Minnesota Twins
(30-38)Jun 9L@ Tigers4-10
Jun 7Lvs Royals5-6
Jun 6Lvs Royals2-3
Jun 6Wvs Royals5-3
Jun 4Lvs Royals6-8
Detroit Tigers
(28-39)Jun 9Wvs Twins10-4
Jun 7Wvs Mariners5-4
Jun 6Lvs Mariners0-4
Jun 5Wvs Mariners7-3
Jun 3W@ Rays7-2
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.
Minnesota Twins
(11)- 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.05/18
- 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 had the cast and stitches removed from his surgically repaired left hand and has resumed throwing, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports.06/03
- 15-Day-ILKendry Rojas (RP) — Rojas (elbow) will throw a bullpen session Wednesday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.06/10
- 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.06/10
- 15-Day-ILCole Sands (RP) — The Twins returned Sands (forearm) from his rehab assignment Tuesday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.06/09
- 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 Athletic06/01
- 60-Day-ILGarrett Acton (RP) — no05/19
- 60-Day-ILDavid Festa (SP) — Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll said Saturday that Festa is unlikely to return before the All-Star break after experiencing a setback in his recovery from a right shoulder impingement earlier this month, Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.05/18
- 60-Day-ILPablo Lopez (SP) — The Twins placed Lopez (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.05/08
Detroit Tigers
(14)- 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.05/08
- 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.05/08
- 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.06/04
- 15-Day-ILTarik Skubal (SP) — Skubal (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.06/10
- 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.06/09
- 15-Day-ILBurch Smith (RP) — Smith (shoulder) started a throwing program Tuesday, MLB.com reports.06/08
- 15-Day-ILKenley Jansen (RP) — Jansen (pelvis) will make a rehab appearance for Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.06/07
- 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.06/07
- 60-Day-ILTrey Sweeney (SS) — Sweeney will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery this week, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.06/05
- 60-Day-ILJackson Jobe (SP) — Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Tuesday that Jobe (elbow) is expected to resume facing hitters in live batting practice "in a few weeks," Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.06/04
- 60-Day-ILBrant Hurter (RP) — The Tigers placed Hurter on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to lumbar spine inflammation.05/29
- 60-Day-ILBailey Horn (RP) — Horn (elbow) began a throwing progression May 14, MLB.com reports.05/27
- 60-Day-ILReese Olson (SP) — The Tigers placed Olson on the 60-day injured list Tuesday after he underwent a right shoulder labral repair Feb. 2 that will result in him missing the 2026 season.05/08
- 60-Day-ILParker Meadows (CF) — Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said that Meadows underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a left radius fracture and will be sidelined "multiple months," Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.05/08
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.