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IPL 2026: GT captain Shubman Gill fined Rs. 12 lakh for slow over-rate against DC  Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill has been fined Rs 12 lakh for maintaining a slow over-rate during its Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 clash against Delhi Capitals, which it won in a thrilling last-ball finish here.Gujarat Titans secured its first win of the season with a one-run victory over the hosts in a high-scoring cliffhanger on Wednesday.“Gujarat Titans (GT) Captain Shubman Gill has been fined after his team maintained a slow over-rate during Match No. 14 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 against Delhi Capitals (DC) at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi,” said an IPL media advisory.“As this was his team’s first offence of the season under Article 2.22 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct, which pertains to minimum over-rate offences, Gill was fined INR 12 lakh,” it added.In a nail-biting contest, David Miller had a momentary lapse in judgment, refusing a single off the penultimate delivery from Prasidh Krishna before missing the final ball.Kuldeep Yadav then failed to get past Jos Buttler’s direct hit, as Delhi Capitals finished at 209 for eight in its chase of Titans’ 210.Gujarat Titans will next take on Lucknow Super Giants in Lucknow on Sunday, while Delhi Capitals is set to face Chennai Super Kings in Chennai on Saturday.(with inputs from PTI)Published on Apr 09, 2026  #IPL #captain #Shubman #Gill #fined #lakh #slow #overrate

IPL 2026: GT captain Shubman Gill fined Rs. 12 lakh for slow over-rate against DC

Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill has been fined Rs 12 lakh for maintaining a slow over-rate during its Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 clash against Delhi Capitals, which it won in a thrilling last-ball finish here.

Gujarat Titans secured its first win of the season with a one-run victory over the hosts in a high-scoring cliffhanger on Wednesday.

“Gujarat Titans (GT) Captain Shubman Gill has been fined after his team maintained a slow over-rate during Match No. 14 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 against Delhi Capitals (DC) at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi,” said an IPL media advisory.

“As this was his team’s first offence of the season under Article 2.22 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct, which pertains to minimum over-rate offences, Gill was fined INR 12 lakh,” it added.

In a nail-biting contest, David Miller had a momentary lapse in judgment, refusing a single off the penultimate delivery from Prasidh Krishna before missing the final ball.

Kuldeep Yadav then failed to get past Jos Buttler’s direct hit, as Delhi Capitals finished at 209 for eight in its chase of Titans’ 210.

Gujarat Titans will next take on Lucknow Super Giants in Lucknow on Sunday, while Delhi Capitals is set to face Chennai Super Kings in Chennai on Saturday.

(with inputs from PTI)

Published on Apr 09, 2026

#IPL #captain #Shubman #Gill #fined #lakh #slow #overrate

Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill has been fined Rs 12 lakh for maintaining a slow over-rate during its Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 clash against Delhi Capitals, which it won in a thrilling last-ball finish here.

Gujarat Titans secured its first win of the season with a one-run victory over the hosts in a high-scoring cliffhanger on Wednesday.

“Gujarat Titans (GT) Captain Shubman Gill has been fined after his team maintained a slow over-rate during Match No. 14 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 against Delhi Capitals (DC) at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi,” said an IPL media advisory.

“As this was his team’s first offence of the season under Article 2.22 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct, which pertains to minimum over-rate offences, Gill was fined INR 12 lakh,” it added.

In a nail-biting contest, David Miller had a momentary lapse in judgment, refusing a single off the penultimate delivery from Prasidh Krishna before missing the final ball.

Kuldeep Yadav then failed to get past Jos Buttler’s direct hit, as Delhi Capitals finished at 209 for eight in its chase of Titans’ 210.

Gujarat Titans will next take on Lucknow Super Giants in Lucknow on Sunday, while Delhi Capitals is set to face Chennai Super Kings in Chennai on Saturday.

(with inputs from PTI)

Published on Apr 09, 2026

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#IPL #captain #Shubman #Gill #fined #lakh #slow #overrate

