Monday Morning Minnesota: The “He’s Back!” Edition

Royce Lewis of the Minnesota Twins is seen on the field during the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Saturday, June 6, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota

It was another slightly disappointing week, with the Twins splitting a four-game series with the White Sox, and then losing a series to the Royals. The team will now face Detroit and St. Louis this week. Royce Lewis returned to the team on Saturday after lighting up St. Paul with homer after homer, and he started at second base on Saturday and first base on Sunday, going a combined 1-for-8 over the two games. The Twins also said goodbye to Simeon Woods-Richardson, who was traded back to the Blue Jays. Oh, and Byron Buxton left Friday’s game after crashing into the wall and has not come back to the team yet. The team is now 30-37, still somehow only 3.0 games out of the last wild-card spot, but that’s maybe the only silver lining here.

• Check out The Feed, where you can add your discussions about the Twins!

• We’re starting a new segment called Daily Questions! Provide your opinion on the Twins and debate with the community!

• Game threads and recaps are back! Commiserate with your fellow fans as we experience the season together.

• Aidan O’Brien updates the Twins Top-40 Prospects for the month of June.

• Zach Koenig looks back fondly at a pitcher who gave fans a little bit of hope in the dark 2016 season.

Check out The Feed, where you can add your discussions about the Twins!

We’re starting a new segment called Daily Questions! Provide your opinion on the Twins and debate with the community!

Game threads and recaps are back! Commiserate with your fellow fans as we experience the season together.

Aidan O’Brien updates the Twins Top-40 Prospects for the month of June.

Zach Koenig looks back fondly at a pitcher who gave fans a little bit of hope in the dark 2016 season.

• Dan Hayes at The Athletic checks in on the status of a bunch of injured Twins pitchers.

• Matthew Leach at MLB.com looks at the Twins’ roster construction and how it’s full of player versatility.

• Tom Schreier at Zone Coverage evaluates whether shortstop Ryan Kreidler can be the newest former cast-off turned key utility player for the Twins.

• Austin Martin has found a new home in center field and Betsy Helfand at the Pioneer Press checks in on how he’s been adjusting to the new position.

Dan Hayes at The Athletic checks in on the status of a bunch of injured Twins pitchers.

Matthew Leach at MLB.com looks at the Twins’ roster construction and how it’s full of player versatility.

Tom Schreier at Zone Coverage evaluates whether shortstop Ryan Kreidler can be the newest former cast-off turned key utility player for the Twins.

Austin Martin has found a new home in center field and Betsy Helfand at the Pioneer Press checks in on how he’s been adjusting to the new position.

• The Rays and Yankees are now neck-and-neck in the AL pennant race, although the Yankees suffered a big loss last week with Aaron Judge going on the IL with a stress fracture. The Guardians and White Sox sit third and fourth in the race, and the Mariners and Rangers are fifth and sixth.

• Nothing has really changed in the National League. It’s Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Milwaukee in the top three spots. The Phillies, after going on a historic losing streak, have managed to climb their way back to fifth in the NL standings.

• Tarik Skubal rumors have been flying around, and Kiley McDaniel at ESPN evaluated a bunch of mock trades.

• Jeff Passan at ESPN previews the early 2026 MLB trade deadline.

• Dan Szymborski at Fangraphs looks at whether Yordan Alvarez of the Astros could potentially win the Triple Crown this year.

The Rays and Yankees are now neck-and-neck in the AL pennant race, although the Yankees suffered a big loss last week with Aaron Judge going on the IL with a stress fracture. The Guardians and White Sox sit third and fourth in the race, and the Mariners and Rangers are fifth and sixth.

Nothing has really changed in the National League. It’s Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Milwaukee in the top three spots. The Phillies, after going on a historic losing streak, have managed to climb their way back to fifth in the NL standings.

Tarik Skubal rumors have been flying around, and Kiley McDaniel at ESPN evaluated a bunch of mock trades.

Jeff Passan at ESPN previews the early 2026 MLB trade deadline.