Aug 11, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins middle fielder Byron Buxton (25) hits a solo house run throughout the second inning towards the Cleveland Guardians at Goal Discipline. Necessary Credit score: Jordan Johnson-Imagn Pictures Byron Buxton is again. Royce Lewis is coming off an enormous recreation. Six-foot-nine-inch Bailey Ober is able to climb to the highest of the mound.
The Minnesota Twins (78-68) know they face a vital weekend sequence towards the Cincinnati Reds (71-77) beginning Friday evening in Minneapolis, they usually hope they’ve the items in place to make it a profitable one.
Minnesota holds a 3 1/2-game lead over the Detroit Tigers for the ultimate wild-card spot within the American League. The Twins can’t afford to slide with 16 video games left.
“There’s urgency,” Twins supervisor Rocco Baldelli mentioned. “We have to seek out methods to win any method attainable.”
In steps Buxton, the electrifying and oft-injured outfielder who has not performed since Aug. 12 due to a hip harm. The Twins plan to activate him from the injured checklist Friday.
The 30-year-old Buxton is hitting .275 with 16 homers, 49 RBIs and 6 stolen bases in 90 video games this season. His .862 OPS ranks second amongst certified hitters on the group, trailing injured Carlos Correa.
Buxton’s arrival affords a jolt of vitality to Lewis and different Twins regulars.
“It is thrilling,” mentioned Lewis, who went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs in Wednesday’s 6-4 win over the Los Angeles Angels. “I feel it is nice for everybody as a result of it is a glimmer of hope, irrespective of how we had been feeling or what was happening up to now.”
Reds right-hander Julian Aguiar (1-0, 5.06 ERA) will attempt to spoil the Twins’ good emotions. The rookie from Lengthy Seashore, Calif., is anticipated to make his sixth profession begin.
Aguilar is coming off a no-decision towards the New York Mets on Sunday. He allowed two hits, walked two and struck out two in 4 2/3 scoreless innings.
This shall be Aguilar’s first profession begin towards the Twins.
Minnesota will counter with Ober (12-6, 3.77), the hulking right-hander who has 162 strikeouts in 155 innings. He has allowed one earned run in 13 innings over his previous two begins towards the Toronto Blue Jays and Kansas Metropolis Royals.
Ober, 29, is 0-0 with a 5.79 ERA in two profession begins towards Cincinnati.
The Reds will attempt to bounce again from a 6-1 loss towards the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday. Cincinnati managed simply 4 hits, none of which went for additional bases, and Jonathan India drove within the group’s lone run.
Reds supervisor David Bell praised Cardinals right-hander Sonny Grey for getting the higher of the Cincinnati lineup. Grey was teammates for the earlier two seasons with Ober on the Twins.
“Sonny was actually good early,” Bell mentioned. “We created the chance early there within the inning, and we weren’t in a position to provide you with the massive hit. Sonny did job of limiting the harm there and pitching out of it.”
Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz may check the Twins’ catchers if he will get on base. De La Cruz has 64 stolen bases this season, 16 greater than the next-closest participant within the massive leagues (Shohei Ohtani, 48).
Reds outfielder Will Benson’s standing for the sequence opener is unsure after he left Thursday’s recreation due to a finger harm. Benson was hit on the left center finger as he tried to place down a bunt.
–Discipline Degree Media