Former Twin Returns to Target Field

Chris Paddack was traded from the Minnesota Twins to the Detroit Tigers on July 28th, in the first of nine trades over the trade deadline. For the first time since, he returns to his former stomping grounds. On August 17th, he will start for the Detroit Tigers at Target Field in the series finale between the two clubs. Paddack had been a part of the Twins organization since 2022. During that time, he started 67 games while compiling a record of 10-14. He finished his Twins tenure with a 4.80 ERA and 190 strikeouts. He did not face off against the Twins in Minneapolis at all in the first three years of his career in San Diego, which presents him with a unique opportunity Sunday, a chance to get booed at Target Field.

Despite it being his first road game against the Twins, it is not his first matchup with his former team since being traded. On August 5th, the Tigers hosted the Twins, who won 6-3. The Twins will look to have the same success against Paddack after forcing him out of the game after four earned runs in four innings and 57 total pitches. The Twins will need to find their bats if they want to repeat their performance. In three of the last five games, the opposing pitchers have held the Twins to three or fewer hits. 

In particular, Minnesota will need Royce Lewis and Trevor Larnach to return to form. Lewis is hitting .111 since August 4th and has seen his batting average drop almost 25 points over that span. Larnach, meanwhile, is batting .150 in his last six games.  The Twins haven’t announced who will pitch opposite Paddack in Sunday's game. Travis Adams is next on the projected pitching schedule for the Twins. His struggles in his last start against the Yankees could contribute to not committing to him taking the mound yet. He was knocked out of the game in the third inning after allowing four runs and giving up two home runs. Minnesota will look to spoil Paddack’s homecoming at 1:10 p.m. CST on Sunday.