Ryan Feltner (2-2, 4.79 ERA) takes the ball for Colorado against Minnesota's Connor Prielipp (2-5, 5.17 ERA) in Sunday's series finale at 1:10 PM CT. Feltner returned from the IL earlier this season with a right ulnar nerve issue and has been serviceable since — 4 walks in his last start against Boston, but he still managed 6 innings and 2 runs allowed. Prielipp enters in a more precarious spot.
Prielipp is on thin ice. He's 2-5 with a 5.17 ERA, and his most recent start against Arizona featured 9 hits in 6 innings — functional damage control, not a performance that builds confidence. The demotion conversation has been real in Minnesota, and the only reason he's still in the rotation is that Mick Abel, the other option, just had elbow surgery and isn't coming back anytime soon. Feltner has the walk rate to worry about; Prielipp has the hit rate.
Minnesota has been in a slump that predates this series. The Dodgers swept them in 3 straight at Target Field last week — including a 12-3 rout Tuesday where L.A. barely broke a sweat — and the Twins dragged into this Colorado series having lost 3 of their last 4. They caught a break Friday night, walking off the Rockies 9-8 in 10 innings after Minnesota had somehow blown a 7-run lead. Then Saturday went sideways again: Goodman hit 3 home runs, including his 25th of the season in the 7th, and Colorado won 8-5. The Twins now need a win today to avoid dropping a series to a 33-50 club.
Colorado's pitching situation is a disaster on paper — the Rockies carry the worst team ERA in baseball, with the rotation and bullpen both in rough shape and an injury report that reads like a casualty list. Chase Dollander had elbow surgery, Welinton Herrera is done for the year with a torn UCL, and the IL runs 15 names deep. But the offense has been picking up the slack, particularly Goodman, who is posting a .614 slugging percentage on the road this season. Target Field might be the friendliest environment in baseball for him right now.
- Day-To-DayBrayan Castillo RP — The Rockies announced Monday that Castillo is dealing with right lat tightness and has been shut down from throwing while undergoing treatment for the injury, TheDNVR.com reports.
- Day-To-DayCase Williams SP — Williams is currently slowed by a stress reaction in his right triceps, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
- Day-To-DayJared Thomas CF — The Rockies announced Monday that Thomas hasn't been participating in spring training while he recovers from offseason surgery to address a fractured hamate bone in his right wrist, TheDNVR.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILBrenton Doyle CF — Doyle (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday, Kevin Henry of The Denver Gazette reports.
- 10-Day-ILJordan Beck LF — Beck (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday, Kevin Henry of The Denver Gazette reports.
- 15-Day-ILJaden Hill RP — The Rockies placed Hill on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with right shoulder tendinitis.
- 15-Day-ILTanner Gordon RP — Gordon (hip) is slated to make a rehab start with Triple-A Albuquerque on Wednesday, MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILBlas Castano RP — Castano was called up from Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday.
- Day-To-DayKaelen Culpepper SS — Culpepper was placed on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday with a left hip strain, Aaron Gleeman of AaronGleeman.com reports.
- Day-To-DayRicardo Olivar C — Triple-A St. Paul transferred Olivar from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day IL on June 4 while he recovers from a right knee sprain, Twins writer Brandon Warne reports.
- Day-To-DayJulian Merryweather RP — Merryweather (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment with the Twins' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate Tuesday, Theodore Tollefson of ZoneCoverage.com reports.
- Day-To-DayMatt Canterino SP — Canterino (shoulder) will be with the Twins in big-league spring training but isn't expected to pitch during camp as he continues to recover from shoulder surgery, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
- 10-Day-ILRyan Jeffers C — Jeffers (hand) was spotted taking swings in the batting cage and catching a bullpen session Monday, Theodore Tollefson of ZoneCoverage.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILMick Abel SP — Abel will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow, Aaron Gleeman of AaronGleeman.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILBailey Ober SP — Ober (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday of approximately 40 pitches, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
- 15-Day-ILCole Sands RP — Sands underwent an MRI on Friday that showed healing in his injured forearm, though inflammation was still present, MLB.com reports.