Twins 5 Cubs 2 W-Ober (7-3) L-Rea (7-6) SV-Gomez (12)

The Minnesota Twins opened up the second half of the season tonight and did so in terrific fashion against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. The Cubs were ready from the start as Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki led-off the first with singles. Michael Busch hit a run-scoring single to right to put the Cubs on the board first. The Twins got to work in the third as Luke Keaschall led-off with a base hit and Trevor Larnach singled to left to plate a run. Ryan Jeffers then belted a Collin Rea sweeper out to left for a three-run homer. This put the Twins up by three after three innings. The Cubs inched closer in the fifth when Seiya Suzuki led-off with a double. Bailey Ober exited the game and Tommy Nance walked Alex Bregman. A Tommy Nance wild pitch plated a run and Chicago was within a pair. The Twins got that run back in the seventh as Austin Martin drew a lead-off walk and stole second base. Luke Keaschall walked and Ryan Kreidler singled home a run. The Twins were back up by three and the bullpen did the rest. Andrew Morris had a 1-2-3 eighth and Yoendrys Gomez had a scoreless ninth to pick up the save.

-Final Thoughts- Bailey Ober continually got out of trouble tonight. He went 5 1/3 innings and gave up two runs on five hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. Tommy Nance got four big outs and Taylor Rogers got out of the seventh. Andrew Morris had a perfect eighth and Yoendrys Gomez had a clean ninth for the save. Luke Keaschall had two hits to lead the offense. The Twins hit 3-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left four men on base. Tomorrow, Taj Bradley will face Matt Boyd in Game 2.

Minnesota Twins Lineup Chicago Cubs Lineup

1.) Trevor Larnach LF 1.) Pete Crow-Armstrong CF

2.) Ryan Jeffers C 2.) Seiya Suzuki RF

3.) Josh Bell DH 3.) Michael Busch 1B

4.) Kody Clemens 2B 4.) Alex Bregman 3B

5.) Royce Lewis 1B 5.) Ian Happ LF

6.) Brooks Lee 3B 6.) Nico Hoerner 2B

7.) Alan Roden RF 7.) Michael Conforto DH

8.) Luke Keaschall CF 8.) Carson Kelly C

9.) Tristan Gray SS 9.) Dansby Swanson SS

SP Bailey Ober RHP SP Collin Rea RHP

(6-3) 4.40 ERA (7-5) 4.75 ERA

(2026 MLB Stats)

7.17.26-Bailey Ober RHP (6-3) 4.40 ERA Vs. Collin Rea RHP (7-5) 4.75 ERA

7.18.26-Taj Bradley RHP (9-3) 3.59 ERA Vs. Matt Boyd LHP (5-1) 4.50 ERA

7.19.26-Zebby Matthew RHP (4-6) 4.57 ERA Vs. Shota Imanaga LHP (5-8) 4.17 ERA

The Twins At A Glance- The Twins won their last five series of the first half and are in the thick of the American League Wild-Card race. They head out on the road for an important week in Chicago and Cleveland. Joe Ryan threw an inning in the All-Star Game and struck out two. Byron Buxton went and didn't play due to his hip injury. Derek Shelton was a coach on John Scheider's staff. Garrett Acton gave up three runs in 2/3 of an inning in the Florida Complex League on Tuesday. The Twins claimed Jack Anderson off waivers from the Red Sox. Anthony Banda was put on the 60-day injured list after having surger on his left lat. Josh Bell and Kody Clemens each have three homers in July. Andrew Morris hasn't allowed a run over his past seventeen innings. Cole Sands is on a rehab assignment as he works his way back. Yoendrys Gomez got some much needed rest at the end of the first half. He has a 1.71 ERA in thirty games since joining the Twins.

