Oakland’s offense exploded early at Minnesota, surging to a 6-0 lead by the second inning as José Ureña labored through five frames with six runs allowed. Lawrence Butler cleared the bases with a first-pitch double, setting the tone for the A’s with a decisive cushion that Minnesota could not overcome. The Twins finally dented the board in the fourth and added one more in the ninth, but the comeback fell short as Oakland bullpen, led by Osvaldo Bido’s three-inning save, slammed the door. This marked Oakland’s first sweep in Minnesota since 2014, a reminder that precise situational hitting and bullpen length can swing momentum on the road. Fantasy takeaway: Butler and Ureña’s performers clock in as short-term values, while Bido’s save odds bolster the A’s late-inning upside, and Trevor Larnach and James Outman supplied a few spark-plug hits for Minnesota in a tough loss.

Trevor Larnach anchored Minnesota’s modest resistance with a double that produced a run, and James Outman added an RBI in a late push, but the Twins could not string enough baserunners together to threaten the lead. Luke Keaschall chipped in with a run-scoring groundout, showing a touch of the lineup depth Minnesota will need to manufacture offense against quality left-handed starters and a structured A’s bullpen. For Oakland, the second inning defined the game: six runs, multiple hits, and calm pitching to preserve the lead. The result leaves Oakland sitting in a more favorable spot in a tight stretch run, while Minnesota must regroup after six losses in seven games.

MacKenzie Gore has allowed 17 homers this season and owns an 8.13 ERA over his last six starts, setting up a flirtation with Mets power in a high-leverage matchup. Pete Alonso already has a homer against Gore and sits with 28 on the year, squarely in play as a +375 HR prop for Thursday. The Inside the Lines crew also targets Tyler Soderstrom (+430) and Alec Burleson (+525) in Thursday’s slate, while noting Jose Urena’s vulnerability to RHBs helps justify a Soderstrom look. The piece emphasizes that MLB home run props are moneymakers with a robust model backing them, and highlights bet365 and BetMGM promos for new players. The projection model simulates every game 10,000 times, is up significantly on MLB HR picks, and has delivered multi-leg parlays paying well this season. The team at SportsLine provides continued daily MLB HR projections, with Brewers vs. Cubs as a referenced example. The article also points readers to the Inside the Lines daily blog for more picks and context on Thursday’s action.

Detroit jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning after Luke Keaschall’s misplay opened the door for three straight two-out hits, turning an ordinary frame into a five-run eruption. The Tigers never looked back, riding a dominant early cushion to a 7-0 win.

Dillon Dingler delivered a pivotal two-out, two-run single, Zach McKinstry followed with an RBI single, and Javier Báez added an RBI double on a grounder that caromed off the bag, all against a rattled Twins starter Pierson Ohl. Spencer Turnbull scattered six scoreless innings to coast the way for Detroit, while Minnesota was stifled to just two hits and seven runners left on base.

Jose Ureña held Detroit’s lead with 5 2/3 innings of scoreless relief for Minnesota, but the Twins’ offense never fired, and a 26-minute rain delay before the first pitch did little to alter the result. The loss marks Minnesota’s latest stumble as Detroit solidifies their control in this matchup, with the Tigers piling up extra outs and feeding off them late into the game.

For fantasy players, the game highlighted Detroit’s top-heavy night through Turnbull’s shutdown performance and the early RBI barrage from Dingler, McKinstry, and Báez, while Minnesota’s lineup offered little upside outside a few quality at-bats before the game got away.

José Ureña has found himself once again designated for assignment, this time by the Toronto Blue Jays, after a brief stint with the New York Mets where he struggled to impress. During his only appearance for the Mets, he surrendered five earned runs in just three innings, leading to his release just weeks later. Ureña, a veteran pitcher known for his time with the Miami Marlins, has seen various roles across multiple teams, but his recent performance has raised questions about his viability in the majors.

His past experiences with teams including the Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers include a solid season where he notched 14 wins with a respectable ERA. However, his recent struggles have put him at a crossroads in his career as he turns 34 this September. It will be interesting to see if he opts for free agency again or if he can find a new opportunity to revitalize his career.