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Minnesota and Oakland have split their recent head-to-head meetings with identical 2-0 scores, and the pitching matchup Sunday gives both clubs a genuine chance to take the rubber game. The Twins enter on a one-game winning streak, riding Alan Roden’s two-run single that broke a nearly 15-inning scoreless drought and handed them a Saturday victory. Minnesota is 5-5 over its last ten games — steady, if not dominant — and sitting 3.5 games back in the AL Central with enough season remaining to make that gap meaningful.

The Athletics, meanwhile, are 3-7 over their last ten and have been outscored by 36 runs in that stretch, a number that reflects real pitching vulnerability. But Oakland showed Friday what it can do when the arms hold: Jacob Lopez delivered five innings of one-hit ball, and Lawrence Butler and Tyler Soderstrom each drove in runs in a clean 2-0 win. Soderstrom (.248, 16 HR, 49 RBI) and Zack Gelof (.273, 11 HR, 41 runs) give the A’s legitimate middle-of-the-order threats. For Minnesota, Brooks Lee (.246, 15 HR, 56 RBI) and Kody Clemens (.237, 18 HR, 48 RBI) anchor an offense that is capable of breaking out at any moment.

Athletics at Minnesota Twins Game Information

Game Date: July 26, 2026
Game Time: 02:10 PM ET
TV Channel: NBC Sports California, Minnesota Twins, and MLB.TV – Minnesota Twins
Location: Target Field, Minneapolis, MN
Live Stream: Fubo (free trial)

Game Preview

Minnesota sits 3.5 games back in the AL Central at 52-54, and every home game against a beatable opponent carries weight in a division race that remains within reach. The Athletics at 44-60 are 9 games back in the AL West and playing for development and daily competition rather than a pennant. What makes this game worth watching is the recent head-to-head tension — both teams have won by the same 2-0 score in this set, and the pitching matchup will determine which club walks away with the edge.

Minnesota Twins Team Statistics and Rankings

Win-Loss Record: 52-54
Home Record: 27-26
Away Record: 25-28
Division Record: 16-15
Streak: 1 Win streak
Winning Percentage: .491

Athletics Team Statistics and Rankings

Win-Loss Record: 44-60
Home Record: 20-30
Away Record: 24-30
Division Record: 5-12
Streak: 1 Loss streak
Winning Percentage: .423

Stat Leaders

Minnesota Twins (52-54, #3 in division)

Batting Average Leader: Gabriel Gonzalez, 0.500
RBI Leader: Josh Bell, 62 RBI
Home Run Leader: Byron Buxton, 25 HR
Runs Leader: Byron Buxton, 57 Runs
Hits Leader: Josh Bell, 92 Hits
Stolen Bases Leader: Luke Keaschall, 13 SB
ERA Leader: Yoendrys Gómez, 1.78 ERA
Strikeout Leader: Joe Ryan, 131 K
Wins Leader: Taj Bradley, 9 W
Saves Leader: Yoendrys Gómez, 12 SV

Athletics (44-60, #4 in division)

Batting Average Leader: Joshua Kuroda-Grauer, 0.417
RBI Leader: Nick Kurtz, 66 RBI
Home Run Leader: Shea Langeliers, 23 HR
Runs Leader: Nick Kurtz, 61 Runs
Hits Leader: Shea Langeliers, 99 Hits
Stolen Bases Leader: Henry Bolte, 11 SB
ERA Leader: Hayden Juenger, 2.70 ERA
Strikeout Leader: J.T. Ginn, 100 K
Wins Leader: J.T. Ginn, 8 W
Saves Leader: Hogan Harris, 8 SV

What to Watch For

Jeffrey Springs takes the ball for Oakland carrying a 5.96 ERA and a 3-9 record — numbers that invite Minnesota’s lineup to be aggressive early. Connor Prielipp is listed on the 15-day injured list with a finger injury, which reshapes Minnesota’s rotation plans and puts added pressure on whoever fills that role to keep the Twins in a game they need.

On the Oakland side, Nick Kurtz was reinstated from the injured list and slotted directly into the lineup, a significant development for an offense that has been outscored badly over its last ten games. Kurtz has driven in 66 runs and scored 61 times this season — his presence immediately upgrades the middle of the A’s order. Shea Langeliers (23 HR, 99 hits) gives Oakland another legitimate power threat behind him.

