First Pitch: 6:07
TV:Twins.TV
Radio: TIBN
Opposing Team Page: Bluebird Banter
Twins Lineup
- Buxton CF
- Larnach DH
- Lee SS
- Wallner RF
- Jeffers C
- Clemens 2B
- Lewis 3B
- Julien 1B
- Outman LF
P. Ryan (12-6, 2.96 ERA)
Blue Jays Lineup
- Springer LF
- Lukes RF
- Guerrero Jr. DH
- Bichette SS
- Varsho CF
- Kirk C
- Clement 3B
- France 1B
- Gimenez 2B
P. Scherzer (4-2, 3.60)
The Minnesota Twins will take on Louie Varland, Ty France and the first place Toronto Blue Jays Monday night. The BJs lead the Red Sox by 5 games in the AL East. The Twins will likely be facing a nearly full-strength Toronto Blue Jays lineup when they open the three-game series— with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. expected to return to everyday action.
Guerrero,
the Jays’ All-Star first baseman, has been sidelined since tweaking his left hamstring a week ago in Pittsburgh. He made a brief return as a pinch hitter Sunday in Miami but didn’t take the field, as Toronto continues to handle him cautiously.
Guerrero is slashing .298 with 21 homers and 69 RBIs this season.
For the Twins, the timing isn’t ideal — especially after a frustrating offensive showing in Sunday’s 8-0 loss to the White Sox, which dropped Minnesota to 8-14 in August. The team went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine in the series finale.
On the mound tonight, the Twins will send Joe Ryan (12-6, 2.96 ERA) against Toronto’s Max Scherzer (4-2, 3.60). Ryan already beat the Jays earlier this season, allowing two earned runs over five innings in a 6-3 win on June 8. He’s 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA in three career starts against Toronto.
Scherzer, meanwhile, has had past success against the Twins (9-2, 4.09 ERA in 18 starts), but hasn’t faced Minnesota since 2023.
Minnesota will also be facing two familiar faces: reliever Louis Varland and first baseman Ty France — both traded to Toronto in the deadline deal that brought outfielder Alan Roden and lefty prospect Kendry Rojas to the Twins. So far, the returns haven’t panned out much: Roden’s on the 60-day IL with a thumb sprain, while Rojas remains in the minors.
France, who has been filling in for Guerrero, is hitting .296 with five RBIs in 19 games for Toronto. Varland has struggled in relief, posting a 5.59 ERA in 10 outings.
Despite the rough road trip so far, there’s been a bright spot for Minnesota in rookie second baseman Luke Keaschall, who doubled and walked Sunday and is hitting .329 with two homers and 13 RBIs in August.
The Twins will need to turn things around quickly if they want to avoid another tough stretch against a Blue Jays team that took two of three from them earlier in June.
Go Twins!
