Category: Baseball

Thomas Pannone, a left-handed pitcher who has appeared in one game for the Milwaukee Brewers this season, threw the fifth nine-inning perfect game in International League history Sept. 7, retiring all 27 men he faced for the Class AAA Nashville Sounds.

The 32-year-old southpaw shut down the host Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay Rays) in Nashville's 3-0 victory. He threw 61 of his 94 pitches for strikes and struck out eight batters.

Pannone came into the game with a 4-3 record this season and 4.67 ERA in 21 games (19 starts), with 74 strikeouts in nearly 87 innings.

But on Labor Day, he was untouchable.

Pannone fell behind the 27th batter, Homer Bush Jr., 3-0, before rallying for a strike and inducing a groundout to shortstop Eduardo Garcia, who threw out two runners in the ninth inning.

Garcia was also a star with the bat, homering from the No. 9 spot in the lineup for an insurance run in the eighth. His RBI single in the first also opened the scoring.

The Bulls lineup includes former Brewers farmhand Jadher Areinamo, traded to the Rays in the deal for Danny Jansen last year, and MLB top-100 prospect Caden Bodine.

The game was already unusual by virtue of its positioning on the calendar — few minor-league teams play games on Monday, but the Bulls elected to play on Labor Day and take Tuesday off instead.

It's the first perfect game in the International League since Justin Germano threw one in 2011 for the Columbus Clippers. Former Brewers pitcher Tomo Ohka also has one for the Pawtucket Red Sox in 2000.

After the game, the Durham grounds crew excavated the pitching rubber on mound and presented it to Pannone.

Who is Thomas Pannone?

Pannone's one appearance with the Brewers came July 29, when he worked three innings and allowed two runs against the San Francisco Giants in a game that ultimately ended in a 16-3 defeat. That marked his first big-league appearance since 2023, also his lone big-league appearance for the Brewers in a relief appearance against Pittsburgh.

In between, Pannone spent time in Korea in 2022 and also played in the Cubs and Yankees organizations in 2024. He re-signed with the Brewers after the 2024 season but missed all of 2025 with a torn flexor tendon.

More: Thomas Pannone's arduous journey brings him back to the major leagues

Nashville Sounds perfect games

It's the third perfect game in Sounds history, joining John Wasdin in 2003 and Manny Parra in 2007.

It's the first individual nine-inning perfect game in the minors since current Atlanta Braves pitcher threw one at Class AA Pensacola in April 2017.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers minor league pitcher Thomas Pannone throws perfect game

We saw Coyote vs. Acme today, I really enjoyed it.

The Jays say Anthony Santander will start a rehab assignment Wednesday in Buffalo. I’d imagine he’ll need a week or two before he’s read to join the Jays, which won’t leave all that much season left.

Lineups:

See you after the movie.

Go Jays Go.

The Cincinnati Reds are on a short west coast swing to face the Los Angeles Dodgers to begin the week, doing so fresh off a series victory over the mighty Milwaukee Brewers over the weekend in Great American Ball Park.

Chase Burns and his looming pitch count are set to start the opener on Monday night, with lefty Brandon Williamson slated to piggyback off his start and, hopefully, pitch his way through the rest of the game.

Righty Emmett Sheehan will start for the Dodgers and throw the game’s first pitch at 9:10 PM ET.

Here’s how both clubs will line up to begin things:

Tonight, the Athletics begin their penultimate homestand of the season with the first of three games against the Toronto Blue Jays. While the A’s, 30 games under .500, are focused on finishing the season strong, the stakes remain high for the Blue Jays, who enter the series a half-game out of the third American League wild-card slot.

Left-hander Jacob Lopez will make the start for the A’s. The 28-year-old enters his 24th appearance and 21st start of the season with a 6-4 record, a 4.71 ERA and 103 strikeouts over 105 innings.

Lopez has quietly put together a stellar second half of the season. Over his last seven starts, the southpaw went 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA, 50 strikeouts and a 1.12 WHIP. After several games in which he pitched well but received no-decisions, Lopez finally earned a win in his last outing against the Texas Rangers, allowing two runs on six hits over six innings.

