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Rays' Shane Baz and Twins Set for a Thrilling Matchup at Target Field

First Inning


As the Rays prepare to face off against the Twins at Target Field, all eyes will be on Shane Baz, the Rays' starting pitcher. Over his last three games, Baz has shown exceptional skill on the mound with an ERA of 3.857 and a WHIP of 1.1429. His strikeout rate is impressive, averaging over 14 strikeouts per nine innings. This consistency makes him one of the Rays top playmakers and a key player to watch in this matchup.


May 26, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa (4) runs the bases after hitting a two run home run against the Tampa Bay Rays in the seventh inning at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

On the other side, the Twins have their own ace in Joe Ryan. With an ERA of 1.286 and a WHIP of 0.7143 in his recent outings, Ryan has been a formidable force on the mound. His ability to limit baserunners will be crucial as he faces a potent Rays lineup.


Middle Innings


In the middle innings, attention shifts to the offensive capabilities of both teams. For the Rayhawks, Josh Lowe has been outstanding with his bat, boasting an average of .500 across recent games and delivering crucial home runs that have bolstered his team's scoring opportunities.


Sep 3, 2024; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA;  Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Edwin Uceta (63) throws a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the ninth inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

The Twinkies will rely heavily on Carlos Correa's consistent performance at shortstop. Correa's batting average stands at .500 with an OPS of 1.0 over his last few games, making him one of the rising stars roster for Minnesota.


Defensively, defenders to watch in Rays include Taylor Walls who has maintained a perfect fielding percentage across recent matchups. His reliability in preventing errors will be vital as they aim to stifle any offensive surges from Minnesota.


Sep 2, 2024; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Minnesota Twins pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson (78) throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays in the first inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Final Innings


As we approach the final innings, relief pitching becomes paramount for both squads. The Rayhawks' bullpen features Eric Orze who has shown resilience with a K/9 rate of 27 over his appearances despite having an elevated ERA previously.


For Minnesota, Jhoan Duran emerges as a critical figure from their bullpen with no earned runs allowed in recent games and maintaining control with minimal walks issued.


This clash promises to be intense as players to watch in Rays vs Twins take center stage at Target Field on July 5th at 2:10 PM ET. Fans can catch all the action live on FDSSUN network from Minneapolis.


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