Kelly: Emmanuel Rodriguez. First career at-bat. First major league home run. And it came against the Cleveland Guardians, sparking a four-run inning to seal a 4-3 win last night.
Gary: It was exactly the kind of spark this team needed. A young kid stepping up when it mattered most, flipping the script on a series that had been slipping away. That is baseball in September.
Kelly: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network! I’m Kelly, and you know Gary’s got the deep dive ready. We’re live here in Minnesota, and let’s be honest: yesterday was huge for morale. But today? Today is Game Three. The Cleveland Guardians are still here, sitting second in the AL Central at 75-74, while we sit third at 70-78. This series decider is everything.
Gary: It really is a winner-take-all atmosphere now. If the Twins take this one, they salvage pride and momentum heading into the final weeks. If they lose, it’s a tough pill to swallow after that emotional victory last night. We’ve talked about the injuries all week—Byron Buxton out, Austin Martin struggling, Kaelen Culpepper day-to-day—but the roster has shown resilience.
Kelly: Before we get into the pitching matchups and who needs to step up today, I want to do a quick shout-out. If you enjoyed this breakdown, if you learned something new about how these bullpen arms are being managed or why Rodriguez’s swing path is clicking right now, please consider supporting us. It keeps the show free and daily for everyone. Just check the link in the episode description. Now, let’s get to the game plan.
Gary: Right. So, three things coming up. First, we’ll break down the pitching probables and what we expect from the rotation today. Second, we’re looking at the lineup changes—specifically where Walker Jenkins and Brooks Lee fit in with the current injury list. And third, we’ll give our keys to victory and a bold prediction for tonight’s finale.
Kelly: Let’s start with the mound. Who is starting for Minnesota today? We know Bailey Ober and Zebby Matthews have been the anchors, but with the season winding down, who’s in the rotation spot for Game Three?
Gary: Based on the rotation cycle and the fact that Joe Ryan started Game Two, the logical move is Dean Kremer. He’s been solid in the stretch run, and giving him the ball here makes sense tactically. The Guardians have a tough lineup, though. They just beat us 5-2 earlier in the series with Angel Martinez hitting a two-run homer and a double in the ninth.
Kelly: Angel Martinez is a problem. He’s been hot. But let’s talk about Kremer. What does he need to do differently than what happened in Game Two? In that loss, the Twins’ defense seemed stretched thin, and the bullpen couldn’t hold the lead.
Gary: Exactly. In Game Two, the defensive positioning was off against their pull-heavy hitters. Kremer has to keep the ball down. His sinker is his best weapon, but if he leaves it up in the zone, Martinez or anyone else will punish it. We saw Emmanuel Rodriguez hit a bomb last night because he caught the pitch over the plate. Kremer can’t afford that luxury.
Kelly: And on the other side, who is Cleveland throwing? Are they going with their ace, or are they resting someone for the postseason push?
Gary: Cleveland is fighting for position in the AL Central. They’re not resting anyone. Expect Taj Bradley or a similar high-leverage starter. They need every win to maintain that second-place standing. This isn’t a exhibition; it’s a playoff seeding battle for them. For us, it’s about proving we can compete despite the injuries.
Kelly: That pressure cooker environment. You can feel it in the stadium. Let’s talk about the ABS challenge system tracker we mentioned in the headlines. How is that affecting the umpires’ calls tonight? It’s a new dynamic.
Gary: It’s definitely changing the pace. Umpires are more cautious with challenges. Last night, we saw Rodriguez benefit from a call that might have gone either way, but the system held. Tonight, both teams will be aggressive. The Twins have to be smart about when to challenge. Don’t waste them on borderline pitches. Save them for the critical innings.
Kelly: Smart usage. Okay, so Kremer vs. Cleveland’s starter. The key is keeping the ball low and managing the challenge clock. Let’s move to the lineup. With Byron Buxton on the 10-Day IL and Kaelen Culpepper day-to-day, who is manning the infield and outfield today?
Gary: We’re expecting Walker Jenkins to stay in center field. He’s been energetic. Brooks Lee should be at third base. And in the infield, with Culpepper questionable, Ryan Kreidler or Luke Keaschall likely see time at shortstop. Kody Clemens at second. It’s a younger, faster group, but they lack the veteran power of Buxton.
Kelly: And Josh Bell is still DH. We predicted he’d hit a homer in the series last time, and he hasn’t quite broken through yet. Is he due?
Gary: He’s due. His plate discipline is elite. He’s just waiting for the mistake. Against a starter like Kremer, if he can lay off the early curveballs and wait for the fastball, he’s going to drive one. The Guardians’ defense isn’t great against lefty power, so Bell is a prime target.
