The 48-49 Minnesota Twins still hope they'll be playing important baseball games, come September and even October. However, no stretch in their 162-game season has been or will be more important than the next 2.5 weeks.
The Twins open the "second half" of their season (which is actually 2/3 over), on Friday night at Wrigley Field against the 54-42 Chicago Cubs . It's the first of 16 games the Minnesota Twins will play between now and the MLB trade deadline on August 3.
MN Twins fans woke up Friday morning with their team back just a half-game of the final Wild Card spot in the American League and only three games back of the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central.
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But they have to play winning baseball for the next couple of weeks first, or the deadline could look very similar to last year. Of course, having their best player in the lineup would help with that.
Unfortunately, it won't happen Friday. There were no roster moves made today, before the lineup was made official, meaning Buck remains on the injured list, at least for now.
Aaaaaaaaaaand we back!!!
📺 https://t.co/7owDbqKlDa pic.twitter.com/oj7AVstrgr— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) July 17, 2026
The #MNTwins are evaluating Byron Buxton day-to-day right now as he picks up baseball activities after the break.
He was on the field getting some work done pre-game.— Theodore Tollefson (@TheodoreTollef1) July 17, 2026
Representing owner Tom Pohlad has been outspoken over how much he would like to buy at the deadline, if his baseball team gives ownership that opportunity.
Thus, if they can play .500 ball or better over the next two weeks, all expectations are for Minnesota to add before August 3, in hopes of making a run at the postseason. That's why it's crucial that Buxton returns ASAP. They need his .271 batting average and .904 OPS back in the lineup.
However, should this team fall on its face out of the break, like they did in 2025, then we could see another fire sale at Target Field, this time including Joe Ryan , Ryan Jeffers and, if trading away those players opened Byron Buxton's mind to being moved, then maybe even him too.
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