The Astros have gone 21-13 since May 21 — the best record in the AL over that stretch. They just took 3 of 4 from Detroit on the road and arrive at Daikin Park with real momentum. Yordan Alvarez has been the engine all year: 25 home runs, a .314 average, and a 1.045 OPS that leads all of baseball. The bullpen has done its part as well, posting a 2.64 ERA since May 15, with Steven Okert logging 17 straight scoreless innings. Minnesota split its final home series against Colorado before flying south — technically a winning series, but the 5-8 loss in the middle of it was a reminder of where this team actually stands.
- 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.06/16
- 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.05/08
- 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.05/08
- 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.06/23
- 15-Day-ILBailey Ober (SP) — Ober (elbow) struck out one batter and allowed three earned runs on seven hits and no walks over 3.1 innings in a rehab start Sunday with High-A Cedar Rapids.06/28
- 15-Day-ILMick Abel (SP) — Abel will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow, Aaron Gleeman of AaronGleeman.com reports.06/24
- 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.06/16
- 60-Day-ILGarrett Acton (RP) — Acton (shoulder) resumed throwing off a mound last week, MLB.com reports.06/18
- 60-Day-ILDavid Festa (SP) — The Twins announced June 1 that Festa (shoulder) has started a throwing progression, MLB.com reports.06/11
- 60-Day-ILPablo Lopez (SP) — The Twins placed Lopez (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.05/08
- Day-To-DayCam Smith (RF) — Astros manager Joe Espada said that Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers due to a sore foot, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.06/28
- Day-To-DayWalker Janek (C) — Double-A Corpus Christi placed Janek on its 7-day injured list Sunday due to an unspecified injury.05/08
- 10-Day-ILNick Allen (SS) — Allen (hamstring) resumed taking batting practice and shagging flyballs over the weekend, MLB.com reports.06/22
- 10-Day-ILLaMonte Wade Jr. (1B) — Wade (hamstring) has resumed taking batting practice and shagging flyballs and is expected to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment soon, MLB.com reports.06/22
- 10-Day-ILBraden Shewmake (SS) — The Astros announced Monday that Shewmake (adductor) has taken part in baseball activity and is working his way through a running progression at the team's facility in Florida, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.06/15
- 15-Day-ILLance McCullers Jr. (SP) — McCullers (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.06/21
- 15-Day-ILBennett Sousa (RP) — The Astros announced Friday that Sousa (elbow) has begun a throwing progression, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.06/04
- 60-Day-ILCristian Javier (SP) — Javier (shoulder) struck out five and allowed three earned runs on five hits and three walks across 4.2 innings Sunday in his rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land.06/22
- 60-Day-ILRonel Blanco (SP) — Blanco (elbow) struck out five over three scoreless frames in his first rehab start with the Astros' Florida Complex League affiliate Friday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.06/19
- 60-Day-ILBrandon Walter (SP) — The Astros announced Friday that Walter (elbow) is in the midst of a throwing progression at the team's complex in West Palm Beach, Fla., Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.06/04
- 60-Day-ILCarlos Correa (SS) — Correa is scheduled to undergo surgery Monday in Houston to repair the tendon in his left ankle, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.06/02
- 60-Day-ILHayden Wesneski (SP) — Wesneski (elbow) has progressed to throwing live batting practice this week, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.05/29
The injury report does the Twins no favors heading into this series. They're missing 3 starters from the rotation and both catchers on the 40-man, including Ryan Jeffers (hand). For Houston, Carlos Correa's ankle surgery is a significant long-term loss, but the Astros have enough lineup depth to absorb it tonight. Under new manager Derek Shelton — who replaced Rocco Baldelli after last season — Minnesota is trying to build something sustainable, but a road trip to Minute Maid against one of the AL's hottest teams is exactly the kind of series that exposes a 40-45 club with nothing left in the rotation.