Bailey Ober delivered a strong, steady outing for Minnesota, working 5 2/3 innings with seven punchouts and a modest 3 hits allowed, despite a back tightness that lingered into the later frames. The Twins bullpen held the line for most of the game, giving Minnesota a late chance to steal one at Target Field. In the 10th, Shea Langeliers crushed a two-run homer off Génesis Cabrera to push Oakland ahead, then Cabrera closed the door as the A’s prevailed 4-2. Minnesota stranded Austin Martin on third, the automatic runner, sealing a frustrating finish.

Early in the game, Minnesota had prime opportunities: Outman and Fitzgerald sparked the third inning with back-to-back hits, Caroming into trouble on the contact play at the plate and a runners-on-step double play, stalling the frame. A 5th-inning rally produced two runs on Larnach and Brooks Lee RBI hits, though Lee was picked off trying to advance to third on a passed ball. Keaschall and Lee added back-to-back singles in the 8th but could not push across. The night underscored Ober’s resilience and the bullpen’s ability to bridge innings, but Oakland’s late strike erased Minnesota’s rally and left the Twins squarely in the hunt with a .500-ish pace for August.

Shota Imanaga is set to rejoin the Chicago Cubs after a promising rehab start, per manager Craig Counsell. The left-hander, who boasted a 15-3 record with a 2.91 ERA last season, returns from a hamstring injury that sidelined him since early May. In his latest outing with Triple-A Iowa, he pitched 4 1/3 innings of scoreless ball, striking out eight. The Cubs, leading the NL Central, anticipate that Imanaga's return will bolster their rotation as they continue to fend off competitors like Milwaukee and St. Louis.

Imanaga's impressive performance in the minors, coupled with his previous rookie success, suggests he could be a key asset moving forward. The Cubs also made roster changes by recalling Nate Pearson from Iowa, while designating Génesis Cabrera for assignment. As the Cubs gear up for their series in St. Louis, the focus will be on how Imanaga's regained form can contribute to maintaining their lead in the division.

The New York Mets are in the midst of a roster shake-up, calling up left-hander Genesis Cabrera and right-hander Ty Adcock from Triple-A Syracuse while sending down Brandon Waddell and Chris Devenski. This series of moves comes following injuries to key relievers A.J. Minter and Danny Young, making it crucial for the Mets to secure their bullpen during a challenging stretch of games.

Cabrera, who has a history with the St. Louis Cardinals and Toronto Blue Jays, brings with him a diverse pitch repertoire and the potential for high strikeouts. His recent performance in the minors, despite allowing some runs, shows a promising strikeout rate. Adcock, on the other hand, has demonstrated substantial improvement this season in the minors with a low ERA. Manager Mendoza indicated that a few more roster changes might be forthcoming as they aim to navigate injuries and keep their bullpen competitive.

With the season unfolding and players like Brandon Nimmo battling illnesses, the Mets are keen to bolster their lineup. Nimmo has recently returned to action, and the team's ability to adapt will be crucial as they progress through this demanding stretch of games.