The Twins have a chance to take the series from the Guardians on Wednesday, and they’ll do it with Joe Ryan back on the mound for just his second start since coming off the injured list.
Ryan’s return has not been seamless. In his last outing, he took the loss after allowing three runs, two earned, over 4.0 innings.
For the season, he’s 6-9 with a 3.68 ERA. The matchup history does not exactly tilt in his favor, either.
The last time he saw Cleveland in July, Ryan was hit hard, giving up six home runs and eight runs total in 4.0 innings.
Cleveland is handing the ball to Tanner Beibee, who comes in with a 5-15 record and a 4.22 ERA this season. The Twins, though, haven’t had much luck against him over the years. Beibee has posted a 2.84 ERA in 63 1/3 innings against Minnesota in his career.
Brayan Rocchio has already made plenty of noise in this series, and his track record against Ryan suggests he could be a problem again. Rocchio is 4-for-10 against him, with two doubles, a home run and three RBIs.
On the other side, Royce Lewis is starting to show signs of life after a long slump. He’s delivered RBI doubles in both games of the series, a welcome boost for Minnesota. Against Beibee in his career, Lewis has four hits in 15 at-bats, including a double.
First pitch is set for 1:10 p.m. CT at Target Field, with the game airing on TwinsTV.
In Other News...
Twins Have A Real Pre-Lockout Decision On Two Key Young Pieces
With the possibility of a lockout looming once the current Collective Bargaining Agreement expires on Dec. 1, the Twins have a timely front-office question sitting right in front of them. Any new labor rules could reshape how payroll flexibility works across the league, and Minnesota is among the clubs that may have to think carefully about how it allocates money if a salary floor eventually comes into play.
That is why the period before the freeze could matter so much for a team trying to balance present and future value. The Twins have two young pieces worth watching closely in Taj Bradley and Kaelen Culpepper, and the decision on whether to pursue long-term deals now is about more than just roster planning. It is also about locking in talent before the market, and the rules around it, potentially shift under their feet. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Are Suddenly Watching Kaelen Culpepper For One Injury Concern
Kaelen Culpeppers latest stop with the Twins took an uneasy turn when he was hit by a 95.3 mph fastball and left the game early with a right shoulder contusion. Manager Derek Shelton said the club is treating the injury on a day-to-day basis, which at least keeps the immediate outlook from sounding overly alarming, and there is no concern for a fracture.
Still, the next few days matter because the Twins are keeping an eye on whether the soreness settles down as expected. Culpepper is slated to miss the following game while being checked daily, and the bigger question now is whether the discomfort is limited to the bruise or points to something more involving the nerves. [Read more 🡒]
Emmanuel Rodriguez Just Gave The Twins A Different Look
Emmanuel Rodriguez could not have asked for a louder introduction. In his first major-league at-bat, the young outfielder turned on a pitch and homered as part of a four-run third inning, giving the Twins the jolt they needed in a 4-3 win over the Guardians. It was the kind of debut moment that changes the feel of a night, especially with Rodriguezs family in the ballpark to see it unfold.
For Minnesota, the bigger takeaway was how the game kept opening new lanes for a club that has been looking for different ways to win. Rodriguez finished with a hit, a run, an RBI, a home run and an assist, while the bullpen did enough to protect the lead the offense had built. The debut was memorable on its own, but it also hinted at how quickly a new face can alter the look of a lineup when the Twins need one more spark. [Read more 🡒]