MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The turnaround for Minnesota last year was sharp, with 26 more wins than the miserable 2016 season on a march to the AL wild card game.This year, the Twins are in position to actually measure progress by postseason advancement. The entire starting lineup stayed intact, with five core players age 25 and under, and the bullpen was given a big boost with three free agent additions .For the first time in seven years, the previous appearance in the playoffs, Minnesota is a desired destination."I feel like this team is on the edge of being really good for a while," said left-hander Zach Duke, who joined right-handers Fernando Rodney and Addison Reed as veteran relievers who signed this winter. "Maybe a pitcher or two away, and it's there. It's a very exciting thing."The pitcher or two could still materialize, with Yu Darvish at the top of the list of unsigned logjam of free agents around the game. The Twins, who hold their first official workout for pitchers and catchers on... [More]

CF Byron Buxton was lifted from Tuesday's wild-card game after the top of the fourth because of upper back tightness. In the top of the third, he sped down the first base line to avoid hitting into a double play and in the bottom of the second, he crashed into the center field fence with his back taking away an extra base hit from Yankees 3B Todd Frazier. After the game, Buxton said he was going to get some tests Wednesday.

CF Byron Buxton exited the American League wild-card game against the New York Yankees on Tuesday due to upper-back tightness. Buxton was lifted after the top of the fourth inning, and the injury was announced an inning later. He was replaced by Zack Granite. In the bottom of the second inning, Buxton crashed into the center field fence with his back to take away an extra-base hit New York's Todd Frazier, and he appeared shaken up while making the catch. Buxton was 0-for-2 before exiting. He tied the game at 4-4 when he hit an RBI grounder in the third against David Robertson.

CF Byron Buxton stole second base in the fourth inning of Sunday's win for his 24th consecutive successful stolen base. That extends his club record. It was his 29th steal of the season. Buxton finished the regular season 96.7 percent in stolen base attempts, the best percentage in Twins history.

OF Byron Buxton's stolen base in the sixth inning was his 23rd consecutive successful stolen base attempt, which is a Twins franchise record. "That means a lot to me. A lot of hard work went into it," Buxton said. "It's something I'll cherish, but I still can get better." Not much. Buxton's 96.5 percent stolen base success rate (28-for-29) leads the majors, and is the highest in Twins history.

LOS ANGELES -- Rookie Cody Bellinger hit his 39th homer as the Los Angeles Dodgers clinched their fifth straight NL West Division title with a 4-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants Friday night.Bellinger hit a three-run homer in the third inning off Jeff Samardzija (9-15). He broke a tie with Wally Berger (1930) and Hall of Famer Frank Robinson (1956) for the homers hit a by National League. Rich Hill (11-8) drove in the other run and allowed a run in six innings, for the Dodgers who clinched on former manager Tommy Lasorda's 90th birthday.Pablo Sandoval homered in the ninth off Los Angeles closer Kenley Jansen.Blue Jays 8, Yankees 1TORONTO -- Ryan Goins pulled off the hidden ball trick and hit a grand slam off Masahiro Tanaka asToronto routed New York.Goins pulled off the trick in the third inning to retire Todd Frazier, who was on second base. He then chased Tanaka (12-12) in the sixth inning with his second career grand slam.Teoscar Hernandez and Russell Martin also homered for Toronto... [More]

CF Byron Buxton is regarded as the fastest player in the majors but that alone won't make you a base-stealing whiz. It hasn't been until this season that he has blossomed as a stealer of bases. Buxton entered Friday night having swiped 22 bases in a row this season and had been thrown out just once in 28 attempts overall. Some of the credit goes to Minnesota's third- and first-base coaches plus manager Paul Molitor. Buxton had three hits Friday night, including a two-run double. "He's getting the head (of the bat) out," Molitor said. "I know his hand is feeling better. (We wanted) to get him down there a little bit in the lineup, get him back on track, and he's responded."

LOS ANGELES -- Rookie Cody Bellinger hit his 39th homer as the Los Angeles Dodgers clinched their fifth straight NL West Division title with a 4-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants Friday night.Bellinger hit a three-run homer in the third inning off Jeff Samardzija (9-15). He broke a tie with Wally Berger (1930) and Hall of Famer Frank Robinson (1956) for the homers hit a by National League. Rich Hill (11-8) drove in the other run and allowed a run in six innings, for the Dodgers who clinched on former manager Tommy Lasorda's 90th birthday.Pablo Sandoval homered in the ninth off Los Angeles closer Kenley Jansen.Blue Jays 8, Yankees 1TORONTO -- Ryan Goins pulled off the hidden ball trick and hit a grand slam off Masahiro Tanaka asToronto routed New York.Goins pulled off the trick in the third inning to retire Todd Frazier, who was on second base. He then chased Tanaka (12-12) in the sixth inning with his second career grand slam.Teoscar Hernandez and Russell Martin also homered for Toronto... [More]

CF Byron Buxton had a two-run, two-out single in the fourth inning Thursday night against the Tigers that broke a 1-1 tie in the three-run frame. "Byron picked us up," manager Paul Molitor said. "Buxton's two-out knock was probably the biggest at-bat of the night." He also walked and scored in the four-run eighth along with making a couple of standout catches on defense.

