Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler will head to the bench on Tuesday against the visiting Detroit Tigers and tough left-handed pitcher Tarik Skubal. Kepler typically heads to the bench against left-handers, so this shouldn't be a surprise for fantasy managers at this point in the season. Manuel Margot will make the start in right field for the Twins and will bat leadoff against Skubal. Kepler has only received 36 at-bats against southpaws this year but has held his own with 10 hits, including one of his six home runs on the season. The 31-year-old left-handed-hitting German has been basically a league-average hitter against mostly right-handers in 2024 with limited power (six homers). Margot has posted a weak .635 OPS and only two homers this year, although he's batting .315 (23-for-73) with both of his round-trippers coming against lefties.
With Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander Jordan Montgomery on the bump for Thursday's series finale, Minnesota Twins outfielders Max Kepler and Trevor Larnach will both retreat to the bench, as usual. With both lefties starting on the pine on Thursday, Manuel Margot will start in right field and bat leadoff, with Kyle Farmer drawing into the lineup at second base and batting ninth against Montgomery. Infielder Jose Miranda will serve as the designated hitter and bat cleanup. Both Kepler and Larnach should be back in the fold for the Twins for Friday's series opener against the Seattle Mariners and right-hander Logan Gilbert. Margot is an intriguing DFS sleeper out of the leadoff spot on Thursday against Montgomery, whom he's hit .375 against in 16 career at-bats with a home run and three RBI.
Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler (neck) is back in the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The left-handed slugger is back in the lineup following a three-game absence due to neck spasms. Kepler will bat cleanup and play right field against right-hander Brandon Pfaadt. Fantasy managers who have Kepler rostered can get him back in their lineups on Tuesday.
Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler (neck) is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Oakland Athletics. It will be the third straight absence for Kepler as he continues to deal with neck spasms. It initially looked like Kepler would avoid a trip to the injured list, but that is a bit more unclear now. The 31-year-old is slashing .251/.311/.422 with six home runs, 28 RBI and 25 runs across 55 games this season. He remains a fine power option in deeper league formats and should hopefully return to the lineup soon.
Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler (neck) is expected to avoid the injured list after leaving Thursday's game early due to neck spasms. Kepler felt his neck tighten up when he was in the on-deck circle in the first inning. He then tried to bunt for a base hit and attempted a head-first slide into first base before being pulled. "It's a little stiff when I look to my right, but the docs and trainers said it's just muscular and it should clear up within a couple days," said Kepler, who will travel with the Twins to Oakland for their upcoming road trip. Fantasy managers will have to check back later to see if Kepler is back in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the A's and right-hander Joey Estes. The 31-year-old left-handed hitter remains a decent source of power in deeper fantasy leagues when he's active against right-handed pitching.
Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler (neck) left the game early on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Rays with neck spasms. Kepler appeared to get hurt while sliding head-first into first base. He was replaced by Manuel Margot in left field, with Trevor Larnach moving to right field. Before leaving the contest early, Kepler went hitless in his lone at-bat to drop his season average to .251. Until we know more about the 31-year-old's status, he should be considered day-to-day. Fantasy baseball managers will want to check back to see if he's back in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener in Oakland against the Athletics. If Kepler's injury is serious enough to force him to the injured list, Margot would likely be the biggest beneficiary in Minnesota's outfield. In addition to his injury, Kepler has struggled in June, going 11-for-57 (.193) with two homers, eight RBI and 17 K's in 15 games played.
Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler enjoyed a special night during Friday's extra-inning victory over the visiting Oakland Athletics, walking it off and also smashing his fifth home run of the season. Before hitting a walk-off single to right field to win the game for the Twins 6-5 in 10 innings, Kepler became Target Field's all-time leader in homers by slugging a three-run game-tying shot off Athletics right-hander Mitch Spence to right-center field to draw the game even at 4-4 in the sixth. The 31-year-old righty masher is Minnesota's primary right fielder against left-handed pitching, limiting his overall fantasy appeal with a .263/.326/.433 triple-slash line alongside 27 RBI, 14 doubles, 21 runs scored, and one stolen bag over 51 appearances (171 at-bats) this season. Despite Friday's heroics, Kepler remains more of an AL-only option.
Max Kepler Makes His Presence Felt In Twins Victory
Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler significantly impacted the Twins' 3-2 win over the Nationals on Wednesday. The lefty went 2-4 with a solo homer in the second inning to put the Twins in front early. Kepler doubled in the ninth and came around to score again on a single from Ryan Jeffers, who proved to be the difference maker in this one. While the .311 batting average he's currently sporting doesn't seem sustainable over the long haul, Kepler will be a valuable source of HRs & RBI for fantasy managers as long as he can stay healthy.
Minnesota Twins left-handed hitters Max Kepler, Edouard Julien, Alex Kirilloff and Trevor Larnach are all on the bench on Tuesday as the team takes on left-hander Patrick Corbin and the Washington Nationals. Kepler is on the bench for the second straight day for the suddenly struggling Twins. The 31-year-old lefty slugger has had a great year to this point, though, batting .303/.352/.505 with an .857 OPS, three home runs and 17 RBI in 29 games. He's even hitting .400 against lefties, but in just 20 at-bats. Kepler and most of Minnesota's lefty hitters typically find themselves riding pine against southpaws. Manuel Margot is in right field and is hitting leadoff, while Ryan Jeffers is the designated hitter and is batting second in a great matchup against Corbin. Willi Castros is in left field and in the six-hole, and Kyle Farmer is at second base and batting seventh.
Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler is taking a seat on Monday with the team facing left-hander Mitchell Parker and the Washington Nationals. With Kepler getting a day off, Manuel Margot will draw into the starting lineup, playing right field and batting third for the Twins. The 31-year-old lefty-swinging Kepler has been solid in limited plate appearances against southpaws this year, but he's hit just .221 against them in over 1,000 career plate appearances. The German outfielder is hitting .303 (30-for-99) with three home runs, 17 RBI and 13 runs scored so far this year, but the underlying numbers show that he's due some regression in the average department eventually. Margot is hitting just .195 (17-for-87) this year with a homer and nine RBI, but he could be worth considering as a DFS sleeper against a young lefty out of the three-hole.
