Minnesota shuffled its lineup, sending right‑fielder Matt Wallner to Triple‑A St. Paul after a 120‑at‑bats run that produced a .167 average, three doubles and four homers. His .551 OPS hides a league‑worst 53 strikeouts in 135 plate appearances, the highest whiff rate in MLB, after eight consecutive outs and a sharp decline in his power output today.

Pitching coach Zebby Matthews earned a 3–0 record, a 2.00 ERA and 18 strikeouts over 18 innings in his last three Triple‑A starts, prompting the Twins to promote him for a Thursday start against the Marlins. Matthews, a 16‑start veteran last season, fills a void left by injured right‑handers Taj Bradley, Pablo López and Mick Abel.

With right‑hander Taj Bradley on the IL and All‑Star Pablo López out for the season, the Twins’ rotation sits on thin ice. Simeon Woods Richardson surrendered eight runs in three innings, inflating his ERA to 7.71, while rookie Connor Prielipp’s workload will be eased by Matthews’ start, preserving his long‑term health and keeping the bullpen fresh for the stretch run.

To balance the bullpen, the Twins sent reliever Travis Adams to St. Paul and recalled utility player Ryan Kreidler for his second stint. Kreidler, who played third base and center field in a five‑game tour last month, provides versatility as Minnesota battles a tight division race and prepares for a late‑season surge keeping fans hopeful of a spot.