MAY 31, 2022•TWINCITIES.COM
Devin Smeltzer leads Twins past Tigers 8-2 in first game of doubleheaderDETROIT — It was almost a year ago — last June, to be exact — that the pain Devin Smeltzer was feeling during a bullpen session brought him...
Tyler Alexander - Works three frames in rehab gameAlexander (elbow) was charged with five earned runs on six hits and a walk while striking out two over three innings in his first rehab start Monday at Triple-A Toledo.
ImpactPitching in a game for the first time since April 29 after being sidelined with a left elbow sprain, Alexander wasn't particularly sharp, with Tigers manager A.J. Hinch noting that the southpaw had "a couple bad changeups," per Evan Petzold of The Detroit Free Press. Alexander at least displayed decent control during the outing, pumping in 36 of his 51 pitches for strikes. He's scheduled to make his second rehab start with Toledo on Saturday, and Hinch said that he wants Alexander to get stretched out to around 90 pitches before he's activated from the 15-day injured list and reinstalled in the big-league rotation. With that in mind, Alexander could need a third rehab start prior to being reinstated.
MAY 31, 2022•ROTOWIRE
Ryan Jeffers - On bench for afternoon gameJeffers will be on the bench for Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Tigers.
ImpactJeffers has struggled to a .193/.285/.321 line on the season. Gary Sanchez starts behind the plate in the first game of the day, but Jeffers should return for the nightcap.
MAY 31, 2022•ROTOWIRE
Twins' Correa put on COVID-19 IL, a day after positive test
Carlos Correa has been placed on the COVID-19 injured list by the Minnesota Twins a day after the team said the shortstop had tested positiveMAY 31, 2022•ASSOCIATED PRESS
Max Kepler - Serving as designated hitterKepler (quadriceps) will return to the lineup for the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Tigers, batting third while serving as the designated hitter.
ImpactKepler hasn't played since exiting Saturday's game against the Royals with quadriceps tightness, but he's ready to go Tuesday, if only in a limited capacity. Whether or not he'll take the field in the nightcap remains to be seen, though with the Tigers starting lefty Joey Wentz, it's possible Kepler sits the night game out.
MAY 31, 2022•ROTOWIRE
Sonny Gray - IL decision gets delayedGray (pectoral) wasn't placed on the 15-day injured list after working out earlier Tuesday, but it's unclear if he'll be ready to make his next turn through the rotation this weeke...
ImpactManager Rocco Baldelli previously said Gray would be evaluated prior to Tuesday's doubleheader with the Tigers before the Twins determine whether or not he'll require a stint on the IL. The lack of a transaction perhaps suggests that Gray has made some progress since exiting his most recent start Sunday with right pectoral soreness, but he's not necessarily out of the woods yet. Reliever Yennier Cano is currently with the Twins' taxi squad and would be the logical candidate to replace Gray on the roster if Gray is eventually deactivated.
MAY 31, 2022•ROTOWIRE
Jermaine Palacios - Call-up official, starting TuesdayThe Twins selected Palacios' contract from Triple-A St. Paul ahead of Tuesday's doubleheader with the Tigers. He'll start at shortstop and bat ninth in Game 1 of the twin bill.
ImpactThough Minnesota will immediately plug Palacios into the lineup as a replacement for Carlos Correa -- who landed on the COVID-19-related injured list after testing positive for the virus -- it's uncertain if the 25-year-old will get a look in an everyday role while Correa is sidelined. Palacios brings good speed at the position after he went 6-for-8 in stolen-base attempts at Triple-A this season, but he was still a below-average hitter for the level (.701 OPS, 92 wRC+). If the Twins elect not to lean on Palacios as a lineup regular, the team could go with a committee of Palacios, Jorge Polanco and Nick Gordon to fill in at shortstop while Correa and Royce Lewis (knee) are on the shelf.
MAY 31, 2022•ROTOWIRE
