June 25, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports The Minnesota Twins win this week's series against the team with the best record in the majors. They could add some reinforcements heading into their weekend series against the Detroit Tigers starting Friday night.
Minnesota has taken two of three games from the Philadelphia Phillies, including a 5-4 win on Wednesday. Max Kepler finished the game with an infield single.
“We're honing in on what we have,” Kepler said. “A lot of guys are on the injured list, but we're still playing, which is special for a team that's so young right now and we're going to go through games against these top teams.”
Infielders Royce Lewis and Jose Miranda could be activated from the injured list this weekend.
Lewis strained his right adductor muscle on July 2 against the Tigers.
Lewis, one of the most talented young hitters in the game, has played in only 24 games this season but has hit 10 home runs and five doubles. Miranda hit .325 before being shelved.
Having these two big sticks in the lineup again will increase the Twins' chances of catching the first-place Cleveland Guardians in the American League Central. The Twins lost two games to Milwaukee after the All-Star break before the Phillies series.
“I'm glad we came together the last three days against a really good team,” Minnesota coach Rocco Baldelli said. “No one let up. No one gave up here and the guys kept playing hard until we got the win.”
Twins right-hander Pablo Lopez (8-7, 4.86 ERA) will start the three-game series against Detroit. Lopez was impressive in his first appearance since the All-Star break, limiting the Brewers to one run and four hits in seven innings on Saturday. He threw a season-high 109 pitches.
Lopez has made three career starts against Detroit and is 1-2 with a 4.24 ERA. On April 12, he lost to the Tigers after allowing five runs on six hits over four innings.
Keider Montero (1-3, 5.97 ERA) will start for Detroit. The rookie right-hander has allowed five ERA in each of his past two starts. Montero allowed eight hits and five runs in 5 1/3 innings in Toronto on Sunday in his first start since the All-Star Game.
Blue Jays outfielder George Springer hit a two-homer off Montero's fastball.
“It's more about execution,” Tigers manager AJ Hinch said. “It looked like Cade was struggling with position most of the day. The breaking ball was pulled or hung. And two fastballs, you get into the fastball count, and a guy like Springer would catch you.
Montero recorded his only major league victory against the Twins on July 3, allowing two runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings.
The Tigers are coming off a 4-3 road trip. They had a four-game series with the Cleveland Cavaliers and won the final 3-0 on Thursday afternoon.
“Obviously, we're not perfect and you always look back at losses and think, 'How could we win?' (But) we've been playing well for a while and this team is having a lot of fun,” Hinch said .
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