The lanky left-hander went 1-1 in two starts against the Blue Jays last year. This evening, he will look to keep the good times going in his first appearance against Toronto this season. To do so, Lopez must continue limiting free passes and preventing too many mistake pitches from leaking over the middle of the plate.

Here’s how the Athletics will line up for the series opener:

new series who dis pic.twitter.com/so5zdoMKwL

— Athletics (@Athletics) September 7, 2026

The A’s lineup is basically unchanged from yesterday’s shutout defeat. The only alteration comes behind the plate, with Jonah Heim catching Lopez and batting ninth.

The team needs designated hitter Max Muncy, right fielder Lawrence Butler and third baseman Zack Gelof to carry over their success from this past weekend’s series into this weeklong homestand.

Additionally, Henry Bolte gets another start in center field, with the slumping Carlos Cortes in left field. Why did the team call up Denzel Clarke only to leave him on the bench nearly every game? Maybe the offensively challenged but defensively elite outfielder would have been better off getting everyday playing time at Triple-A to figure out how to stop hitting groundballs in almost every at-bat.

The Green and Gold will face Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease, who has more than lived up to the contract Toronto gave him in free agency this past offseason. Cease, one of the frontrunners for the American League Cy Young Award, enters his 27th start of the season with a 10-5 record, a 2.25 ERA, a 1.04 WHIP and 221 strikeouts over 156 1/3 innings. Not only does Cease have the third-most strikeouts among all MLB pitchers, but he is holding opposing batters to a .176 batting average.

Tonight will be Cease’s second start against the A’s this season. In March, he held the Athletics to one run on three hits while recording 12 strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings. The A’s have to hope Cease pitches as badly as he did in his first start at this ballpark last year, when he allowed nine runs on nine hits over four innings as a member of the San Diego Padres.

And Toronto’s starting nine:

Ready for a BIG week of baseball? #BlueJays50pic.twitter.com/oYGDyLCMUS

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) September 7, 2026

A big reason why the reigning American League champion is in a fight to make the playoffs is Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s disappointing season, which includes only eight home runs. In contrast, third baseman Kazuma Okamoto has put together a stellar rookie season. Those two, along with longtime A’s killer George Springer and catcher Alejandro Kirk, have the ability to do damage should A’s pitchers make mistakes.

Time to kick this homestand off with a win and play spoiler once again. Let’s go, A’s!

Follow the Game:
Watch:
Athletics – NBCSCA

Listen:
Athletics – Talk 650 KSTE, KVMX 92.1/105.5, A’s Cast

Aaron Judge stood in against live pitching at Yankee Stadium on Monday for the first time since he broke his rib in the spring. Later that day the Yankees put him back on the active roster, meaning he could be back in the lineup as soon as Tuesday evening against the Rockies at the Stadium.

With about three weeks left and the Yankees just four games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East, getting his bat back in the lineup is a huge boost.

Judge, who was seen at the US Open after his workout on Monday, was reinstated from the 60-day injured list, the club announced. The Yankees designated right-hander Chase Hampton for assignment.

Judge, 34, hasn't played since May 31.

The Yankees were 36-23 in the games he played this season, a .610 winning clip. That are 45-39 since he went on the injured list and are 81-62 overall.

They enter Tuesday night's series-opener two games ahead of the Red Sox in the top AL wild card spot.

Judge injured his rib April 26 in Houston, diving out of the way of a teammate on a ball in the gap. He played another five weeks on it. He went on the 10-day IL on June 5 and moved to the 60-day on July 18 after a scan reviewed by a vascular surgeon in Texas showed he still wasn't ready to start baseball activities. It is the second time he has had this injury, but the first time he didn't miss games because it was during the COVID-19 shutdown.

He wasn't right before he went down, either. Judge hit .248 with 17 home runs and 38 RBI in 59 games, with one homer over his final 18. He was still walking enough to post a .375 on-base percentage.

