Ryne Nelson gets the ball for the Diamondbacks in the getaway game, the back end of a rotation that has had to absorb Corbin Burnes being shut down with a teres major strain on top of the existing Tommy John recovery. The Twins' Sunday starter wasn't locked in as of the series announcement, with Connor Prielipp lined up for the opener and Taj Bradley penciled in Saturday.
Minnesota is the hotter team coming in, full stop. They've won 4 of their last 5, including a 12-2 hammering of the Rangers on June 16 where they piled up a season-high 17 hits and Zebby Matthews went 7 innings of 2-run ball. Trevor Larnach and Kody Clemens both went deep in that one, and the lineup is finally clicking after a sluggish stretch that has them at 35-40.
Arizona at 38-36 is the better record on paper, but it has been an uneven week. The Snakes split a doubleheader with the Angels on Tuesday — getting shut out 7-0 in the first game before snapping back with an 8-1 win in the nightcap. That's been the season in miniature: capable of running anyone off the field for a day, capable of disappearing the next. Sunday's matinee is the third matchup of the set, and the rubber game is going to come down to which bullpen has anything left.
- 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-DayWalker Jenkins CF — Jenkins (shoulder) could start a rehab assignment with Single-A Fort Myers as soon as Saturday, Aaron Gleeman of AaronGleeman.com 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 had the cast and stitches removed from his surgically repaired left hand and has resumed throwing, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILKendry Rojas RP — Rojas (elbow) has been sent to Triple-A St. Paul to begin a rehab assignment, Aaron Gleeman of AaronGleeman.com 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.
- Day-To-DayA.J. Vukovich CF — no
- Day-To-DayDerek Law RP — no
- Day-To-DayKyle Amendt RP — Amendt was invited to major-league spring training by the Diamondbacks, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.
- 10-Day-ILJames McCann C — McCann (quadriceps) is expected to begin playing in complex league games next week, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
- developmental listJuan Centeno C — The Diamondbacks re-assigned Centeno to minor-league camp Friday.
- 60-Day-ILA.J. Puk RP — The Diamondbacks paused Puk's (elbow) rehab Friday due to left shoulder discomfort, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
- 60-Day-ILCarlos Santana 1B — Santana (thigh) began a rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League on Friday, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.
- 60-Day-ILCorbin Burnes SP — Manager Torey Lovullo said Wednesday that Burnes (elbow) has been shut down from throwing after suffering a teres major strain, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
The injury report is where this gets a little lopsided. Arizona is still without Burnes, A.J. Puk, Justin Martinez, and Carlos Santana, which is a star starter, two high-leverage arms, and a veteran bat all on the shelf at once. The Twins have their own rotation holes — Pablo Lopez and David Festa on the 60-day, Bailey Ober down with a flexor strain — but Mick Abel is close to coming back after a clean rehab outing in St. Paul, which would give them a real lift.
Stylistically this is a Twins offense that has been mashing fastballs through the middle of June against a Diamondbacks staff that has been forced to lean on guys past their natural role. Royce Lewis is back on track, Larnach is squaring up everything, and if Minnesota gets Nelson early the way they got into the Rangers, this could end up being the third straight start where the Twins put up a crooked number in the first inning.