Chris Paddack will take the mound on Sunday afternoon for the Detroit Tigers in a fresh chapter of his career, returning to a familiar ballpark against the Minnesota Twins, the team that once hoped he would be a cornerstone before trading him on July 28.
In his first Minneapolis start since the deal, the right-hander carries a 4-10 record and a 4.76 ERA. Over his last four outings, he has allowed just one run per game in three of them, showing improved form after strong showings against teams he faced after the trade, including the Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago White Sox. The lone hiccup came Aug. 5 against his old club, when he yielded four runs on six hits in four innings of a 6-3 defeat.
“I’ve got a little revenge on my mind,” Paddack said. “They were good friends and teammates, but they’re trying to take food off my plate, and it comes down to who wants it more.”
In three starts with the Tigers, Paddack has kept his pitch efficiency high, throwing roughly 72 percent for strikes and issuing only one walk. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch praised the club’s growing belief and readiness in this series.
The Tigers have been rolling, winning four straight and six of seven, while the Twins have dropped three straight and have struggled offensively. Minnesota has not yet announced a starting pitcher for Sunday’s game.
On offense for Minnesota, rookie Luke Keaschall has been a bright spot early in his career. In 18 games to start his big-league journey, he has reached base 32 times on 22 hits, eight walks and two hit-by-pitches. In Saturday’s 8-5 loss, Keaschall went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. He also played a key role in the Twins’ Aug. 5 win over Paddack, belting a two-run homer off a cutter in left field for Detroit.
The Twins have also leaned on James Outman, who made his Twins debut Saturday after being acquired at the trade deadline from the Dodgers for reliever Brock Stewart. Outman, who replaced Alan Roden on the roster after Roden went on the injured list with a sprained thumb, is looking to recapture the form he showed with the Dodgers in 2023, when he played in 151 games, finished third in Rookie of the Year voting and hit .248 with 86 runs and 70 RBIs.
“He’s going to get opportunities to play, and we want him to settle into a rhythm and show what he can do,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said of Outman. “I’d like to get to know the player a little better.”
Summary: Chris Paddack seeks redemption against his former team as he makes another start for Detroit in Minnesota, where Tigers offense and pitching depth are combining for momentum, while the Twins lean on recent acquisitions and emerging young players to spark a turnaround.
Additional context: The matchup highlights the evolving rosters around the trade deadline, with Paddack aiming to capitalize on his improved command and Tigers’ recent winning streak, and Minnesota hoping Outman and Keaschall can provide a spark at the plate.