Kelly: Spencer Torkelson hits a two-run homer in the 12th. Javier Báez clears the bases with a double. The Detroit Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins 11-6 on Wednesday night, and it feels like the final nail in the coffin for this series.
Gary: It’s a brutal way to close out a homestand against a team that just swept you. But now, we turn the page. The Twins are on the road in Chicago, facing the AL Central-leading White Sox.
Kelly: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network. I’m Kelly, alongside Gary. Today, we’re previewing the Twins at the White Sox. We’ll break down the pitching matchup, look at who is actually available to play given the injury list, and figure out if there’s any hope left in this division race.
Gary: Right. The standings tell the story. The Twins sit at 67-73, third in the AL Central. The White Sox are right above them at 73-67, holding first place. It’s a four-game series, starting tonight, and every game matters for positioning.
Kelly: Before we dive in, Ava has laid out our three key topics. First, the probable pitchers and what they bring to the mound. Second, the massive injury report—Byron Buxton, Austin Martin, Joe Ryan—all missing again. And third, who steps up offensively when the lineup is decimated?
Gary: Exactly. We also have to talk about the bullpen usage. With so many arms unavailable, how deep can Taylor Rogers and company go? Let’s get into it.
Kelly: Let’s start with the pitching. Who is taking the mound for Minnesota tonight in Chicago?
Gary: The rotation is thin, Kelly. Jack Flaherty is on the 15-Day IL. Joe Ryan is also out on the 15-Day IL. That leaves us with Bailey Ober, Zebby Matthews, Dean Kremer, Connor Prielipp, and Taj Bradley. Given the schedule, I expect either Ober or Matthews to get the nod.
Kelly: Matthews seems like the logical choice here. Remember, just a few days ago, he threw a near-perfect game. We talked about that potential start back on September 1st.
Gary: He did. But his last outing was rough. He gave up runs in that 11-6 loss to Detroit. You have to wonder if the staff wants to ride him while he’s hot or rest him after the hiccup. From a tactical standpoint, Matthews has been electric, but consistency is the issue.
Kelly: And what about the White Sox? They are leading the division. Who do you think they’ll throw out there?
Gary: The White Sox are dealing with injuries too. Justin Verlander is on the 60-Day IL. Mick Abel, Brant Hurter, Wenceel Perez, Burch Smith—all on the 60-Day IL. Their rotation is also depleted. They might be forced to use someone from their minor league call-ups or a long reliever turned starter.
Kelly: That makes it even more interesting. If both teams are scraping the bottom of the barrel for starters, does that favor the offense or the bullpen?
Gary: Usually, it favors the offense early in the game. But then it becomes a bullpen war. And the Twins’ bullpen has some holes right now. Gary Paredes is on the 60-Day IL, which hurts the middle relief options.
Kelly: So, if we see a high-scoring game, don’t blame the starters. Blame the lack of depth. Stick with us, because we need to talk about who is actually hitting for the Twins.
Gary: Let’s talk about the lineup. The absence of Byron Buxton on the 10-Day IL is huge. Austin Martin is also on the 10-Day IL. These are two of your best defensive players and top-of-the-order threats.
Kelly: Right. So who is filling those spots? We saw Walker Jenkins step up recently. Remember, he hit his first MLB home run against Detroit, and we predicted he’d add more.
Gary: He did hit that homer. But in the last game, he didn’t have the same impact. The Tigers figured out his swing path a bit. Now, without Buxton’s speed and defense, the center field spot goes to Walker Jenkins full-time.
Kelly: And offensively, who else can we lean on? Josh Bell is at DH. Royce Lewis at first base. Brooks Lee at third.
Gary: Josh Bell provides that power presence. He’s a steady hand in a chaotic lineup. Royce Lewis is critical. When he’s healthy, he changes the dynamic of the entire batting order. But he’s playing through injuries, and you can see the hesitation sometimes.
Kelly: What about the catcher position? Victor Caratini and Ryan Jeffers are both there. Alex Jackson is also on the roster.
Gary: Jeffers has been the primary catcher. He brings good plate discipline and OBP skills. Caratini is a veteran presence, great for guiding young pitchers. With the rotation being stretched thin, having a catcher who can handle multiple innings is vital.
Kelly: But the real question is the bullpen. Who is closing games? Taylor Rogers is still the closer, but who is setting him up? A.J. Minter, Jeff Hoffman, Travis Adams?
Gary: It’s a committee approach. Minter is reliable in the eighth. Hoffman can eat innings if needed. But the workload is going to be heavy. If the starter goes only five innings, Rogers might have to pitch back-to-back days.
Kelly: That’s risky. Fatigue leads to mistakes. And against a White Sox team that is fighting for first place, they will punish those mistakes.
Gary: Exactly. It’s not just about who is hitting; it’s about who is left standing in the dugout when the ninth inning starts.
Kelly: Okay, let’s get to the keys of the series. The Twins are down in the standings. They need to win games to stay relevant in the wild card hunt, even if it’s slim.
Gary: First key: Pitching depth. If the Twins can get six or seven strong innings from whoever starts, they put themselves in the game. Second key: Capitalizing on errors. The White Sox are making mistakes too, given their injury situation.
Kelly: I agree. And third key: Walker Jenkins. We predicted he would hit homers in the first two games of this series. Will he deliver?
Gary: I’m skeptical. He’s facing better pitching now. The White Sox aren’t Detroit. They are the division leaders. Jenkins needs to adjust his launch angle and be more selective at the plate.
Kelly: Fair point. But he has the talent. What’s your bold prediction for this series?
Gary: I predict the White Sox take the series 3-1. Their pitching, despite the injuries, has more depth than Minnesota’s. And their offense will exploit the Twins’ weak bullpen.
Kelly: I disagree slightly. I think the Twins steal one game. Maybe a tight, low-scoring affair where the bullpen holds on. I’ll say the Twins lose the series 2-1, but they win one game convincingly.
Gary: We’ll see. The margin for error is zero for the Twins. One bad inning, and the series is over.
Kelly: That’s our preview. The Twins face the White Sox in a crucial AL Central battle. Injuries continue to plague the roster, but the fight isn’t over yet.
Gary: If you want to support this show, please consider chipping in. It takes a village to produce a fresh, daily episode like this, and your contributions keep us free for everyone. Check the link in the episode description.
Kelly: Thanks for listening. Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you get your podcasts. Go Twins!