Twins host the Rays to begin 3-game series
Minneapolis; Friday, 4:10 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Rays: Zack Littell (7-7, 3.61 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 71 strikeouts); Twins: Chris Paddack (3-7, 4.70 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 63 strikeouts)
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Twins -116, Rays -103; over/under is 9 1/2 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Minnesota Twins host the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday to open a three-game series.
Minnesota has a 22-17 record at home and a 41-46 record overall. The Twins are 8-15 in games decided by one run.
Tampa Bay has gone 20-14 on the road and 48-39 overall. Rays hitters have a collective .323 on-base percentage, the fifth-ranked percentage in the AL.
The teams meet Friday for the fourth time this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Byron Buxton leads the Twins with 32 extra base hits (10 doubles, three triples and 19 home runs). Carlos Correa is 13 for 38 with two home runs and seven RBIs over the last 10 games.
Brandon Lowe has 11 doubles, 19 home runs and 50 RBIs for the Rays. Junior Caminero is 10 for 42 with three doubles and four home runs over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Twins: 4-6, .192 batting average, 3.98 ERA, outscored by eight runs
Rays: 5-5, .282 batting average, 5.26 ERA, outscored by seven runs
INJURIES: Twins: Bailey Ober: 15-Day IL (hip), Pablo Lopez: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Zebby Matthews: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Luke Keaschall: 60-Day IL (forearm)
Rays: Manuel Rodriguez: 15-Day IL (forearm), Jonny Deluca: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Hunter Bigge: 15-Day IL (lat), Shane McClanahan: 60-Day IL (tricep), Richie Palacios: 10-Day IL (knee), Alex Faedo: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Nathan Lavender: 60-Day IL (elbow)
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
15 minutes ago
- Fox News
Saints star Alvin Kamara asks for do-over after terrible first pitch before Cubs-Cardinals game
New Orleans Saints star running back Alvin Kamara will not be making the transition to the baseball diamond anytime soon. Kamara, 29, threw out the first pitch before the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals played at Wrigley Field Saturday, and it did not go well. Kamara, wearing a Cubs' jersey with his name and the No. 41, yanked the first pitch. The Saints star running back threw it about 45 feet and nearly outside the lefty batter's box. The Cubs' mascot, Clark the Cub, who was catching Kamara's first pitch, had to reach over and make a nice backhand pick just to keep it in front of him. Kamara was so displeased with his pitch he started flapping his glove and asked for a do-over. Clark the Cub obliged and threw the ball back to Kamara. The running back got a second chance, and the Cubs' faithful booed after the ball was thrown back to Kamara. The second pitch was much better for the Saints star. Kamara fired one, still a little wild, but in the air for all 60 feet that Clark the Cub snared. Kamara raised up his arms and gave Clark the Cub a hug in celebration. Saints fans have seen Kamara celebrate a lot over his eight-year career. The star running back has scored 60 rushing touchdowns and 25 receiving touchdowns. Last season, in 14 games, Kamara rushed for 950 yards with six rushing touchdowns while hauling in 68 passes for 543 yards and two receiving touchdowns. Kamara will be relied upon heavily next season to carry the load after quarterback Derek Carr retired earlier this offseason, leaving the team with a quarterback competition to begin training camp. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
New York Times
17 minutes ago
- New York Times
Cubs' struggles against left-handed starters puts focus on another area of need
CHICAGO — Entering play on Saturday, the Chicago Cubs had faced 19 left-handed starters and Michael Busch had started in just six of those games. Craig Counsell decided to give him his seventh Saturday afternoon. 'Sometimes you gotta change it up,' Counsell said. 'You gotta do something different. I thought today was a day with the way Michael has been swinging the bat, so gotta do something different.' Advertisement Busch has been on a tear of late and went 4-for-4 with three home runs on Friday. He quickly made Counsell look good as he homered off St. Louis Cardinals lefty starter Matthew Liberatore in his first at-bat, then doubled in his second. On the season, Busch has a 162 wRC+, fifth in MLB. Busch, always understated, didn't take too much away from earning the start on Saturday. 'I've felt very comfortable against lefties,' Busch said. 'We just have a group that no matter who's pitching, no matter who's in the lineup, whoever is in there, try to do your best.' The Cubs scored two runs in five innings against Liberatore, then another run off lefty reliever Steven Matz and an unearned run against JoJo Romero. Clearly, the Cardinals' plan was to throw lefties at the group and hope they could contain a potent offense. Despite a solid effort against those lefties, the Cubs fell short on this day, losing 8-6 after Brad Keller had a rare poor outing, blowing a two-run lead in the eighth. Keller and the relievers aren't an issue for this team, though. Especially on a day when Counsell went with a bullpen game with Jameson Taillon down for at least a month. The Cubs have been up front with their desire to add starting pitching. They will also continue to build depth in the bullpen. But another area they'll monitor for upgrades is their bench. They need a right-handed hitter, or even better, a player with defensive versatility who can also hit lefties. For the first month of the season, the Cubs could do no wrong against left-handed pitching. By wRC+, no team has put together a better month against lefties than the Cubs' 145 mark in March and April. But since that point, they've posted a 91 wRC+, a middling mark that has them 16th in baseball during that span. 