Manager Aaron Boone said Sunday that Judge was "close to the endgame of being ready to play." Boone sidestepped when directly asked if Judge would play Tuesday.

Judge didn't want a minor league rehab assignment. He argued there was no sense burning at-bats in Somerset with the calendar this short. Monday's session against a pitcher throwing with intent was as close as the Yankees are going to get to a rehab for him.

Boone has two ideas for building Judge back up in the majors. He can play him five, six or seven innings and then pull him. Or he will give him a full game and then a day off to let the rib recover.

The Yankees said they planned to use him in right field rather than at designated hitter. Their other big slugging DH, Giancarlo Stanton, has been on the IL since April 24.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New York Yankees activate Aaron Judge off injured list

He’s back! Shohei Ohtani leads the Dodgers offense against the best the Reds have to offer.

Tonight’s #Dodgers lineup vs. Reds: pic.twitter.com/b7I0Tx9XBC

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 7, 2026

Labor Day baseball with the Dodgers.

Powered by @PNCBankpic.twitter.com/0VHRJXkrdQ

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) September 7, 2026

Monday’s game info

• Teams: Dodgers vs. Reds
• Ballpark: Dodger Stadium
• Start time: 6:10 p.m. PT
• TV: SportsNet LA
• Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)

Our long tri-state area is over: Aaron Judge is back. After missing over three months with a right rib fracture, the Yankee captain will return to face the Colorado Rockies tomorrow night.

The YES Network teased Judge’s return earlier today on Twitter/X:

Returning soon. pic.twitter.com/oT4P3RWybp

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) September 7, 2026

And the Yankees made his return official tonight:

No further questions, Your Honor. pic.twitter.com/9VL7uaefXW

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 8, 2026

That we’d see two official hype videos for a player coming back from injury underscores just how hotly anticipated Judge’s return has become. The club is in need of his production and presence in the lineup, that much is certain. But beyond that, this is a team and a fan base that is desperate to see their talisman, their anchor, healthy and on the field.

Judge is that and more. Before he injured his rib, Judge remained an All-Universe hitter; he had a 1.060 OPS on May 5th. Crucially, the Yankee offense was excellent with Judge in the lineup, their 116 wRC+ pacing baseball on May 30th, the day before Judge finally was removed from the lineup. They’ve run a woeful 90 wRC+ in the time since, 29th in MLB, better than only the Angels.

If I’d told you before the season that Judge would get injured in April, and that the Yankee offense would limp through the entire summer without him, you may have resigned yourself to the likelihood that this was a lost season in New York. But the Yankees themselves have not done so. The offense has been putrid at times, yes, but this is a team that has held the line without Judge. They see him return to a roster that both needs him and has survived without him, and thus has put itself in position to make a run now that he’s back. The Yankees as currently constructed have everything thing they need now to win the World Series (as they are fond of reminding us).

It all begins anew tomorrow night, when Judge takes the field at Yankee Stadium and the Yankees try to mount a last-minute bid for the AL East. He’ll do so without having faced in-game pitching since May, again highlighting how badly the Yankees want him back in the lineup, and Judge’s supreme confidence in his own otherworldly skills. Will he be rusty? Is he fully healthy? We’ll have to wait to find out the answers to those questions, but after waiting three months, we’re all ready to see Aaron Judge, at last, back in the Bronx.

With their 5-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Monday, Sept. 7, the Los Angeles Angels are now officially the first American League team eliminated from postseason contention.

The 18 remaining games on their schedule are now rendered meaningless. Even if they were to win out, they would only be able to reach 72 wins, a game shy of the Cleveland Guardians, who currently hold the third spot in the AL Wild Card race at 73-72.

But while this marks the 12th consecutive year that October baseball won't be played in Anaheim, Halos fans finally have reason to look towards the offseason with some sense of hope. Through several of their 44 losses at Angel Stadium this season, fans in the outfield bleachers took the "tarps off" trend to another level and vigorously chanted for owner Arte Moreno to sell the team. He's done just that.

