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Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mitch Garver Injured, Leaves During Seattle Mariners Loss
Mitch Garver Injured, Leaves During Seattle Mariners Loss originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Thursday was not a banner day for the Seattle Mariners, who not only lost to the Minnesota Twins 10-1 after a four-plus-hour long rain delay. Seattle also had to take catcher Mitch Garver out of the game, putting Cal Raleigh back behind the plate. Advertisement Taking a look at Seattle's adventures probably will make Mariners fans scratch their heads. Let's start with Garver's situation. Garver took a foul ball off of his mask in the fifth inning. After Seattle manager Dan Wilson and the training staff checked on him, a decision was made to take Garver out. Twins right fielder Matt Wallner fouled the ball off and it hit Garver's mask around his jaw and cheek. Garver has dealt with concussion issues due to a foul ball back in 2018 when he was with Minnesota, The Associated Press reported. Raleigh, who was penciled in as the Mariners' designated hitter on Thursday, had to shift back to play behind the plate. Because that happened, Seattle lost its designated hitter spot in the game. Seattle starter Emerson Hancock pitched four scoreless innings against Minnesota Twins That wasn't the only loss Seattle suffered, either. Minnesota's Trevor Larnach slammed a two-run homer in the fifth off Mariners starter Emerson Hancock (3-4). Hancock kept the Minnesota hitters in check with four scoreless innings. But that all went away pretty quickly. Advertisement Twins starter Simeon Woods Richardson (3-4) went five scoreless innings, keeping Mariners' hitters off-balance. Minnesota staked its claim to the victory with an eight-run sixth inning. Brooks Lee homered off Seattle reliever Zach Popo to lead off the inning. Byron Buxton and Willi Castro followed with RBI doubles, Carlos Correa added a two-run single, and Wallner added a two-run homer. For the Twins, it marked their biggest offensive outburst since scoring nine runs in the first inning against the New York Yankees back in 2023. The Thursday win came on the heels of Wednesday's 2-0 Minnesota win over Seattle on Wednesday. It's the first time that the Twins have won back-to-back games since winning three in a row back on June 3-5, according to The AP. Before this happened, Minnesota had lost 15 of 18 games. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Newsweek
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Padres Urged To Pursue Trade For $4.5 Million Veteran Catcher
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The San Diego Padres have a very talented roster, but they're still a tick behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West. However, the Padres could look to close the gap a bit on the Dodgers by swinging a trade to upgrade their catcher in the coming weeks. Padres catchers have been a net negative to the team at this point. Cameron Zunkel of Clutch Points recently urged the Padres to pursue a trade for Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers before the trade deadline. MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JUNE 22: Ryan Jeffers #27 of the Minnesota Twins celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Milwaukee Brewers in the fourth inning of the game at Target Field on June... MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JUNE 22: Ryan Jeffers #27 of the Minnesota Twins celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Milwaukee Brewers in the fourth inning of the game at Target Field on June 22, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. More"That is where Ryan Jeffers comes into play. Jeffers is a free agent after the 2026 season, and he is 28 years old," Zunkel wrote. "Along with that, Minnesota has a few catchers in their top prospect list that will be ready for the MLB in the next year or two. "On the season, Jeffers is slashing .248/.346/.402 with six home runs, 29 RBI, and just 47 strikeouts to 28 walks in 63 games played. The right-handed batter would be better than both the catchers San Diego is putting out there daily. His defense is just average, but his bat makes up for it. He might take a few prospects to acquire, but the Padres would be smart to pursue Ryan Jeffers. Doing so would make San Diego a World Series contender." A trade for Jeffers would likely be quite affordable, as the middle tier of catchers never seems to net a huge return on the trade market. Jeffers would be a significant upgrade over what the Padres have at the position right now. San Diego would transition from a negative-WAR catcher to somebody who could post 2.0 or 3.0 WAR across a solid season. It's a no-brainer. More MLB: Reds Boldly Predicted To Swing Trade For Exciting Young Outfielder
USA Today
12 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Spencer Torkelson Player Props: June 27, Tigers vs. Twins