For Minnesota, Byron Buxton (25 HR, 57 runs) remains the most dangerous hitter in the lineup when healthy, and Ryan Jeffers (.283, 9 HR, 32 RBI) has been a quiet, consistent contributor behind the plate. Mike Paredes is listed day-to-day with an oblique strain after being scratched from Saturday’s start during warmups, adding further uncertainty to a Twins rotation already navigating significant depth questions.

Minnesota Twins Injury Report

Anthony Banda – Lat (D60) – The Minnesota Twins transferred LHP Anthony Banda from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list with a left lat strain.
Pablo López – Elbow (D60) – The Minnesota Twins placed RHP Pablo Lopez on the 60-day injured list following his successful UCL repair surgery with an internal brace.
Mick Abel – Elbow (D60) – The Minnesota Twins transferred RHP Mick Abel from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list with right elbow inflammation.
Cole Sands – Forearm (D15) – The Minnesota Twins placed RHP Cole Sands on the 15-day injured list with a right forearm strain.
Garrett Acton – Shoulder (D60) – The Minnesota Twins transferred RHP Garrett Acton from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list due to a right shoulder strain.
Connor Prielipp – Finger (D15) – The Minnesota Twins placed LHP Connor Prielipp on the 15-day injured list with a blister on his left middle finger.
Mike Paredes – Oblique (Day-to-Day) – Paredes scratched on Saturday’s (Jul. 25) game against the Athletics due to oblique strain.
David Festa – Shoulder (D60) – The Minnesota Twins transferred RHP David Festa from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list due to right shoulder impingement, retroactive to March 22.

Athletics Injury Report

Colby Thomas – Wrist (Day-to-Day) – Thomas is not in the lineup for Saturday’s (Jul. 25) game against Minnesota.
Mark Leiter Jr. – Hip (D15) – The Athletics placed RHP Mark Leiter on the 15-day injured list due to right hip impingement.
Justin Sterner – Knee (D15) – The Athletics placed RHP Justin Sterner on the 15-day injured list due to right knee chondromalacia.
Gunnar Hoglund – Knee (D60) – The Athletics transferred RHP Gunnar Hoglund from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list due to a sprained right knee. Hoglund will be sidelined for the rest of the 2026 season after undergoing surgery on his left hip.
Denzel Clarke – Foot (D60) – The Athletics transferred OF Denzel Clarke to the 60-day injured list with a mid-foot bone bruise in his right foot.
J.T. Ginn – Finger (D15) – The Athletics placed RHP J.T. Ginn on the 15-day injured list with right middle finger blister.
Zack Gelof – Knee (D10) – The Athletics placed INF Zack Gelof on the 10-day injured list with a right knee laceration.
Brent Rooker – Knee (D60) – The Athletics placed DH Brent Rooker on the 60-day injured list.
Brooks Kriske – Shoulder (D60) – The Athletics transferred RHP Brooks Kriske to the 60-day injured list with a right shoulder impingement.
Joshua Kuroda-Grauer – Testicle (D10) – The Athletics placed INF Joshua Kuroda-Grauer on the 10-day injured list due to ruptured testicle surgery.
Luis Severino – Shoulder (D60) – The Athletics transferred RHP Luis Severino to the 60-day injured list with a strained right shoulder.

Minnesota Twins Upcoming 2026 Schedule

July 26, 2026 vs Athletics
July 28, 2026 vs Kansas City Royals
July 29, 2026 vs Kansas City Royals
July 30, 2026 vs Kansas City Royals
July 31, 2026 at Seattle Mariners
August 01, 2026 at Seattle Mariners
August 02, 2026 at Seattle Mariners
August 04, 2026 at Kansas City Royals
August 05, 2026 at Kansas City Royals
August 06, 2026 at Kansas City Royals

Athletics Upcoming 2026 Schedule

July 26, 2026 at Minnesota Twins
July 27, 2026 vs Boston Red Sox
July 28, 2026 vs Boston Red Sox
July 29, 2026 vs Boston Red Sox
July 30, 2026 vs Boston Red Sox
July 31, 2026 vs Detroit Tigers
August 01, 2026 vs Detroit Tigers
August 02, 2026 vs Detroit Tigers
August 04, 2026 at Cincinnati Reds
August 05, 2026 at Cincinnati Reds

Our game previews are produced programmatically using real-time data via Sportradar and AI writing tools. Articles are regularly reviewed for accuracy before publication.