New owner Stan Kroenke took the team off Moreno's hands in a reported $4 billion purchase, putting an end to 23 years of an ownership that was widely considered among the worst in professionl sports. Kroenke, who also owns the Los Angeles Rams, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche and Arsenal FC – all of which have won championships this decade – is expected to add the Angels to his portfolio once the sale gets approved by all 30 MLB owners sometime in early 2027.

It's a good time for a reset within the franchise, too, possible pending lockout aside.

Manager Kurt Suzuki is on a one-year contract; there's a good chance he'll be gone in 2027. Former St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak was brought in as the Angels' interim general manager after Perry Minasian was fired in June and quickly began making moves towards laying a foundation for the team's long-term future by trading away seven players ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline. The return of prospects in those deals, headlined by shortstop Arjun Nimmala, shot the Angels organization up from 28th to 17th in MLB Pipeline's farm system rankings.

More recently, Mozeliak promoted Matt Swanson and Michael Lord to assistant GMs as part of a restructuring of the scouting department. Mozeliak has yet to decide if he'll return next year, but the moves he's making now will help whoever is in charge, regardless of whether it's him or a new hire.

Here are the three biggest questions facing the Angels this offseason:

Where will the Angels be drafting?

If this was four years ago, the Angels' future would've looked even brighter as they would've held the first overall pick in next year's MLB Draft as the team with the worst record in baseball (54-90). Since 2023, however, MLB has used a draft lottery to determine the order of the first six picks. The teams with the three worst records this season will have identical odds at No. 1 overall, meaning the Angels right now share even lottery odds at 19.25% with the Colorado Rockies (55-88) and the Athletics (57-87).

What will be the Angels free agency strategy?

Stan Kroenke has shown that he will not insert himself in day-to-day operations nearly as much as Arte Moreno did. Within each of the teams he owns, he's leaned on the expertise of the personnel he hires and lets them do their jobs. He does however, seem to be a bit more selective when it comes to payroll. He's shown to spare no expense when it comes to the Rams – where GM Les Snead has once again built a superteam in the hard-capped NFL by swinging massive trades for Trent McDuffie and Myles Garrett – and Arsenal, who signed midfielder Declan Rice for a club-record $133 million transfer fee in 2023. But with the Nuggets, Kroenke's notably avoided the second apron of the NBA's luxury tax even after winning the 2023 NBA Finals.

Kroenke won't get the keys to the building until January at the earliest, and that's the best-case scenario considering a lockout going into 2027 seems likelier by the day.

Who will be running the Angels front office in 2027?

John Mozeliak has made some long-overdue changes since arriving on an interim basis in June. He has the track record from his 18 years as the top executive in St. Louis: 10 playoff appearances, two NL pennants, a World Series title in 2011 and 15 consecutive winning seasons from 2008-2022, a franchise record.

When he stepped away from the Cardinals last October, the 57-year-old told reporters he didn't envision himself running another team in the near future. But in an interview with The Athletic's Katie Woo, Mozeliak said the challenge of bringing the Angels back to prominence made him feel "really energized about going back."

His contract ends in December, and he's told reporters that the plan is still to hire a GM, though he's enjoyed living in Orange County more than he originally expected. Even if he doesn't return in an official capacity, there's still a chance he could stay on an advisor. But, there's also a chance that Korenke would want to start fresh.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Angels eliminated from playoff contention: Three biggest offseason questions

The Dodgers and Reds continue their series, and Tarik Skubal makes his second start of the homestand. Because these two teams play again next week in Cincinnati, Skubal will likely start twice against the Reds.

Left-hander Nick Lodolo starts Tuesday for Cincinnati.

Tuesday game info

• Teams: Dodgers vs. Reds
• Ballpark: Dodger Stadium
• Start time: 7:10 p.m.
• TV: SportsNet LA
• Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)

The St. Louis Cardinals wrap up their west coast swing with a 3-game series vs the San Francisco Giants starting Monday night. Michael McGreevy is the starter for the Cardinals while the San Francisco Giants will give the ball to RHP Logan Webb. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10pm central time and the game broadcast will be available via NBC/Peacock.

