free outs against the Tribe.

Only way to find out if Luke can handle it is to let him try. I like Shelton as a manager, he bunts, has done a bang up job with a sus pen and I don’t have see wave ‘em Watkins windmill us into outs at home on at ab insane clip. I give him a B+/A-
 


Ober taking the hill in the series finale tomorrow afternoon -


MINNEAPOLIS – Twins manager Derek Shelton laid out his expected rotation for the remaining days before the All-Star break on Wednesday, and there’s one big addition. Right-hander Bailey Ober is expected to start Thursday’s series finale against Cleveland, making his return after almost six weeks on the injured list.

Ober was placed on the IL following his May 30 start in Pittsburgh with what the team called right elbow inflammation. He has made two Minor League rehabilitation starts, most recently on Saturday for Triple-A St. Paul. The veteran is 6-3 with a 4.59 ERA on the year, a mark that climbed significantly in that start against the Pirates. He had pitched very well for most of the season’s first two months.

Prior to Tuesday’s game against the Guardians, Ober threw a bullpen session. He reported no problems upon coming to the park a day later, clearing him to return to active duty.


“Bailey came in good,” Shelton said. “He’s good. I would say there’s a strong expectation that Bailey will start tomorrow.”
He’ll take the roster spot of rookie right-handed reliever Marco Raya, who was placed on the injured list Wednesday with a right shoulder impingement. Raya has pitched six innings over three appearances with a 3.00 ERA.

Righty Zebby Matthews, who suffered a right foot laceration in his last start, will take the ball Friday at home against the Angels. He’ll be followed by All-Star Joe Ryan, and surging Taj Bradley will start the team’s final game before the break on Sunday.
“Overall it’s going to be nice to get back to closer to being healthy,” Shelton said. “We’re getting there. [Ryan] Jeffers and [Cole] Sands both played last night in a Minor League rehab game. So we’re getting closer to being full strength.”
 

Kids who bring gloves to games warm my heart.
Adults who bring gloves fill me with rage. I've had more than enough of Plouffe's act.
 

My gawd, get rid of this 4 person embarrassment announcing the game.
 













Its a long season with plenty left to go, but these guys are definitely exceeding expectations. Shelton has done a great job so far managing around a rag arm bullpen and injuries.
 

Its a long season with plenty left to go, but these guys are definitely exceeding expectations. Shelton has done a great job so far managing around a rag arm bullpen and injuries.
Yep, I never thought we'd care about a game on July 9.

It helps that the league is very mediocre, but it's cool they are in it.
 

Its a long season with plenty left to go, but these guys are definitely exceeding expectations. Shelton has done a great job so far managing around a rag arm bullpen and injuries.
This is pretty cool & amazing, from Hayes’ article in The Athletic today -

Twins won for the 14th time in 21 games to climb within a game of the .500 mark and they have now won 7 of their last 8 series.
 





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