Spencer Torkelson, coming off a homer in his most recent game (going 1-for-4), will take the field for the Detroit Tigers versus the Minnesota Twins on Friday. First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. ET on FDSDET and MNNT. Find odds, stats, and more below to make your Spencer Torkelson player prop bets. Torkelson has launched a team-best 17 home runs (he's added 50 RBI). Among all hitters in baseball, Torkelson's home run total ranks 15th and his RBI tally ranks 24th. Watch tonight's Tigers game on Fubo! Spencer Torkelson Prop Bets and Odds How to Watch Detroit Tigers vs. Minnesota Twins Spencer Torkelson prop bet insights MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Friday at 1:26 p.m. ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub. Spencer Torkelson stats against the Twins Twins pitching insights
New York Times
18 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Twins first-half awards, including MVP Byron Buxton and ‘wonderful maniac' Louis Varland
MINNEAPOLIS — Having reached the midpoint of the season at 39-42, the Minnesota Twins are a tough team to figure out with 81 games down and 81 games to go. Their record suggests they're simply an average-ish team, hovering around the .500 mark to stay within the American League playoff picture as a wild-card hopeful. But the Twins have rarely played like an average team, instead looking either very good or very bad, with no middle ground. Advertisement On one hand, the Twins rode great pitching and timely hitting to a 13-game winning streak in May. On the other hand, they were 13-20 (.394) before the streak and are 13-22 (.371) since the streak ended, consistently struggling to score runs and, of late, consistently struggling to prevent them as well. Let's pause the Twins roller coaster at the halfway mark and hand out team awards for the first 50 percent of the season. MVP is an easy one. At age 31 and after a decade of constant injuries, Buxton looks as healthy as he's been in a very long time, and he's performed at an extremely high level at the plate, in the outfield and on the bases to produce immense all-around value for an otherwise punchless lineup. Buxton started 64 of 81 games, including 64 of 70 games aside from missing two weeks in May with a concussion. And he's been a fixture in center field, making just one start at designated hitter two years removed from playing exclusively DH because of chronic right knee problems. 'It means everything,' manager Rocco Baldelli said. 'We're always going to be a significantly better club when he's playing in the middle of the field for us. You also get the joy of watching him play. And from his end, the joy and energy he brings. He's one of the best players in the game.' 479 FEET! BYRON BUXTON LAUNCHES ONE WAY OUT! — MLB (@MLB) June 12, 2025 Buxton has batted .279/.345/.553 with 17 homers in 275 plate appearances, including an eye-popping .385/.419/.692 with runners in scoring position. He leads all center fielders in OPS and ranks in the AL's top 10 in homers, OPS, slugging percentage, runs (49), RBIs (48), fWAR (3.1) and WPA (+1.7). In the surest sign Buxton's knee is feeling good again, he's 13-for-13 swiping bases for his most steals since 2019, and he's also simply running faster than he has since 2019, posting MLB's second-best average sprint speed behind only Bobby Witt Jr. And there's been no shortage of highlight-reel catches. Advertisement This is one of the best and healthiest extended stretches of Buxton's career. And beyond lineup-leading fWAR and WPA totals, it's been so entertaining to watch, and so fun to see Buxton rediscover what he's capable of and the full scope of his game-changing ability when not held back by injuries. Ryan gets the nod as the Twins' most valuable pitcher over Jhoan Duran, because he's thrown nearly three times as many innings and he's remained consistently very good in a starting rotation that has crumbled around him since Pablo López's shoulder injury on June 3. Ryan hasn't missed a turn in the rotation despite a prolonged illness, logging 91 1/3 innings with a 2.86 ERA and a 104-to-20 strikeout-to-walk ratio while holding opponents to a .188 batting average that's third-best in the AL. He's also in the AL's top 10 for ERA, xERA, strikeout rate, walk rate and fWAR. Consistency has been key for Ryan, who completed at least five innings in all 16 outings and allowed three runs or fewer in 13 of them, including zero or one run nine times. After the Braves knocked him around for a season-high six runs in Atlanta on April 20, he has gone 7-1 with a 2.38 ERA in his last 11 games. 'In times of change and uncertainty, knowing you have a guy who is going to produce,' Baldelli said. 'Get a lot of outs, throw a lot of strikes, and you feel like you're going to win every time Joe pitches. He's proven it so much, so continuously, you definitely look forward to the days he's on the bump.' Joe Ryan, RIDICULOUS 80mph Sweeper. 