The Minnesota Twins’ bid to reach the .500 mark went by the boards after their bats fell silent on Thursday afternoon.
Fresh off seeing their four-game winning streak end, the Twins will look to get back on track Friday night when they open a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels in Minneapolis.
Minnesota mustered only three hits and struck out 14 times in a 5-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday. The result spoiled the Twins’ bid to even their record for the first time since they were 12-12 on April 22.
The Twins (46-48) were no-hit through four innings by Guardians starter Gavin Williams on Thursday.
“We really didn’t have anything on the barrel,” Minnesota manager Derek Shelton said. “Royce (Lewis) hit the homer (a solo shot in the seventh), but other than that, (Williams) just kept us off the barrel the entire day.”
Right-hander Zebby Matthews (4-5, 4.43 ERA) will start on Friday for the Twins.
Matthews exited his most recent start Saturday against the New York Yankees with a lacerated right foot. He walked away with a no-decision after allowing four runs on three hits — including two homers — and four walks in 4 2/3 innings. The Twins won 11-4.
Matthews has been generous with the long ball this season, surrendering eight homers in his past five trips to the mound.
The Angels have homered twice off of Matthews. In two career starts, he owns an 0-1 record with a 7.88 ERA vs. Los Angeles.
Matthews could be throwing on Friday to catcher Ryan Jeffers, who likely will be activated from the injured list after being sidelined since mid-May with a fractured hamate bone in his left hand.
Jeffers said it’s all systems go after he worked out the kinks during five games on a minor-league assignment.
“I felt pretty good this weekend but wanted to go down to Iowa and get some more games,” he said. “Get a larger sample size. But physically felt good. I felt like I was tracking the ball well, getting back in the groove of things. It feels good, yeah.”
The majors-worst Angels likely aren’t feeling good after losing for the eighth time in nine games with a 7-6 setback to the Texas Rangers on Thursday.
Nolan Schanuel had a two-run single to highlight his four-hit performance, marking the first time he has driven in a run since June 24.
Right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (2-2, 8.06 ERA) will be summoned from a rehab assignment at Triple-A Salt Lake to start for the Angels.
Sidelined since June 14 with tightness in his lower back, Rodriguez allowed one run on four hits with five strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings on Saturday in a Salt Lake victory.
“Just go out there and attack the zone, just let it go and be efficient, all the things that we preach with all our pitchers,” Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said. “Especially with Grayson, with the stuff he has, he’s a game-changer. Having him go out there and do what he can do and pitch how he can pitch is definitely going to help us.”
Rodriguez, 26, picked up the win in his lone career encounter vs. Minnesota, yielding two runs on four hits in six innings in an 11-3 victory on April 16, 2024. He was a member of the Baltimore Orioles at the time.
–Field Level Media