MIAMI -- Giancarlo Stanton drilled his major-league-leading 55th homer to lead the Miami Marlins to a 13-1 win over the New York Mets on Monday.It was Miami's first game at Marlins Park since Sept. 6, with three contests were moved to Milwaukee due to Hurricane Irma. The Marlins won for just the fourth time in their past 21 games.Stanton's homer traveled 455 feet and was clocked at 114 mph. He went 2-for-5 with three runs scored and four RBIs. After not going deep since Sept. 9, Stanton has now launched the most homers by a National League player since Ryan Howard hit 58 for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2006.New York's Matt Harvey (5-6) took the loss after allowing a season-high 12 hits, two walks and seven runs in four innings.Yankees 2, Twins 1NEW YORK -- Aroldis Chapman recorded the final five outs after Dellin Betances loaded the bases in the eighth inning as New York held to beat Minnesota.Chapman entered after Betances was booed off the mound for hitting Robbie Grossman with a pitch... [More]

OF Byron Buxton hit his 16th home run of the season, the most by a Twins center fielder since Torii Hunter hit 28 in 2007. Twenty of Buxton's past 42 hits (four doubles, five triples and 11 home runs) have been for extra bases, and he is batting .339 (62-for-183) since July 4.

CF Byron Buxton stole his 26th base in the fourth inning. It was the 21st consecutive steal for Buxton without being caught, tied for the third-longest streak in team history with Zoilo Versalles. Buxton is one game behind the record streaks of Matt Lawton and Chuck Knoblauch. Buxton had two hits and is now hitting .524 in five games against the Blue Jays this season.

CF Byron Buxton hit his first career walk-off home run at the big league level to give the Twins a 3-2 win Thursday over the Blue Jays. Buxton said his last walk-off homer was with Low-A Cedar Rapids. Thursday's blast, a solo shot in the 10th inning, was Buxton's 15th homer of the season.

CF Byron Buxton was in a 1-for-21 skid before his home run and single Saturday. A bruised left hand had been affecting his swing. "It's a little tough swinging the bat, but that's something I have to deal with," Buxton said. "Even though my bat at struggling a little bit right now, defensively, I know I still have got to be out there." Twins manager Paul Molitor said the injury will not worsen from playing and Buxton's outfield defense is treasured. "It's going to be an on-going issue," Molitor said. "I think it's the right thing to do is keep running him out there. Some swings affect him more than others. Some swings it doesn't affect him at all."

OF Byron Buxton has been successful on his last 20 stolen base attempts, including one Monday. His success rate of 96.2 percent is the best in Twins history with at least 20 attempts. Two more and he'll match the team record for consecutive successful steals.

CF Byron Buxton returned to the lineup on Saturday after missing two games with a hand contusion. Buxton had entered Friday's game as a pinch-runner before making the start on Saturday. Buxton was 3-for-5 with two RBIs in the game, raising his season average to a season-high .253.

CF Byron Buxton was out of the lineup for the second straight game with a bone contusion in his hand but he is showing improvement. Buxton hit in the batting cage on Friday, but manager Paul Molitor said it went, "OK, not great." Buxton is considered day-to-day. He did enter in the ninth inning of Friday's game as a pinch-runner and Molitor said he could be used as a runner and defensive replacement while his hand heals enough to hit.

CF Byron Buxton has avoided a major injury after an MRI showed his injured hand is just a bone contusion. Buxton left Wednesday's game with the injury, which occurred when his hand slipped off the bat. Buxton had an MRI exam Thursday with the team fearing an injury to the hamate bone. But the test showed no fracture and Buxton is considered day-to-day.

CF Byron Buxton will be evaluated before Thursday's game after leaving Wednesday with a hand injury. Buxton was pinch-hit for in the seventh inning in the blowout win. Manager Paul Molitor said he took Buxton out as a precaution after he complained of an issue when his hand slipped off the bat during an at-bat. Molitor didn't have any details and said the hope is there is no significant injury.

CF Byron Buxton was named the American League Player of the Week. Buxton batted .333 (11-for-33) while hitting five home runs and driving in 10 runs during eight games with the Twins last week. It's the first AL Player of the Week honor of Buxton's career.