Neither club is dealing with a clean bill of health, which is part of why this series has been closer on the scoreboard than the standings would suggest. San Diego took the opener behind a two-hitter from its bullpen, with Ty France doing the damage at the plate.
Both teams are fighting from a similar spot in their respective wild-card races. The Twins are stuck below .500 in a crowded American League scrum that's cycled through four different teams in the final spot since mid-August, per CBS Sports, while the Padres are holding down a National League wild-card position but still chasing the Dodgers atop the NL West.
Minnesota arrives having swept a three-game set from Atlanta before dropping the series opener here, a stretch that shows a team capable of stringing wins together when the rotation cooperates. San Diego's been streakier — a win, a loss, a win, a loss, then Friday's win — but the underlying arms have looked sharper than the Twins' patchwork staff.
- 10-Day-ILAustin Martin (RF) — Twins manager Derek Shelton said that Martin sustained a left hamstring strain in the eighth inning of Sunday's 7-5 loss to the Phillies and will be sent in for an MRI, Aaron Gleeman of Aaron Gleeman.com reports.08/17
- 15-Day-ILJoe Ryan (SP) — Ryan (glute) threw a 25-pitch bullpen session Tuesday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.08/19
- 15-Day-ILAnthony Banda (RP) — Banda underwent surgery to repair his left lat strain and will miss the remainder of the 2026 season, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.07/09
- 60-Day-ILMike Paredes (SP) — The Twins transferred Paredes (oblique) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Saturday.08/02
- 60-Day-ILCole Sands (RP) — Sands will undergo arthroscopic surgery Tuesday to remove loose bodies and bone spurs from his right elbow, Jack Azoulay-Haron of ElEmergente.com reports.07/31
- 60-Day-ILDavid Festa (SP) — Festa (shoulder) will undergo a season-ending double surgery Wednesday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.07/29
- 60-Day-ILMick Abel (SP) — The Twins plan to re-evaluate Abel (elbow) on Sept. 1, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.07/20
- 60-Day-ILPablo Lopez (SP) — The Twins placed Lopez (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.05/08
- 10-Day-ILMiguel Andujar (DH) — The Padres announced Monday that Andujar (wrist) has been cleared to begin a swing progression, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.08/17
- 10-Day-ILSamad Taylor (LF) — Taylor (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A El Paso on Tuesday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.08/17
- 15-Day-ILLucas Giolito (SP) — Giolito (elbow) has been throwing at the Padres' team complex in Arizona, but his timeline to return is unclear, MLB.com reports.08/10
- 60-Day-ILNick Pivetta (SP) — Pivetta (forearm) has continued to play catch and build up, but his throwing program has been moved to the Padres' complex in Peoria, Arizona, MLB.com reports.08/18
- 60-Day-ILJason Adam (RP) — Adam (shoulder) played light catch from 90 feet Monday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.08/17
- 60-Day-ILJoe Musgrove (SP) — Musgrove (elbow) allowed five earned runs on nine hits and one walk while striking out five across 4.2 innings Friday in his rehab start with Triple-A El Paso.08/16
- 60-Day-ILRamon Laureano (LF) — Laureano underwent surgery Friday to repair his torn right labrum, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.06/05
- 60-Day-ILBryan Hoeing (RP) — The Padres transferred Hoeing (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.05/08
Both injury lists are heavy on pitching, which is the whole story of this game: whoever's bullpen holds up better late is probably walking away with it.