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.

David Festa's 2025 season is over after a recurrence of shoulder pain; he’ll travel to Dallas for evaluation by Dr. Keith Meister as Minnesota pulls the plug on the rookie’s campaign.

Festa flashed late-2024 promise with a 3.81 ERA across 12 starts, but his 2025 line spiked to 5.40 ERA with 10 homers in 53⅓ innings. He rehab-started in Toledo, then was with St. Paul before the latest setback that ended any remaining pitching hope for the year.

Austin Martin will keep rotating between outfield and infield, with Edouard Julien and Luke Keaschall in the mix and Martin likely handling second base when needed. The Twins intend to ride their top arms—Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, and Pablo López—without load management, keeping the pedal down as they chase a September surge.

Toronto exploded for offense in a wild 9-8 win over Minnesota, riding a late eighth-inning surge to erase a two-run deficit. Addison Barger lined a two-run double off the wall to cap the Blue Jays’ three-run frame, sealing the comeback. Byron Buxton supplied the power for the Twins with two leadoff homers in a multi-homer night, while Minnesota showcased speed with a season-high five steals and nine players collecting a hit.

Fantasy angles center on Barger's breakout moment for Toronto, Buxton’s multi-homer game as a regular-starter run-producing option, and a Jays lineup that leaned on depth and timely hitting down the stretch. The Twins head home with a tough loss after a road trip that featured crisp at-bats, aggressive baserunning, and a result that underscores the high variance of late-season baseball.

Twins squander a late lead as Detroit walks off in 11 innings at Target Field. Tarik Skubal delivers a sturdy start, but Minnesota strings together a three-run third inning behind a multi-hit barrage from Edouard Julien, Austin Martin, and Byron Buxton. The Twins’ bullpen holds Detroit to a late single and a sac fly until the 11th, when Colt Keith scores the automatic runner on a Gleyber Torres fly ball for the winner. Minnesota’s offensive pulse fades after the third, failing to plate the winning run in the 10th despite Roden advancing via a successful sac bunt and a pair of squeeze attempts by Martin. The Tigers rally on Riley Greene’s two-run homer and a later RBI from Keith, then cap it with a 11th-inning win behind a precise approach and opportunistic baserunning. For fantasy managers, Julien’s lefty success against Skubal stands out, while Detroit’s middle of the order provides a spike scenario in upcoming matchups against right-handed starters.

Royce Lewis is battling a troubling hitless streak, entering Saturday's game with an 0-for-10 start to the season and extending back to an 0-for-31 record dating to 2024. After recovering from a six-week stint on the injured list due to a hamstring strain, Lewis is focused on his effort and attitude rather than statistics. Manager Rocco Baldelli is optimistic about Lewis’s progress, noting his determination to find his timing and swing.

Despite the slump, Lewis remains confident in his abilities, declaring he will continue to approach every at-bat with the belief he can contribute positively to the team. The Twins are also dealing with other slumps, with teammate Edouard Julien recently breaking an 0-for-30 streak. The pressure on Lewis to perform is palpable, yet his mindset emphasizes resilience, a crucial attribute in the competitive MLB environment.