Twins vs Yankees Preview: Pitching Battle Near All-Star Break

The Twins just dominated the Yankees 11-4 yesterday. Watch out — Minnesota's bats are alive right now. Clemens, Bell, and Keaschall all went yard. The Yankees scored some runs too, but they couldn't catch up. Today, the Twins sit 42-47 overall, trying to climb back into things. The Yankees stand 49-38 and still control the division. Both teams want this win badly. Joe Ryan takes the mound for Minnesota. He's steady, reliable, and hungry to keep the winning streak rolling. Ryan Weathers pitches for New York. He's got work to do if the Yankees want to bounce back.

The Yankees are missing some big names today. Aaron Judge, their superstar, won't return until August. Giancarlo Stanton is still healing from his calf. That's a huge chunk of New York's offense gone. But the Yankees have other hitters ready to battle. Domínguez and Grisham homered yesterday. Schuemann blasted one too. Bellinger doubled. These guys need to keep hitting if New York wants to win series. Minnesota's Clemens, Bell, and Buxton proved they can carry the load. Today's matchup will show who hits better without their biggest stars.

Joe Ryan has pitched well this season with a 3.93 ERA. He's Minnesota's ace — the guy they lean on. Ryan Weathers has a rougher 5.24 ERA for the Yankees. That's a big difference. The Twins' pitching is steady and dependable. The Yankees' rotation has been hit hard by injuries. Fried and Rodon are out. This could favor Minnesota. But baseball doesn't always follow the numbers. Weathers could surprise everyone and throw strikes all day. Ryan could struggle. The team that gets the best pitching performance wins this battle. Which starter will command the mound?