1. Bryan Torres (L) 2B
2. Iván Herrera (R) C
3. Alec Burleson (L) 1B
4. Jordan Walker (R) RF
5. Leo Bernal (S) DH
6. Nolan Gorman (L) 3B
7. Joshua Báez (R) LF
8. Thomas Saggese (R) SS
9. Nathan Church (L) CF

When Dodgers manager Dave Roberts went over the weekend plan with Shohei Ohtani, he circled Monday as a potential date for him to return to the lineup after four days off to address lingering aches and pains, including a recurring biceps problem.

On Sunday, that plan was finalized. And Ohtani did indeed grace the top of the Dodgers’ lineup Monday as they opened a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds.

Roberts will, however, keep a close eye on Ohtani.

“I don’t want to say it’s day to day, but I am very curious to see how he comes out of tonight to then make the decision for tomorrow and ensuing days,” Roberts said. “We’ve put a pin in throwing and just having him focus on the hitting, the running, keeping his legs good and doing whatever it takes to help us win.”

Read more:Shohei Ohtani set to return to lineup; Mookie Betts powers Dodgers past Nationals

By “put a pin in” it, Roberts meant that the Dodgers didn’t have a timetable for when Ohtani might throw again, making it likely that he won’t pitch again this year. But the Dodgers aren’t ready to fully rule it out.

Roberts said he hoped tabling throwing, at least for now, could help Ohtani’s offensive production.

“That’s one part of the thought, to sort of take the pitching off of his plate and really try to let him lock in on being a hitter and get on track,” Roberts said. “Because the last couple of weeks he just hasn’t been himself in the box.”

Ohtani wasn’t available before the game to give his own explanation about his recent slump, and he hasn’t addressed reporters in three weeks, despite repeated requests. He tallied only two hits in the six games before Roberts sat him.

Read more:Before Mark Walter's companies faced inquiries, he kept a low profile and built loyalty

“A lot of it was overall body break, which was needed,” Roberts said. “I think that what happens is, when a player gets taxed physically, the mentally is affected as well.

“I think we got to a point where it all sort of came to a head, where I do think these last four days, giving his body a reset, giving his mind a reset — anything can happen [Monday] as far as performance, but I’m hoping that he’s just in a better state body and mind tonight.”

How will Roberts be able to tell if that’s the case?

“Just the swing, the barrel accuracy, how his mechanics look,” Roberts said. “Hopefully we don’t see that wincing we saw [last Wednesday]. And just quality of at-bat in the end.”

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

It’s time for a new series, and it’s time for holiday baseball, as the San Francisco Giants host the St. Louis Cardinals.

Logan Webb is scheduled to take the mound for the Giants, with the three-time All-Star right-hander making his 26th start of the season. Webb is 8-8 on the year, with a 4.21 ERA, a 3.44 FIP, and 119 strikeouts to 38 walks in 149.2 innings. Webb is looking to bounce back after his last outing, when he gave up nine runs in two innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

For the Cardinals, it’s righty Michael McGreevy, who makes his 28th start. The 26-year old is 6-9 on the year, with a 3.97 ERA, a 4.31 FIP, and 102 strikeouts to 40 walks in 147.1 innings. McGreevy gave up four runs in five innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers in his last start.

Enjoy the baseball, everyone!

Game #145

Who: San Francisco Giants (59-85) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (72-72)

Where: Oracle Park, San Francisco, California

When: 5:10 p.m. PT

Regional broadcast: n/a

National broadcast: NBC/Peacock

Radio: KNBR 680 AM/104.5 FM, KSFN 1510 AM

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jesus Luzardo threw the first complete game of his career Monday, Sept. 7, a two-hit, 12-strikeout shutout that beat the Atlanta Braves1-0 and pushed his record to 14-5 with a 2.87 ERA.

Five months ago, his ERA sat at 5.50.

Since then, he has won the National League Pitcher of the Month for August, going 3-0, with a 1.31 ERA, 46 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings. Over his last 22 starts, his ERA is 2.39.

He's not the only team member pitching well at the right time.

