Minnesota Twins
2026-06-21
The Minnesota Twins have seen significant production from the bottom half of their batting order, with Brooks Lee, Victor Caratini, Luke Keaschall, and Ryan Kreidler combining for 13 hits and 9 RBIs in their 16-8 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night. Byron Buxton blasted his third career grand slam in the 10-run seventh inning, giving him 7 home runs this month. We're passing the baton to each other, Kreidler said, and it's momentum. Caratini is hitting .415 in 13 games this month, with 3 home runs and 10 RBIs. The Twins will face Jose Cabrera, who will make his major league debut on Sunday, after being promoted from Double-A Amarillo to Triple-A Reno earlier this month. Cabrera went 1-1 with a 3.94 ERA in 3 starts with Reno. Mike Paredes will start for the Twins, facing the Diamondbacks for the first time in his career. The Diamondbacks are down four starting pitchers due to injuries, including Michael Soroka, who was placed on the 15-day injured list on Saturday. And with outfielder Jordan Lawlar going on the injured list with a strained right hamstring, the Diamondbacks recalled Tim Tawa from Reno to fill his spot. Tawa went 0-for-2 with a walk after coming in as a pinch hitter on Saturday. The Twins are looking to continue their winning streak, having improved to 5-1 in their past six games. So far, the series has seen the Twins' batting order do considerable damage, with the back end of the order leading the charge. The Twins will look to keep this momentum going on Sunday, with Paredes on the mound. The game will be played on Sunday afternoon in Phoenix, with the Twins looking to take the series. But the Diamondbacks are looking to bounce back, with Cabrera making his debut and Tawa filling in for Lawlar. The Twins' veteran player, Byron Buxton, continues to contribute in big ways, and his teammates are feeding off his energy. The Twins are hoping to keep their winning streak alive, and a win on Sunday would be a big boost to their season.