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Sands (0-1) took the loss Saturday, giving up one run on two hits in the ninth inning as the Twins were downed 5-4 by the Reds. He didn't walk or strike out a batter.
None of Minnesota's high-leverage relievers were particularly effective trying to protect the 4-2 lead they got handed by Taj Bradley, and Sands got left holding the bag after allowing a pair of singles that were sandwiched around a sacrifice bunt. Sands headed into the season as the nominal favorite to close for the Twins and did convert his only save chance so far back on March 28, but since then he's collected three holds in eight appearances while posting a 4.91 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 5:3 K:BB over 7.1 innings.
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Twins' Taj Bradley: Delivers quality start Saturday
Rotowire
Bradley came away with a no-decision in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Reds, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out five.
The 25-year-old right-hander actually put together his worst performance of the season after giving up one run or fewer in his first four trips to the mound, but Bradley was still in line for his fourth straight win until the Twins' patchwork bullpen fell apart late. Bradley racked up 31 called or swinging strikes among his 99 pitches (62 total strikes) while producing his third quality start of 2026, and he'll take a 1.63 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 34:10 K:BB through 27.2 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come on the road next weekend in Tampa Bay.
Twins' Austin Martin: Responsible for team's lone run
Rotowire
Martin went 1-for-2 with a walk and a sacrifice fly during the Twins' 2-1 loss to the Reds on Friday.
Martin's sacrifice fly in the fifth inning plated the Twins' only run during Friday's loss. Martin has been effective at the plate as of late, having reached base safely in 11 of his last 12 games. Over his last eight games, Martin has gone 9-for-20 (.450) with one steal (on three attempts), one home run, two RBI, five walks and six runs scored.
Twins' Joe Ryan: Tough-luck loss against Cincinnati
Rotowire
Ryan (2-2) took the loss against the Reds on Friday, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits while striking out six across six innings. He did not issue a walk.
Ryan was sharp for most of Friday's start, generating 10 whiffs while tossing 57 strikes on 94 pitches. His lone blemish was a two-run double he yielded to Eugenio Suarez in the fourth inning, and despite those being the only runs given up, he still came away with the loss as his teammates generated just one run. Ryan has logged two consecutive quality starts and has given up two earned runs or fewer in four of his first five outings of 2026. His 28 strikeouts and 0.88 WHIP (across 27.1 innings) both rank ninth among qualified starters in the American League. Ryan is tentatively slated to start next week on the road against the struggling Mets.
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Twins' Royce Lewis: Beginning assignment Saturday
Rotowire
Lewis (knee) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Lewis has been on the injured list since last Saturday due to a sprained left knee. The Twins haven't revealed how long they plan to keep the 26-year-old in the minors, but the fact that he's been cleared to play in games just a week after suffering the injury could point to him returning when eligible Tuesday.
Twins' Simeon Woods Richardson: Flops against Boston
Rotowire
Woods Richardson (0-3) took the loss Wednesday as the Twins fell 9-5 to the Red Sox, surrendering seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out three.
A three-run homer by Trevor Story in the third inning was the biggest blow, and Woods Richardson didn't get a lot of help from his defense, but he dealt with traffic on the basepaths in every frame before mercifully getting the hook after 92 pitches (57 strikes). The right-hander has been tagged for 12 runs (11 earned) over his last two outings, and he'll carry a 6.10 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 11:7 K:BB through 20.2 innings into his next start, which is set to come on the road next week against the Mets.
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Twins' Travis Adams: Cleared for rehab assignment
Rotowire
Adams (triceps) will begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Fort Myers on Wednesday, Theodore Tollefson of Zone Coverage reports.
Adams has been sidelined all season with a triceps issue that first popped up in early March. Given the long layoff, he's sure to require multiple rehab starts before the Twins make the decision of whether to add him to the big-league roster or keep him in the minors.
Twins' Victor Caratini: Drawing 10th straight start
Rotowire
Caratini will start at designated hitter and will bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.
Though Caratini doesn't sit atop the depth chart at any spot, he's been able to see steady playing time this season through his duties as the Twins' backup catcher and as a platoon partner for the left-handed-hitting Kody Clemens. Caratini will draw his 10th consecutive start Wednesday, with six coming at first base or DH against lefties and the other four coming as a catcher versus righties when Ryan Jeffers has received a breather.
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Twins' Trevor Larnach: Idle for series finale
Rotowire
Larnach is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.
The left-handed-hitting Larnach will sit for the second time in the series while the Red Sox send another southpaw (Connelly Early) to the bump for the finale. A career .215/.276/.317 hitter against lefties, Larnach will likely continue to see limited exposure to same-handed pitching throughout the season.
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Twins' Tristan Gray: Part of platoon at hot corner
Rotowire
Gray is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.
Since Royce Lewis landed on the injured list Friday due to a sprained left knee, the Twins have used Gray and Ryan Kreidler in a platoon at third base. With southpaw Connelly Early on the hill for Boston in the series finale, the right-handed-hitting Kreidler will get the nod at third base, though Gray should stand to see a larger volume of the opportunities at the position while Lewis is shelved.
Lee went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 6-0 win over the Red Sox.
Lee continued his recent power surge, leading off the fourth inning with a solo homer off Sonny Gray -- his third long ball of the season. After a slow start to the year, the young infielder has caught fire, homering three times over his last five games. During that stretch, Lee has gone 6-for-19 with six RBI and three runs scored, showing signs that he may be settling into a groove at the plate.
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