Cristopher Sanchez is 16-14 with a 2.52 ERA and the major's best pitching WAR, running second in the Cy Young race behind Milwaukee's Jacob Misiorowski. Earlier this year he put together a 50 2/3-inning scoreless streak, the longest by a left-hander in major league history.

Zack Wheeler had a miserable August, a 6.26 ERA that had people writing him off, and has answered it with back-to-back starts of six innings with one run apiece. Aaron Nola's season line still looks rough at 4.76, but that number isn't the whole story. Since late June, Nola has a 3.43 ERA over his last 11 starts, including going seven innings and holding the Braves to a run in his last start.

After a rough start, Philadelphia's rotation is leading the majors in strikeouts.

The Phillies are 99% likely to make the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season, according to postseason odds models. They were four games back of the Braves after beating them Monday and hold the first NL wild card spot. So, they are not only pitching well for that push for the division, but are going to have good decisions to make for October.

The playoff rotation of Luzardo, Wheeler and Sanchez is as formidable as any in the majors.

Game 1 is a real argument for interim Phillies manager Don Mattingly. Luzardo has a 1.76 ERA on the road this season and a 4.52 at home. Sanchez is the mirror image, a 1.68 at Citizens Bank Park and a 3.68 on the road. Whoever the Phillies face and wherever that series opens will likely be the deciding factor.

Wheeler slots in behind them. He posted a 2.16 ERA through his first 16 starts, then a 7.12 over his next seven. The staff traced it to his glove. He was holding it two inches lower than usual in his windup. He has had two strong starts since the fix.

Nola and Painter will be fighting for a potential fourth spot. Whichever one it is, the more likely job in October is relief, giving the Phillies another arm to go with Orion Kerkering, Jose Alvarado and Jhoan Duran.

Monday was a flash of what the Phillies pitching is capable of doing. Luzardo scattered two hits, walked one and struck out a dozen Braves hitters. It was the first 1-0 complete game shutout by a Phillies pitcher since Roy Halladay did it against Houston on Sept. 14, 2011. That was a masterpiece that clinched the Phillies' playoff spot that year.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The Phillies' rotation is finally playing like October matters

Shohei Ohtani was back atop the Los Angeles Dodgers' lineup on Monday, Sept. 7 against the Cincinnati Reds after missing four games.

He last played Sept. 2, when he went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts against the St. Louis Cardinals and looked, for a few innings, like a hitter who could not catch up with the ball.

He returns as a designated hitter. Ohtani has not pitched since July 3 because of inflammation in his left knee, and manager Dave Roberts said over the weekend that a mound return this season is unlikely. Nobody has closed the door, but he has not started throwing.

The knee issue dates to June. The right biceps flared up after that Sept. 2 game against the Cardinals. He is also dealing with a sore neck. Ohtani, 32, did nothing for two days, then hit in an indoor cage Saturday, and his hitting coaches and the training staff all gave him the go-ahead.

Ohtani was cold before he sat. He has not hit a home run since Aug. 18. He had two hits in his last 23 at-bats with 11 strikeouts.

Overall, Ohtani is hitting .279 with a .381 on-base percentage, 30 home runs, 80 RBI, 11 stolen bases and a .906 OPS in 499 at-bats.

On the mound, Ohtani went 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP and 95 strikouts in 95 2/3 innings over 14 starts.

The Dodgers went into Monday night's game 86-57 and 10 games up on the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West. Milwaukee, at 89-56, has the better record in the NL, but the top two finishers get a bye, which would give Ohtani more time to rest.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shohei Ohtani returns to Dodgers lineup after missing four games

It was a labor of a game on Labor Day. The Twins were resilient and had plenty of chances to score, but more bad luck with RISP, four double plays, and poor defensive execution led to another Twins loss. The same script as most of the second half.

The Twins once again struck first in the game. Luke Keaschall was hit by a pitch and Brooks Lee stroked a strong single to center. Keaschall and Lee then double stole to put two in scoring position for the heart of the lineup. Kody Clemens struck out and Ryan Jeffers hit into a fielders choice, scoring one and keeping runners at the corners with only one out, but Josh Bell hit into a double play to end the inning.

