The Twins’ push back toward .500 hit a wall Thursday, and now they get another chance to reset when they open a three-game set against the Angels on Friday night in Minneapolis.
Minnesota had won four straight before the streak ended with a 5-2 loss to the Guardians. The offense never really got rolling, finishing with just three hits while striking out 14 times.
The Twins were also no-hit through four innings by Gavin Williams, which made the night feel like a long slog from the start. Their record sits at 46-48, and they’re still trying to get back to even for the first time since they were 12-12 on April 22.
Derek Shelton didn’t sugarcoat what happened at the plate.
"We really didn't have anything on the barrel," Minnesota manager Derek Shelton said. "Royce (Lewis) hit the homer (a solo shot in the seventh), but other than that, (Williams) just kept us off the barrel the entire day."
Minnesota will hand the ball to Zebby Matthews on Friday. The right-hander is 4-5 with a 4.43 ERA, and his last outing came Saturday against the Yankees before he exited with a lacerated right foot.
He took a no-decision in that game after giving up four runs on three hits, including two homers, and four walks in 4 2/3 innings. The Twins still won that one 11-4.
The home run ball has been an issue for Matthews lately. He has allowed eight homers over his last five starts, and the Angels have already tagged him for two in his career. In two starts against Los Angeles, he’s 0-1 with a 7.88 ERA.
There’s also a chance Matthews works with a familiar face behind the plate. Ryan Jeffers is expected to come off the injured list after missing time since mid-May with a fractured hamate bone in his left hand. Jeffers said he feels ready after a five-game minor-league tune-up.
"I felt pretty good this weekend but wanted to go down to Iowa and get some more games," he said. "Get a larger sample size.
But physically felt good. I felt like I was tracking the ball well, getting back in the groove of things.
It feels good, yeah."
The Angels arrive in a rough spot of their own. They’ve dropped eight of their last nine after a 7-6 loss to the Rangers on Thursday, leaving them as the majors-worst club.
Nolan Schanuel was one of the few bright spots, going 4-for-4 and driving in two runs with a two-run single. It was the first time he had knocked in a run since June 24.
Los Angeles will turn to Grayson Rodriguez, who is being brought up from a rehab assignment at Triple-A Salt Lake. The right-hander, 2-2 with an 8.06 ERA, has been out since June 14 because of tightness in his lower back. He looked sharp in his rehab start Saturday, allowing one run on four hits with five strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings in a Salt Lake win.
"Just go out there and attack the zone, just let it go and be efficient, all the things that we preach with all our pitchers," Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said. "Especially with Grayson, with the stuff he has, he's a game-changer. Having him go out there and do what he can do and pitch how he can pitch is definitely going to help us."
Rodriguez has one career start against Minnesota, and it went well. He beat the Twins on April 16, 2024, when he was with the Orioles, allowing two runs on four hits in six innings of an 11-3 win.
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