The Minnesota Twins are almost out of runway, and Friday night brings the start of their final series of 2026 against the Texas Rangers at Target Field.
Minnesota had Thursday off before opening the set, and the pitching matchups are already lined up. Joe Ryan will get the ball Friday night with a 6-10 record, 3.83 ERA and 151 strikeouts.
Bailey Ober is slated for Saturday at 7-6 with a 4.21 ERA and 91 strikeouts. Dean Kremer will take the mound in Sunday’s finale, carrying a 4-5 record, 4.97 ERA and 82 strikeouts.
Texas has not announced its starters yet.
Even with the Twins already eliminated from postseason contention, this closing series still matters in the bigger picture. The Rangers and Houston Astros entered Thursday tied for first in the American League West at 78-80, and Houston owns the tiebreaker because of the head-to-head edge.
Elsewhere, former Twins president Derek Falvey has landed with the New York Mets. The team announced him as a “Senior Advisor, Baseball Operations,” and he’ll work under Mets president David Stearns. Falvey and Stearns previously worked together with the Cleveland Indians, now the Guardians.
The Mets said Falvey “will report directly to David Stearns and serve as a trusted voice across a wide range of Baseball Operations decisions.” The Athletic’s Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal first reported that the Mets were expected to hire Falvey, who ran the Twins’ baseball operations department from 2016-25.
Minnesota also made a roster move involving catcher Alex Jackson, who was outrighted to Triple-A St. Paul, according to his transactions tracker on MLB.com.
The Twins designated Jackson for assignment on Monday to clear a 40-man roster spot for first baseman Aaron Sabato. Jackson will be eligible to elect free agency once the season ends.
The Twins acquired Jackson from the Baltimore Orioles for infield prospect Payton Eeles over the offseason. At the time, he appeared positioned to serve as the backup catcher, but Minnesota later signed Victor Caratini to a two-year, $14 million deal.
Jackson had already been designated for assignment once before the season, then cleared waivers and played for the Saints. The Twins selected his contract in mid-May after Ryan Jeffers went on the injured list, then designated him for assignment again in August before bringing him back shortly after he cleared waivers.
In 33 games with Minnesota this season, Jackson hit .304/.342/.406 with one home run and five RBI in 73 plate appearances.
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Twins Head Into Crucial Home Series With A Growing Roster Problem
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Texas arrives with its own injury list and the series offers another look at how both teams are handling the grind of September baseball, but the Twins bigger concern is whether they can keep enough healthy bodies available to make the homestand count. Recent team trends suggest this one could matter well beyond the three games at Target Field, especially if Minnesota cannot stabilize the roster before the pressure ramps up again. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Infield Puzzle Could Put Royce Lewis In A New Spotlight
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That is where the Twins infield conversation gets interesting, because it opens the door to a possible reshuffling that could also change Royce Lewis role. Lewis has long been one of the organizations most important offensive talents, and the idea of pairing each player with a better defensive fit is easy to see on paper. Whether the Twins actually go there will depend on what happens next, but the possibility alone adds another layer to how they could sort out a crowded infield picture. [Read more 🡒]
Bailey Ober's New Role Just Raised A Bigger Twins Question
Bailey Obers first relief appearance of his major league career came with a little extra meaning for the Twins, and he handled it cleanly. Working three shutout innings for his first save, Ober looked comfortable in a role he had not occupied before, after returning from the injured list and settling into a pattern of extended rest. It was the kind of outing that underscored both his professionalism and the clubs willingness to try something different with a pitcher it still values.
Manager Derek Shelton praised Obers adaptability, and the debut save was easy to appreciate on its own. What it also did, though, was sharpen a larger question for Minnesota about how it wants to use him going forward. If this is merely a short-term adjustment, it already has given the Twins a useful arm in a new spot. If it becomes more than that, Obers first relief outing may end up being remembered as the start of something bigger. [Read more 🡒]