The Twins are trying to stack another win on top of Monday’s 4-2 victory over the Braves, but they’ll do it Tuesday night without Byron Buxton in the starting lineup.
Buxton is getting a day to reset after playing four straight games since coming off the injured list on August 13. The move doesn’t appear to be tied to any new issue. It looks like a simple rest day for the veteran center fielder.
That opens the door for Luke Keaschall, who will slide into center field and hit leadoff. Trevor Larnach moves into the two spot and starts in left field, with Ryan Jeffers bumped up to No. 3.
Minnesota’s lineup shuffle comes after it jumped on Atlanta right away Monday. The Twins scored all four of their runs in the first inning and never let go, with Josh Bell driving in two and Royce Lewis and Kody Clemens adding one RBI apiece. Bailey Ober gave up two runs in 4 1/3 innings, and the bullpen handled the rest as Minnesota improved to 61-65.
Zebby Matthews gets the ball Tuesday, carrying a 6-8 record, a 5.34 ERA and 77 strikeouts into the matchup. He’s been up and down all season, and now he draws a Braves order that includes Ronald Acuna Jr., Matt Olson and Michael Harris II.
On the other side, Atlanta is turning to a name Twins fans know well. Former Minnesota starter Tyler Mahle will start for the Braves. He comes in at 4-9 with a 4.64 ERA and 105 strikeouts.
Acuna bats second for Atlanta, and that matchup figures to be a key one for Matthews. If the Twins can keep him off the bases, it takes some of the pressure off before Olson and Harris step in behind him.
Lewis stays at first base after driving in a run Monday. Minnesota is still looking for steadier production from him as the season enters its final stretch, and this game gives him another chance to build on that momentum against Mahle.
Keaschall, meanwhile, will have a lot on his plate. He went 2-for-5 on Monday with a double and a run scored, and now he’ll handle center field while setting the table from the top of the order. With Buxton resting and Austin Martin on the 10-day injured list, Minnesota is asking for even more from him.
First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. CT at Target Field.
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Still, Minnesota has a future option lined up in Walker Jenkins, whose strong work in Triple-A has only sharpened the sense that the long-term answer could be coming soon. Jenkins is expected to be the clubs primary center fielder down the road, potentially by 2027, which leaves the Twins balancing what Buxton can still provide now with the likelihood that they will eventually have to hand the position to the next wave. [Read more 🡒]