Buxton went 1-for-4 with a run and an RBI in Saturday's loss to the Guardians.
Buxton was activated from the injured list Saturday after missing over two weeks due to right knee inflammation. The outfielder helped Minnesota avoid being shut out, plating the team's first run in the ninth inning with a single to right field. Buxton is slashing .250/.298/.385 with a home run, 12 RBI, 13 runs and a stolen base through 104 plate appearances this season.
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Twins' Bailey Ober: Surrenders five runs in loss
Rotowire
Ober (4-2) took the loss against Cleveland on Saturday, allowing five runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out four batters over four innings.
A first-inning, two-run home run by Jose Ramirez set the tone for Cleveland's offense, which ended up scoring in all but one of the four frames during which Ober toed the rubber. The right-handed hurler needed 91 pitches to get 12 outs and finished with his shortest outing since his disastrous eight-run, 1.1-inning loss in his first start of the campaign. Ober had rebounded impressively from that blowup prior to Saturday, posting a 2.16 ERA and 0.67 WHIP over his subsequent seven starts.
Kirilloff isn't in the Twins' lineup for Saturday's game against Cleveland.
Kirilloff will move to the bench Saturday as left-hander Logan Allen prepares to start on the mound for the Guardians. Willi Castro will fill the void in left field, batting third.
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Twins' Trevor Larnach: Riding pine against lefty
Rotowire
Larnach isn't in the Twins' lineup for Saturday's game against the Guardians.
The lefty-hitting Larnach will step out of the lineup as the Twins prepare to face southpaw Logan Allen. Ryan Jeffers will move into the DH spot as a result, allowing Christian Vazquez to start at catcher while batting ninth.
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Twins' Max Kepler: Sitting down versus lefty
Rotowire
Kepler isn't in the Twins' lineup for Saturday's game against the Guardians.
Left-hander Logan Allen will toe the slab for Cleveland on Saturday, meaning the lefty-hitting Kepler will retreat to the bench. Manuel Margot will take over in right field and bat sixth.
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Twins' Edouard Julien: Resting versus LHP
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Julien isn't in the Twins' lineup Saturday versus Cleveland.
With lefty Logan Allen set to take the mound for the Guardians, Julien and his career .545 OPS against southpaws will stay put in Minnesota's dugout. Kyle Farmer will get the nod to start at second base instead and bat eighth.
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Twins' Austin Martin: Optioned to St. Paul
Rotowire
The Twins optioned Martin to Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday.
With Byron Buxton (knee) returning from the injured list, Martin will be pushed back to Triple-A. During his latest stint in the majors, the 25-year-old utility player went 3-for-14 with two stolen bases and three runs scored in eight games.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Reinstated from IL
Rotowire
The Twins reinstated Buxton (knee) from the injured list Saturday.
Buxton went 0-for-6 with an RBI during his two-game rehab assignment, but he has seemingly fully recovered from his right knee inflammation and will return as Minnesota's everyday center fielder. The 30-year-old was slashing .343/.410/.543 with four RBI and eight runs scored across his last 10 games before getting injured.
Twins' Simeon Woods Richardson: Allows one run in no-decision
Rotowire
Woods Richardson did not factor into the decision Friday against the Guardians, allowing one run on four hits and no walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out two.
Woods Richardson looked much steadier in his outing Friday night, allowing just five baserunners by scattering four singles and issuing one hit-by-pitch. It also marked his first career start without allowing a walk, as he yielded at least one base on balls in each of his previous six starts. The 23-year-old right-hander is scheduled to pitch against the Nationals on the road in his next outing.
Twins' Manuel Margot: Slow start to season continues
Rotowire
Margot started in center field and went 0-for-3 in Thursday's loss to the Yankees. He's hitting just .169 with a .460 OPS this season.
The Twins traded for Margot in the offseason thinking he'd be insurance in center field if Bryon Buxton was injured and could fill a right-handed platoon role. However, Margot has struggled to provide any offense and made just his second start this month in center field despite Buxton missing the last two weeks with a knee injury. Margot may continue to languish on the bench until he gets going at the plate.
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Twins' Joe Ryan: Tagged by Yankees
Rotowire
Ryan (2-3) took the loss Thursday against the Yankees, allowing four runs on six hits and a walk over 5.1 innings. He struck out five.
Ryan surrendered more than three earned runs for the first time all year, as the Yankees matched that total in the first inning alone. The right-hander's struggles resulted in a shortened outing, and he failed to complete six frames for the first time since April 19. Ryan owns a 3.86 ERA and a 28:4 K:BB in 30.1 innings over his last five starts. He's lined up to face the Nationals in Washington early next week.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Aiming for Saturday return
Rotowire
Buxton (knee) will play one more rehab game with Triple-A St. Paul on Thursday before targeting a return to the Twins on Saturday in Cleveland, Darren Wolfson of Channel 5 Saint Paul reports.
Buxton kicked off a rehab assignment with St. Paul on Wednesday, going 0-for-3 at the plate and playing seven innings in center field. He'll likely be asked to play a full game there Thursday and, assuming all goes well, will be activated Saturday following a day of rest Friday. Buxton has been out since early May while battling right knee inflammation.
Martin is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Yankees.
After recently picking up four starts in a five-game stretch, Martin finds himself on the bench for the second straight day. While he's up with the big club, the right-handed-hitting Martin should play regularly versus left-handed pitching, but the trio of Alex Kirilloff, Willi Castro and Max Kepler looks to be the Twins' preferred outfield alignment against right-handers. The outfield will become even more crowded when Byron Buxton (knee) returns from the 10-day injured list, perhaps as soon as this weekend.
