First Pitch: 3:10 pm CDT

TV: Bally Sports North / ~ / Radio: TIBN

While last night it seemed Pablo Lopez remembered who he was, Joe Ryan has spent his 2024 season without any such amnesia. Through two full months -- probably the point at which we can stop saying that it's early -- Ryan is posting some of his best career stats, with rate lows in HR/9, BB/9, a career-high 8.11 K/BB ratio, a career-low 2.96 ERA and 2.76 FIP, and a 131 ERA+ — that would also be a career-best — in 11 starts, during which he’s struck out 73 hitters to only 9 walks and all but eliminated the home run problem that plagued his 2023.

His competition today is familiar lefty Framber Valdez, he of the two All-Star nods, two top-10 Cy finishes, and 10.38 ERA against Minnesota in last year’s ALDS. (Cough cough.)

The Twins ended June on a roll, winning their final three series and setting themselves up to win a fourth straight today. Vibes appear to be back, with room even for improvement as Royce Lewis eyes his return to the roster in as little as three days.

And, if you’re local to the Twin Cities area, it’s a day’s respite from the rain, so enjoy that sunshine and a little late-afternoon baseball.

GO TWINS GO!