Twins start turning around skid against NL teams to stay alive in AL playoff chase

Randy Johnson, The Minnesota Star Tribune on Aug 18, 2026

Published in Baseball

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MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins entered Tuesday a half-game out of the third American League wild-card spot, behind Baltimore, Texas and Detroit and tied with Toronto. Lately, they’ve had a heavy diet of interleague play with three of four series against National League teams.

Minnesota had dropped five straight against the NL before a win over the Atlanta Braves on Monday ended the skid. That result also drove home the point that if the Twins want to make the playoffs, beating stout teams like the Brewers, Phillies and Braves will be a big help.

Tuesday night in front of an announced crowd of 22,193 at Target Field, the Twins beat the Braves again, 4-1, to secure a series victory. Josh Bell hit a two-run homer in the first inning, Zebby Matthews gave up one run and five hits over 5 2/3 innings and the Twins bullpen pitched 3 1/3 innings of scoreless ball. Minnesota will go for the sweep at 12:40 p.m. Wednesday.

The Twins (62-65) improved to 15-26 in interleague play and have seven games remaining against NL foes this season.

“I love it. It’s fun playing against the elite teams,” Twins second baseman Kody Clemens said before the game. “… It’s been a great environment.”

The Twins took a 2-0 lead in the first inning when catcher Ryan Jeffers hit a two-out double to right off Braves starter Tyler Mahle and Bell, the designated hitter, hammered a home run to right-center. Bell’s blast came one pitch after the Twins successfully challenged a strike call.

Meanwhile, Matthews needed only nine pitches to retire the Braves in order in the first and nine more while facing four batters in the second. He allowed a two-out walk in the second and a two-out single in the third.

Atlanta threatened in the fourth with Michael Harris II hitting a one-out double to left and taking third on Ozzie Albies’ groundout to first. Matthews, however, struck out Mike Yastrzemski looking on a 96-mph four-seam fastball on the inside corner to end the inning.

The Braves got to Matthews in the top of the sixth when designated hitter Drake Baldwin hit a leadoff homer to left. Twins right fielder Alan Roden made a diving catch on a Matt Olson liner for the second out, but singles by Harris and Albies put runners on first and third and chased Matthews from the game.

The Twins brought in left-hander Kody Funderburk, and the Braves countered with pinch hitter Lane Thomas. Funderburk struck out Lane swinging on a low sweeper.

Minnesota turned to right-hander Andrew Morris to start the seventh, and he retired the bottom of the Atlanta lineup in order.

Left-hander A.J. Minter took over to start the top of the eighth for the Twins, getting Baldwin to ground out to third, Ronald Acuna Jr. to fly out to second and Olson to ground out to second.

The Twins broke it open in the bottom of the eighth against Braves reliever Didier Fuentes. Kaelen Culpepper led off with a single, and pinch hitter Byron Buxton singled to put runners on first and second. Jeffers followed with a two-run double to right-center for a 4-1 lead.

Closer Yoendrys Gomez took over in the ninth inning for the Twins. Harris greeted him with a leadoff double to left-center. Albies grounded out to second, moving Harris to third. Gomez struck out Thomas for the second out and got Austin Riley to fly out to deep right to end the game.

Joe Ryan injury update

Twins right-hander Joe Ryan, who has been on the injured list since Aug. 7 because of a left glute strain, threw 25 pitches from the mound before Tuesday’s game.

“Very encouraging,” manager Derek Shelton said. “… Looks free and easy. He’s a very important part of our team, and to see him out there and be healthy, it’s the first step in the progression to getting him back."

Shelton added that Ryan threw only fastballs but will mix in breaking balls in his next session.

“The most encouraging sign was the way he was moving today,” Shelton said. “It looked really good.”

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