Kelly: Bell gets the big hit. We’ll see. Stick with us, because we’re diving deeper into the bullpen worries next.
Kelly: Alright, Segment Two. Let’s talk bullpens. After that 4-3 win last night, the relief corps looked shaky in the late innings. Trevor Rogers, A.J. Minter, Jeff Hoffman—they’re all available. Who starts the ninth tonight?
Gary: It depends on the score, but Taylor Rogers is the closer. He’s been reliable. However, we have to talk about the injuries again. Mick Abel and Cole Sands are on the 60-Day IL. Shawn Armstrong too. That limits our depth. If Rogers gets tired, who’s next? Yoendrys Gomez? He’s been inconsistent.
Kelly: Inconsistent is an understatement. Gomez has given up some hard contact lately. And Colin Holderman is on the 15-Day IL. So we’re running thin. Do you trust the current arm slots to close out a tight game against a hungry Guardians team?
Gary: I trust Rogers. But I don’t trust the middle relief. If the game goes to the eighth inning tied, that’s where we could get hurt. Andrew Morris or Tommy Nance might have to step in. They’re inexperienced in high-leverage spots. That’s the risk. The Guardians will test those weak links.
Kelly: So, the strategy is: get the first six innings out of Kremer, then hand it to Rogers. No walking through the lineup. Got it. What about the offense? Emmanuel Rodriguez had that huge moment last night. Can he repeat it?
Gary: Absolutely. He’s riding the momentum. Young hitters often carry that confidence. Plus, Austin Martin is still dealing with his issue, which means Rodriguez gets more ABs. More at-bats mean more opportunities. His launch angle is perfect for the short porch in right field.
Kelly: Short porch. Right. And Royce Lewis at first base? He’s been quiet lately. Does he need to wake up?
Gary: Lewis is always a threat. He’s got the raw power. But he’s facing right-handed pitching today, probably. He needs to be patient. Wait for the slider in the dirt. If he chases, he strikes out. If he waits, he hits it 400 feet. Simple as that.
Kelly: Simple, but hard to execute under pressure. Victor Caratini behind the plate—he’s been steady. His defense helps the pitchers. Ryan Jeffers is also there, but Caratini is the guy calling the game. Good thing he’s there.
Gary: Caratini is invaluable. He knows the Guardians’ hitters inside out. He’ll make sure the pitchers are attacking the right zones. Without him, this pitching staff looks even more vulnerable.
Kelly: Okay, so we’re leaning on Caratini’s defense, Rogers’ closing ability, and Rodriguez’s bat. But what if the Guardians rally again like they did in the ninth last Friday? That 5-2 loss still stings.
Gary: That’s why we have to build a lead. Don’t let it get close. If it’s 4-3 in the seventh, we panic. If it’s 5-3 in the seventh, we breathe. The key is early runs. Josh Bell, Walker Jenkins, Brooks Lee—all need to contribute. One-hit games are too risky with this bullpen.
Kelly: Build the cushion. Okay, I like that. Let’s wrap up the analysis in Segment Three. What are your keys to the series, and what’s your final score prediction?
Kelly: My key is discipline. The Guardians have great hitters. If we chase fastballs, we lose. We need to work the counts, force the pitcher to throw strikes. Gary, what’s your bold prediction?
Gary: My bold prediction: The Twins win 6-4. I think Emmanuel Rodriguez goes deep again, maybe twice. And Josh Bell finally breaks through with a two-run shot. The offense wakes up, Kremer pitches seven strong innings, and Rogers closes it out. We split the series, taking two of three.
Kelly: Two of three. A split. That feels right. We won Game One, lost Game Two, and we take Game Three. It’s a resilient performance from a team that’s been banged up all year. Byron Buxton, Kaelen Culpepper, Rhys Hoskins—they’re all out or limited. But the guys on the field are fighting.
Gary: They are. And that’s what makes baseball beautiful. It’s not just about the stars; it’s about the role players stepping up. Walker Jenkins, Kody Clemens, Alex Jackson behind the plate. Everyone has a job.
Kelly: Job well done. Alright, listeners, that’s our preview. Game Three is tonight at Target Field. 6:10 PM Central Time. Don’t miss it. Make sure you’re subscribed, rated, and reviewed on your favorite podcast app. Share this with a fellow Twin fan. Let’s get this split!
Gary: Go Twins. See you tomorrow.
Kelly: Thanks for listening to the Beatline Podcast Network. Go Twins!