The Latest Breaking News from Joe Ryan

MINNEAPOLIS — A week without driving in a run was all Jose Miranda could take.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — When you have a center fielder hitting .147, you obviously need to upgrade.

MINNEAPOLIS — The Twins' least-noted trade this week had the most notable effect Wednesday.

The Twins had one of the longest in-season breaks in MLB history with their five days off during the All-Star Game, and all that rest proved restorative.

MINNEAPOLIS — Byron Buxton drove a two-strike slider from Orioles closer Jorge Lopez into the left-field seats in the bottom of the ninth inning, providing a dramatic finish — and a 3-2 Twins victory — to a game that included little offense until that final swing.

MINNEAPOLIS — The fastest-starting team in baseball strikes again. It helps to have the fastest starter in baseball, period.

The Twins and Cleveland battled like the American League Central was on the line.

SEATTLE — Before Sonny Gray's first start in nearly three weeks Wednesday, Rocco Baldelli searched for a way to describe the intensity that the veteran right-hander brings to each game he pitches.

The pop of the 96 mph fastball that rocketed past Max Kepler’s bat and slammed into Cal Raleigh’s catcher’s mitt echoed Tuesday night throughout a sparsely crowded T-Mobile Park. Before the crowd of 13,019 could applaud his accomplishment, another pop of similar decibel level could be heard.

MINNEAPOLIS — Twins pitcher Joe Ryan was placed on the COVID injured list before Wednesday's game against the Tigers at Target Field.

Most clubs would’ve gutted their roster and started anew. Minnesota got creative and is now in first place.