Joe Ryan made his grand return and was reasonably effective. After only one short rehab appearance, the Twins limited his workload to 65 pitches with rookie left-hander Connor Prielipp scheduled to follow. Ryan had a long first two innings, throwing 43 pitches and allowing three runs, but it genuinely could have been much worse.

Ryan K’d Colt Keith on three pitches to start the inning, but left a heater down the heart of the plate to AL ROY favorite Kevin McGonigle, giving Detroit their first run. In the second, he gave up a leadoff triple and struck out Spencer Torkelson, and then had perhaps the worst 4 pitch sequence of his life. Ryan walked rookie Max Clark after a long battle, then hit light-hitting rookie John Peck on the very next pitch to load the bases. On the next pitch he hit Keith to plate the go-ahead run, and then McGonigle reached on a soft grounder to first, but Royce Lewis’ throw home took Jeffers off the plate and allowed the Tigers to score another. Ryan buckled in and got the next two Tigers to end the threat, but the damage was done.

Ryan locked in from there, retiring the next six straight Tigers batters, including three strikeouts, to end his day at four innings and 66 pitches. It was a decent return for the Twins’ ace. His velocity looked strong and other than the McGongile homer (the only hard hit ball he allowed), he pitched reasonably well for someone effectively making his second rehab appearance. Some better defense behind him and he likely puts the Twins in a great position to win.

Connor Prielipp took over from there and was also pretty strong the rest of the way. He gave up a two-run shot to All-Star Riley Greene, but gave the Twins four strong and efficient innings and continues to show good stuff despite being 40 innings over his 2025 career high and flying past the combined 58 innings he threw from 2020-2024. The numbers won’t dazzle you, but he’s done more than enough to warrant a 2027 rotation look and stave off the bullpen concerns some evaluators thought he was destined for.

Back on the offensive side, the Twins did an excellent job getting back in the game after falling behind. Trevor Larnach, who has been hearing the call of the void, shrunk the gap to 1 with a laser wall-scraper in the fourth. Then, they finally managed to string some hits together with two outs in the sixth, trailing 5-2 at this point. Larnach got things started again with a single and Kaelen Culpepper scorched a single to left on the next pitch. Walker Jenkins then had his best at-bat as a Twin so far, working a full count before scorching a double into the right-center gap to plate two. If it wasn’t for Tigers centerfielder Max Clark’s speed, Jenkins might have had an inside-the-park home run in cavernous C0merica Park, but Clark made a nifty play, sliding to cut off the ball in the gap before it could get past him.

Twins legend Tyler Kinley came in to try to finish the game, but walked Keaschall and Lee to juice the bases for Clemens, who watched a fastball down the middle of the plate to end the threat with the Twins trailing 5-4. They had chances in every inning that followed, but hit into double plays in each of the final three frames to stop any momentum they had built.

Minnesota had one final chance to pull out a win in the ninth, but once again couldn’t come up with the final hit they needed. A leadoff walk to Clemens put the tying run on. Jeffers then hit a fly ball about 400 feet out to dead center that stayed in the park and Josh Bell bounced into a double play to end the game.

They “only” left 10 men on base this game, which doesn’t seem that bad, but that’s because double plays don’t count for that number. They had at least one runner reach base in every inning and two runners in five of them, yet only managed three total runs in those innings with multiple baserunners. Little things like that are what has the Twins well outside the playoff field with three weeks to go.

STUDS

• Bottom of the lineup (Larnach/Kreidler, Culpepper, Jenkins): 5-10, HR, 2B, BB, 3 RBI
• Luke Keaschall: 1-2, 2 BB, stole third base

DUDS

• Rest of the lineup: 2-20, 3 BB, 3 GIDP, 0-6 with RISP

We’re back tomorrow for the stellar pitching matchup of Dean Kremer vs Drew Anderson, which we’ve all been waiting for. Here’s hoping Emmanuel Rodriguez and Alan Roden are with the team, too!