Twins gamble on 6-8 slugger Carson McCusker at designated hitter against Carlos Rodón, hoping to spark a DH corps in a season where Minnesota has struggled for pop. McCusker teased power in prior at-bats, including a 402-foot pinch-hit homer, and quickly showed why the club is willing to take a swing with him. He went 0-for-2 versus Rodón but gave Minnesota a contrasting, disciplined look and a potential path to more RBI from the DH spot.

Beyond McCusker, the article notes Christian Vázquez’s rehab timeline in Memphis, with plans to extend live BP and a return to the field. Pablo López continues to be a positive off-field story as the Clemente Award nominee, while the report also touches on OBP, DH production, and the broader roster moves aimed at stabilizing the lineup down the stretch.

Buxton opened the game with a career-high 30th homer, fueling a 5-1 Twins win that snapped a six-game skid with Kansas City. The blast helped Minnesota set up a chance to post back-to-back wins in Anaheim, their first since early August. Kody Clemens followed with a towering two-run shot, the longest of his career, as Bailey Ober finally earned a victory for the Twins after a long drought. The win also featured Royals miscues that padded the final score.

Buxton’s milestone, paired with 21 steals on the season, underscores a standout campaign even as he battles baserunning fatigue and a bruised knee after a fifth-inning hit-by-pitch. The Twins leaned on timely hits and a mistake-prone Royals squad to pull away, while Minnesota’s leadoff batting order supplied added lift. The win adds momentum to a September that could still hold big things for fantasy managers who ride Buxton and the Twins’ top lineup.

Firing the Twins' hitting coach didn’t fix their run-scoring woes; 2025 still left Minnesota flirting with bottom-tier offense. The piece argues coaching changes are not a magic fix and calls for a two-pronged approach: lure quality free agents and cultivate the club’s own young impact players.

Royce Lewis, Matt Wallner, and Luke Keaschall are highlighted as pivotal—each with distinct swing quirks that complicate fixes. Buxton’s health and Buxton-led lineup depth loom large. The bullpen remains a major question, while rotation could carry them, health permitting. The takeaway: improvement hinges on smart acquisitions and development, not scapegoating coaches.

The upshot for fantasy: expect a mix of veteran addition and breakout risk from the kids, with health and swing consistency as the ultimate difference-makers. Expect two routes to better run production: targeted free-agent bats and turning current youngsters into stars.