'Certainly it's a trend we've talked about and noticed,' team president Jed Hoyer said. 'We have been more effective against right-handed starters than left-handed starters. You need to be able to feel good in any kind of game and situation. Certainly, we're a little bit imbalanced in that regard right now. Some of that is who we've faced.' Advertisement Over the last month-plus, the Cubs have faced some of the best lefties in baseball. MacKenzie Gore, Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez. Twice they've faced Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, Jesús Luzardo and Liberatore. Is this an actual issue or have the Cubs just been facing a lot of great lefties lately? 'It's both of those things,' Counsell said. 'We have faced some very good left-handed pitching lately and we haven't swung the bats as well against left-handed pitching.' In March and April, Carson Kelly had a 164 wRC+ against lefties and Ian Happ was at 161. Since then, Kelly has posted an 82 wRC+ against lefties and Happ has delivered a rough 49 mark. Since being recalled in the middle of May, Matt Shaw has a 26 wRC+ against lefties. 'I know we want to be the best at everything,' Counsell said. 'We've just been really good against right-handed pitching because we have a couple hitters in Pete (Crow-Armstrong) and Michael Busch, two very good left-handed hitters, and they're doing what you'd expect them to do.' Against righties (entering Saturday), Bush has a 180 wRC+ and Crow-Armstrong is at 167, the top two on the team. But against lefties. Busch is at 35 and Crow-Armstrong 70. Busch had a nice day Saturday, but Crow-Armstrong went 0-for-4 with a walk, facing lefties in each plate appearance. Those are tough matchups for Crow-Armstrong and Busch. What the Cubs need is more of what Kelly has looked like of late. The Cubs' primary catcher went 2-for-5 with a double and a homer, both hits off righties, and has looked much closer to the April version. Justin Turner, on the team largely to hit lefties, had a 93 wRC+ against them before going 0-for-1 against a lefty Saturday. The team also needs Dansby Swanson to be more consistent. Swanson is hitting lefties, but primarily when the bases are empty. In those situations against lefties, he has a 193 wRC+. When there are runners on base, it's 52. In the first inning Saturday, Swanson came up with the bases loaded and one out and struck out against Liberatore. Advertisement 'I think that's very reasonable to expect to improve,' Counsell said. 'You need your right-handers. That's the name of the game there.' There's no doubt that adding a right-handed hitter with some versatility will be on the docket for Hoyer and company. With a largely set lineup, either improving the bench or finding an upgrade at third while moving Shaw to a bench role are the most likely avenues. It's not the number one priority, but in a season where the Cubs want to cover any weaknesses and improve their chances in October, this is becoming a clear area of need. (Top photo of Dansby Swanson: Geoff Stellfox / Getty Images)
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. News Surfaces After Absence From Blue Jays' Lineup
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. News Surfaces After Absence From Blue Jays' Lineup originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Toronto Blue Jays' bats propelled them to first place in the AL East over the last few days, especially against the New York Yankees. They scored at least eight runs in three of the four games in the series and won all four. Advertisement It was the first time the Blue Jays swept the Yankees in four games at home in franchise history, and they did it partially without superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at his best. The 26-year-old went 2-for-4 with three RBI in Monday's 5-4 win, but had just one hit over the next three contests. A health update about Guerrero surfaced before Friday's game vs. the Los Angeles Angels, via Keegan Matheson. Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27).Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images "Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is just a little sore and could be available to pinch-hit," he reported. "Anthony Santander is about a week away from starting to swing a bat again. I'd expect him to need a few weeks to ramp up after that, too, but we'll see." Advertisement Backup infielder Will Wagner will replace Guerrero at first base and hit eighth on Friday. Toronto also transferred Santander to the 60-day IL. Guerrero is slashing .274/.378/.426 with 12 homers and 44 RBI over 86 games this season. The 6-foot, 245-pounder leads the team in OBP. Southpaw pitcher Eric Lauer (4-1, 2.60 ERA) will start for the Blue Jays on Friday against Angels right-hander Kyle Hendricks (5-6, 4.66 ERA). After this series, Toronto will hit the road to face the Chicago White Sox and Athletics before returning home to play the San Francisco Giants and Yankees. Related: Blue Jays Announce Unfortunate Anthony Santander News Before Angels Game Related: Blue Jays Make Bo Bichette Decision After Missing Yankees Game This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