😳 — Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 27, 2025 Varland's potential upside as a reliever was an annual topic while he mostly struggled as a starter, and Baldelli frequently insisted he'd be a late-inning bullpen asset immediately. Sure enough, Varland moved to the bullpen full time this spring at 27 and was working a high-leverage role within weeks. Advertisement He's been reliably excellent with a 2.02 ERA and a 39-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 35 2/3 innings, raising his average fastball velocity from 94.9 to 98.0 mph and turning his curveball into a swing-and-miss weapon. Varland has been used in the bullpen's No. 3 leverage role behind Duran and Griffin Jax. He's also been used a ton, period. Varland pitched in a team-leading 38 of 81 games, a 76-appearance pace surpassed only twice by Twins right-handers — Matt Guerrier in 2009 and Juan Rincon in 2004 — since 1980. It's a lot to ask for a first-year reliever, but Varland has been up to the task and then some. 'You have maniacs like Lou Varland, who want to pitch every single game,' Baldelli said. 'A good maniac. A wonderful maniac. Who has been throwing incredibly for us in a ton of different spots. Turned himself into a dominant bullpen arm. And he's of the mentality that he's ready to pitch every game.' Louis Varland, K'ing the Side. — Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 13, 2025 This is a tougher one. Buxton has been very good in center field, as usual. And despite struggling mightily in a career-worst season at the plate, Carlos Correa has played his best defense in a Twins uniform, ranking among MLB's top shortstops. But no one has made more hit-robbing, run-saving, hair-flipping plays than Bader. It's no surprise that a Gold Glove-winning center fielder looks very good in left field, but the extent to which Bader's range and max-effort pursuit have clicked in a corner spot is remarkable. And in the rare instances when he's been needed in center field, he's impressed there as well. Bader has mastered what Baldelli calls 'the double-knee slide catch' on sinking liners, and he fearlessly turns foul balls into outs. He's one of the AL's top 10 outfielders, regardless of position, with five Outs Above Average and seven Defensive Runs Saved despite starting only 58 of 81 games. HARRISON BADER MAKES AN INCREDIBLE CATCH (this should not be shocking) — Minnesota Twins (@Twins) April 13, 2025 Really slim pickings for this one, as no Twins rookie has had more than 70 plate appearances or 20 innings through 81 games. It's not uncommon for rookies to collectively have a larger role in the second half of seasons, and I'd expect that to be the case for the Twins over the final 81 games. Keaschall played just seven games before breaking his forearm on April 25, but he's the default choice because it was an amazing seven games, and the only rookies to see more first-half action were Zebby Matthews (5.21 ERA), DaShawn Keirsey Jr. (.292 OPS) and Mickey Gasper (.488 OPS). Advertisement Keaschall is still recovering, and there isn't a timeline established yet for his return to game action, but he recently began participating in baseball activities. Twins officials have expressed confidence about the 22-year-old speedster being a factor in the second half. (Photo of Byron Buxton: Matt Krohn / Getty Images)
Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Twins visit the Tigers to start 3-game series
Minnesota Twins (39-42, third in the AL Central) vs. Detroit Tigers (51-31, first in the AL Central) Detroit; Friday, 7:10 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Twins: TBD; Tigers: Sawyer Gipson-Long (0-0, 4.58 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 13 strikeouts) BOTTOM LINE: The Detroit Tigers host the Minnesota Twins on Friday to open a three-game series. Detroit is 51-31 overall and 28-13 at home. The Tigers have the sixth-best team ERA in MLB play at 3.46. Minnesota has a 17-25 record on the road and a 39-42 record overall. The Twins have hit 93 total home runs to rank seventh in the AL. Friday's game is the fourth meeting between these teams this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Gleyber Torres has eight home runs, 41 walks and 40 RBIs while hitting .281 for the Tigers. Riley Greene is 17 for 40 with five doubles, three home runs and 13 RBIs over the last 10 games. Ty France has 15 doubles and six home runs for the Twins. Byron Buxton is 12 for 39 with two doubles and six home runs over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Tigers: 5-5, .272 batting average, 4.15 ERA, outscored opponents by 10 runs Twins: 3-7, .251 batting average, 6.55 ERA, outscored by 16 runs INJURIES: Tigers: Jackson Jobe: 60-Day IL (flexor), Jason Foley: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Alex Cobb: 60-Day IL (hip), Matt Vierling: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Reese Olson: 15-Day IL (finger), Ty Madden: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Jose Urquidy: 60-Day IL (elbow), Alex Lange: 60-Day IL (lat) Twins: Royce Lewis: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Pablo Lopez: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Zebby Matthews: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Luke Keaschall: 60-Day IL (forearm) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