The Cubs At A Glance- The Cubs ended the first half on a hot streak. They finished (14-5) in their last ninteen games and sit five games behind the Brewers for first place in the National League Central. Pete Crow-Armstrong had a solid first half with a .291 average and twenty-one homers. Dansby Swanson added fifty-eight RBI, but only hit .211 in the first half. Seiya Suzuki had fifteen homers and forty-eight RBI. Jameson Taillon made a rehab start against the Saints last Saturday as he works his way back. Matt Shaw has a hand injury and might be back right after the break. Daniel Palencia has had a few injuries and is out with an elbow injury. The Cubs starting staff has a 4.52 ERA, which is eight-worst in baseball. The Cubs bullpen is in the middle of MLB with a 4.09 ERA. Caleb Thielbar has a 4.23 ERA in 27 2/3 innings. The closer role has been by committee. Jacob Webb has five saves and a 3.05 ERA.

What To Watch For- The Cubs are (24-22) all-time against the Twins. The Twins took two of three from the Cubs last July at Target Field. The Cubs took two of three from the Twins in 2024 at Wrigley Field. That series was the start of the slump for the Twins as Joe Ryan got hurt in the final game and the team tail spun out of the playoffs. The Twins are (9-14) all-time at Wrigley Field. Bailey Ober and Zebby Matthews have never faced the Cubs before. Collin Rea is (1-1) with a 3.75 ERA in two starts against the Twins. Taj Bradley is (1-1) and has not allowed an earned run in 12 2/3 innings against the Cubs. Alex Bregman has two career homers off Taj before. Matt Boyd is (9-8) with a 4.67 ERA in twenty-four starts against the Twins. Shota Imanaga has a 2.77 ERA in two starts against the Twins.

Angels 2 Twins 4 W-Bradley (9-3) L-Soriano (8-6) SV-Morris (3)

The Minnesota Twins are closing out the first half strong having won four straight series. They looked to take the series from the Angels this afternoon. The Angels struck first in the second when Josh Lowe crushed a Taj Bradley slider out to right for a solo homer. Anaheim had a one-run lead after two innings of play. The Twins would rally in the third as Luke Keaschall and Ryan Kreidler singled. Trevor Larnach singled home a run to even the game at one. Ryan Jeffers knocked in a pair with a double to left and the Twins took a 3-1 lead after three frames. Taj Bradley ran with it through seven solid innings. He had a hiccup in the seventh when Denzer Guzman belted a cutter out to left for a solo homer. The Halos were within a run and the Twins got a key insurance in the eighth as Trevor Larnach blasted a Ryan Zerferjahn sweeper out to right for a solo homer. The two-run lead was good enough for Andrew Morris, who threw two scoreless innings to close out the win tonight.

-Final Thoughts- Taj Bradley was great again today. He went seven innings and allowed two runs on six hits with six strikeouts and two walks. Andrew Morris fanned two over two scoreless innings for the save. Trevor Larnach and Luke Keaschall had two hits each. The Twins hit 2-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left three men on base. Byron Buxton won't play in the All-Star Game and Joe Ryan might get an inning in relief. The All-Star Game is Tuesday night with Dylan Cease facing Cristopher Sanchez in Philadelphia.

Los Angeles Angels Lineup Minnesota Twins Lineup

1.) Zach Neto SS 1.) Trevor Larnach LF

2.) Mike Trout DH 2.) Ryan Jeffers C

3.) Nolan Schanuel 1B 3.) Josh Bell DH

4.) Jorge Soler RF 4.) Kody Clemens 2B

5.) Jo Adell LF 5.) Royce Lewis 1B

6.) Josh Lowe CF 6.) Brooks Lee 3B

7.) Oswald Peraza 2B 7.) Alan Roden RF

8.) Denzer Guzman 3B 8.) Luke Keaschall CF

9.) Logan O'Hoppe C 9.) Ryan Kreidler SS

SP Jose Soriano RHP SP Taj Bradley RHP

(8-5) 3.40 ERA (8-3) 3.67 ERA

(2026 MLB Stats)