Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Twins won their second-straight game on Tuesday night against the hapless and orphaned Athletics, who currently playing their home games at Sutter Health Park, a minor league ballpark in Sacramento.
Outside of a few complaints over the lack of amenities at their temporary “stadium” — which has a maximum capacity of just 14,000 fans, an imperfect playing surface, and clubhouses that are in the outfield — the start of their four-game series against the Athletics has gone quite well.
Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images
After the Twins struggled to score runs in their last two series against the Rays and Mariners, Byron Buxton (4/10, 7 RBI), Trevor Larnach (4/10, HR, 2 RBI), Willi Castro (4/8, 2 HR, 2 RBI) and the boys have put up 20 runs in just two games against the A’s, to their 7.
Unfortunately, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows on the west coast this week. Before the 6th inning of Tuesday’s game in Sacramento, Pablo Lopez went out to warm up for what we thought would be another three outs of duty. Through 5 innings, the Minnesota Twins ace had allowed 2 earned runs on 4 hits, 3 walks and 4 strikeouts.
Pablo Lopez likely heading to Minnesota Twins injured list
After throwing a few warm-ups, though, Pablo called for trainer Nick Paparesta, before the two walked out to the outfield and into the Twins clubhouse. His teammates would go on to rally for nine runs and a win vs the A’s.
But it sounds like they will lose Lopez to the injured list for the second time this season. Dan Hayes (The Athletic) first reported the injury as a “lat strain”, in the tweet below. Officially, the Twins are calling it “right shoulder tightness”. Pablo is trying to remain optimistic that the injury will not be all that serious, but we’ll find out more soon.
#MNTwins think it’s a lat strain for Pablo López and likely will involve a trip to IL. MRI tomorrow.
— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) June 4, 2025
“I never felt like a big pop or anything. I feel like that’s what could have happened, had I been a little more stubborn and tried to pitch that bottom of the sixth inning. It’s obviously still not the greatest news to hear, to have to deal with. But if there’s a silver lining, it’s that it wasn’t that posterior cuff or that I didn’t feel anything blowing up.”
Pablo Lopez (quote via The Athletic)
The Minnesota Twins have relied on their pitching to dig them out of the 7-15 hole they dug themselves into, to start the season. Pablo leads a staff that ranks 6th in the MLB in ERA (3.32), 4th in ERA+ (125), 2nd in FIP (3.43) and 3rd in WHIP (1.159). Now, they need their bats to come alive.
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Losing Pablo Lopez, who along with Joe Ryan has carried the starting rotation for much of this season, will hurt. Most likely, the Twins will recall David Festa from Triple-A St. Paul, to fill in for their ace while he is out.
Festa pitched three games in Lopez’ absence earlier this year, posting a 1.38 ERA, 1.308 WHIP and 15 strikeouts in 13 big league innings. At Triple-A St. Paul, the 25-year-old out of Seton Hall has a 2.83 ERA, 0.977 WHIP and 111 ERA+ in 28.2 innings pitched (10.7 K/9).
Mentioned in this article: Injured List injury updates Pablo Lopez
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