Josh Bell has given the Twins exactly what they hoped for when they brought him in last December: a veteran bat that can change a game fast.
On Tuesday at Target Field, he did it in the first inning. After Ryan Jeffers doubled to deep right-center with two outs, Bell turned on a 1-1 splitter and sent it into the upper deck in right-center for a two-run homer, a blast that put Minnesota in front early and set up a 4-1 win over the Braves.
The victory moved the Twins to the brink of a sweep, coming right after they were swept by the Phillies in their previous series. It also fit the pattern this club has shown all season: take a hit, then find a way to get back up. Bell’s presence has been part of that, both as a steady voice in the clubhouse and as a hitter who keeps reaching base and driving the ball.
Bell’s homer was his 17th of the season and stretched his on-base streak to 21 games, leaving him one shy of Bryce Harper for the longest active streak. It’s also the longest single-season streak of Bell’s career. He once had a 22-game run that crossed the 2019-20 seasons.
Minnesota kept creating early traffic but couldn’t fully cash in for a third straight game. Luke Keaschall opened the third with a single, and Bell did the same in the fourth, but both innings ended with double plays that let former Twin Tyler Mahle escape further damage.
Zebby Matthews had things under control through five innings, giving up just two hits and one walk while striking out four. The Braves finally broke through in the sixth when Drake Baldwin led off with an opposite-field homer to cut the lead to 2-1. Matthews then allowed two more hits and was lifted after recording two outs in the inning.
Kody Funderburk came in with runners on the corners and shut the door on the rally, striking out pinch-hitter Lane Thomas to preserve the lead.
The Twins added insurance in the eighth against Atlanta’s bullpen. Kaelen Culpepper started the inning with a single, Byron Buxton, batting as a pinch-hitter, followed with a one-out hit, and Jeffers came through again with a double to the wall in right-center that drove in both runs.
In Other News...
Twins May Have Already Moved On From Two Deadline Survivors
The Twins spent the days leading into the August 3 trade deadline adding pitching, but they also kept a couple of notable names in place even as their long-term fits came into focus. Ryan Jeffers remains part of the catching picture for now, and Trevor Larnach stayed put after drawing serious interest, leaving Minnesota with a roster that still has some sorting to do as it looks ahead to the next phase.
Jeffers could be part of a crowded future behind the plate, with the organization carrying multiple catching prospects and a decision looming beyond this season. Larnachs situation is different but no less unsettled, since Minnesota already came close to moving him and may revisit that possibility in the offseason if it needs to clear space for a top prospect. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Rotation Trouble Could Force A Risky Veteran Gamble
The Twins rotation has been a problem for most of August, and the lack of stable starting pitching has put extra pressure on the front office to find help without making a major commitment. One possible name is Michael Lorenzen, who has been available in a limited sense after a rough 2026 season but still carries the kind of track record that can make a low-cost gamble look appealing when a staff is short on answers.
Minnesota has had chances to circle back on Lorenzen before and stayed away, but the current situation is different enough to reopen the conversation. With the rotation under strain and the schedule offering little room to wait for things to sort themselves out, the question is whether the Twins are ready to revisit a familiar arm and see if a change of scenery can buy them some much-needed innings. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Double Down On A Roster Choice Fans Will Question
The Twins offense has spent too much time looking stuck in place, and the latest roster move only adds to the sense that the club is juggling short-term needs without finding a cleaner fix. In a season where lineup production has been a constant concern, Minnesota has continued to lean on roster flexibility while trying to keep enough catching depth on hand and still create room for somebody who can help the bats.
Alex Jackson is back in the picture after a very brief absence from the 40-man roster, a reminder of how quickly these decisions can turn when the team is patching together its depth chart. It also leaves the Twins once again carrying an arrangement that invites questions about whether they are prioritizing coverage over offensive upside, especially with other ways to reshuffle the roster still sitting there as possibilities. [Read more 🡒]