{"id":663364,"date":"2026-04-04T20:27:28","date_gmt":"2026-04-04T20:27:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/663364\/"},"modified":"2026-04-04T20:27:28","modified_gmt":"2026-04-04T20:27:28","slug":"twins-might-face-rays-without-byron-buxton-whos-good-after-hbp-field-level-media-professional-sports-content-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/663364\/","title":{"rendered":"Twins might face Rays without Byron Buxton, who’s ‘good’ after HBP – Field Level Media – Professional sports content solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Minnesota\u2019s Byron Buxton knows his season could be a lot worse.<\/p>\n

So even if Buxton misses Saturday night\u2019s game between the Twins and Tampa Bay Rays in Minneapolis, he is grateful that his status is day-to-day instead of week-to-week \u2014 or longer.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an arm,\u201d Buxton said. \u201cIt ain\u2019t broken, so I\u2019m good.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Twins\u2019 veteran outfielder dodged a serious injury after he was hit by a pitch in Friday\u2019s series opener vs. Tampa Bay. He left the game with a right forearm contusion, and the team announced that X-rays were negative.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s uncertain whether Buxton will be in the lineup or take a day to recoup, but the Twins are in good spirits regardless. They are coming off a 10-4 win over the Rays on Friday that featured a seven-run seventh inning.<\/p>\n

Tristan Gray punctuated the big inning with his first career grand slam and his first home run as a member of the Twins. He might not have been in the lineup if not for an illness to fellow infielder Brooks Lee \u2014 and now it might be tough to take Gray out of the lineup.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe looks phenomenal right now at the plate,\u201d Twins right-hander Bailey Ober said. \u201c(He\u2019s) putting some great swings on balls, and obviously he came up huge with that grand slam. It\u2019s been really awesome to watch, and (he\u2019s a) great teammate. It\u2019s really cool.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tampa Bay is eager to create its own happy memories during the series.<\/p>\n

The Rays\u2019 early-season defensive woes continued in the series opener as they committed three errors. They have a league-worst 12 in their first seven games.<\/p>\n

Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash wants to see a cleaner effort going forward. He also pointed out the importance of improved pitch command and preventing opponents from stealing bases after Buxton was hit by a pitch on a 1-2 count, and his pinch runner swiped a base Friday.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot ideal,\u201d Cash said. \u201c\u2026 We\u2019ve got to do a better job of that. And then we didn\u2019t make plays behind him. It\u2019s not going to happen overnight, but we\u2019ve got to play better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rays left-hander Steven Matz (1-0, 7.20 ERA) will try to help turn things around. Matz got the victory in his season debut against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday despite allowing four runs on six hits in five innings. He walked one and struck out two.<\/p>\n

In four career appearances (three starts) against the Twins, Matz is 1-0 with a 3.24 ERA. He fired four scoreless innings in relief against them in 2025.<\/p>\n

Minnesota will counter with right-hander Mick Abel, who will make his first start of the season. Abel tossed 3 1\/3 innings in a long-relief role Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles, and he allowed five runs on eight hits. He walked four and struck out four.<\/p>\n

Abel hasn\u2019t faced the Rays in his brief career, which spans eight starts and 42 1\/3 innings.<\/p>\n

The 24-year-old said he hopes to learn from a bumpy season debut.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was getting ahead early and did a good job of that,\u201d Abel said. \u201cI think I could have done a much better job of executing with two-strike counts.\u201d<\/p>\n

-Field Level Media<\/p>\n

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