Framber Valdez (3-4, 4.21) gets the ball for Detroit at 5:40 PM CT after a tidy 5-inning, 1-run win over Seattle in his last time out. Mike Paredes goes for Minnesota, a 4.91 ERA, and a roster spot that only exists because Bailey Ober's flexor strain opened the door.
Tuesday night was a homer derby that the Tigers won going away. Dillon Dingler put up a 4-hit, 4-RBI night with 2 bombs, Kerry Carpenter went deep with a go-ahead 2-run shot in the 5th, and Riley Greene chipped in another. Eight total homers cleared the wall, and Detroit has now won 6 of 7. Byron Buxton's leadoff blast — his 19th — was the only Twins moment that traveled.
Valdez has a 4-2 mark and a 3.61 ERA across 9 prior looks at Minnesota, and the Twins lineup he's seeing is short on right-handed thump with Ryan Jeffers still on the 10-day after hand surgery and Walker Jenkins not close. The lefty had one true disaster start this year — 10 runs in 3-plus against Boston back in May that ended with a benches-clearing ejection — but he's been steady otherwise.
Paredes is the bigger unknown. He was promoted from Triple-A St. Paul on May 31 with a 4.44 minor-league ERA, and the Twins are basically holding the rotation together with tape: Pablo Lopez and David Festa are on the 60-day, Ober's down 10-14 days minimum, and Mick Abel is still on a rehab assignment. It's a tough spot to ask a rookie to outduel a veteran lefty in a hitter's park.
- Day-To-DayWalker Jenkins CF — Twins manager Jeremy Zoll said Saturday that Jenkins (shoulder) is "reporting improvements daily" and could begin light baseball activity in about a week, Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune 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) will throw a bullpen session Wednesday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
- 15-Day-ILMick Abel SP — Abel (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
- 15-Day-ILCole Sands RP — The Twins returned Sands (forearm) from his rehab assignment Tuesday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
- 15-Day-ILBailey Ober SP — Ober has a mild flexor strain and will be shut down for 10-14 days, reports Dan Hayes of The Athletic
- Day-To-DayDugan Darnell RP — The Tigers announced Sunday that Darnell (hip) has been playing catch five times a week and is also taking part in a running progression, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
- Day-To-DayJosue Briceno C — Briceno said Friday that he expects to be sidelined a few months after having surgery Wednesday to repair a tendon in his right wrist, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
- 10-Day-ILJavier Baez SS — Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Tuesday that Baez (ankle) has been shut down from baseball activities for an unspecified length of time, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
- 15-Day-ILTarik Skubal SP — Skubal (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILCasey Mize SP — Mize (adductor) tossed five innings, allowing one run on three hits and a walk while striking out five during his rehab start with Single-A Lakeland on Tuesday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
- 15-Day-ILBurch Smith RP — Smith (shoulder) started a throwing program Tuesday, MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILKenley Jansen RP — Jansen (pelvis) will make a rehab appearance for Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILJustin Verlander SP — Verlander (hip) is scheduled to make a second rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Toledo, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
The market noticed the mismatch. Twins +1.5 opened at -190 and has been bid all the way down to -131 — a chunky move toward Detroit covering the runline. Total sits at 9.5 the morning after these clubs combined for 14, which feels like the book daring you to chase last night's fireworks.