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Deadspin | Brent Rooker’s sac fly in 9th lifts Athletics past Yankees <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28686938.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28686938.jpg" alt="MLB: Athletics at New York Yankees" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 8, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; Athletics third baseman Max Muncy (3) slides safely past the tag of New York Yankees starting pitcher Will Warren (29) in the fourth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>Brent Rooker lifted a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the ninth inning, and the visiting Athletics earned a 3-2 victory over the New York Yankees on Wednesday night.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>The Athletics won for only the fourth time in their past 17 visits to Yankee Stadium and earned the win after a shaky opening inning and a night after blowing a two-run lead in the eighth.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>David Bednar (0-1) allowed a single to Nick Kurtz and a double to Shea Langeliers to put runners at second and third. After Tyler Soderstrom struck out on a splitter, Rooker lifted a 1-0 curveball to center field and Kurtz scored.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>Elvis Alvarado (2-0) struck out Jazz Chisholm Jr. on a 100-mph fastball to end the eighth and set up the ninth. Joel Kuhnel retired the side in the ninth for his second career save and first since 2022 with Cincinnati.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>Kurtz, Langeliers and Jeff McNeil had multi-hit games for the A’s, who stranded 11 and went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>McNeil had an RBI single in the fourth off New York’s Will Warren and the A’s scored the tying run when Max Muncy trotted home on a wild pitch.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-7"> <p>The Yankees were unable to win in their last at-bat after doing so in their last two wins. New York struck out a season-high 15 times and had one of their four hits in the final eight innings.</p> </section> <section id="section-8"> <p>Cody Bellinger hit an RBI single in the first and J.C. Escarra drew a bases-loaded walk against former New York starter Luis Severino.</p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>Severino, who pitched for the Yankees from 2015 to 2023, allowed two runs on four hits in five innings. The right-hander struck out seven and issued five walks in his third appearance against his former team.</p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>Warren allowed two runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings. The right-hander struck out five and walked three.</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>Severino threw 32 pitches in the opening inning when the Yankees took the lead on Bellinger’s bloop single to shallow left and Escarra’s bases-loaded walk after the A’s lost an ABS challenge.</p> </section><section id="section-12"> <p>Severino allowed one hit the rest of the way and retired Judge and McMahon on double plays to end the second and fourth.</p> </section><section id="section-13"> <p>The A’s tied it in the fourth as four straight hitters reached with two outs. McNeil singled to left and Muncy scored on a wild pitch during an at-bat to Kurtz, who ended the inning by striking out with two on.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-14"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section> </div> #Deadspin #Brent #Rookers #sac #fly #9th #lifts #Athletics #Yankees

Deadspin | Yankees need more punch from bottom 3 hitters vs. Athletics  Apr 4, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Ryan Weathers (40) delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the second inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images   The New York Yankees are off to a quick start even with some difficulties hitting with runners in scoring position and getting production from the bottom of their lineup.  The Yankees hope to see improvement in both areas Thursday afternoon when they host the Athletics in the decisive game of a three-game series.  After winning seven of their first eight games, the Yankees dropped two of their past three and struggled to bring home baserunners.  In a 7-6 loss to the visiting Miami Marlins on Sunday, New York finished 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position. In a 3-2 defeat to the A’s on Wednesday, the Yankees went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position, had three of their season-low four hits in the opening inning and struck out a season-high 15 times.  “The story was we didn’t score when we had a chance to throw a knockout punch there early,” New York manager Aaron Boone said. “Just couldn’t break through and they held us down. Just one of those nights where we didn’t do enough.”  Cody Bellinger hit an RBI single, but Ben Rice struck out four times and the Yankees saw their average with runners in scoring position drop to .227 (22-for-97) with 34 strikeouts.  The Yankees also saw their bottom three hitters go 1-for-10, and that includes Ryan McMahon, who is 2-for-26 (.077) after going hitless in his first career start at shortstop. Overall, New York’s seven through nine hitters are 16-for-111 (.144) so far.  “It’s (11) games in,” Boone said about McMahon. “He’s scuffling right now, but the reality is the last three games, he’s been on base four times, too, with walks and hits and big at-bats. We want him to improve to who he’s been in his career and he’s off to a slow start right now, but a number of our guys are as well.”  The A’s are trying to claim their first series victory at Yankee Stadium since 2016 after Brent Rooker hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the ninth inning off David Bednar on Wednesday.   Rooker has seven of his eight RBIs in the past three games. His fly ball scored Nick Kurtz, who is 6-for-16 in his past four games.  Rooker’s RBI occurred on a night when the A’s saw their bullpen combine to allow no hits and two walks while striking out eight in four shutout innings. One game earlier, the Athletics’ Mark Leiter Jr. allowed a go-ahead three-run homer to Amed Rosario in the eighth inning as the Yankees pulled out a 5-3 win.  “(Tuesday) was a tough loss,” second baseman Jeff McNeil said on the Athletics’ postgame show after producing an RBI single among his two hits. “It says a lot about these guys to bounce back and get the W. The bullpen was huge.”  The Yankees have not had a starter allow more than three runs so far, and Ryan Weathers (0-0, 4.50 ERA) will attempt to continue the trend and get deeper into his outing on Thursday.  Weathers lasted 3 2/3 innings when he allowed three runs on six hits in a no-decision against the Marlins before the Yankees earned a 9-7 win on Saturday.  In the left-hander’s only previous start against the A’s, he allowed three runs on five hits in six innings and took the loss for the Marlins on May 3, 2024.  After getting five innings apiece from veterans Aaron Civale and Luis Severino in the series, the A’s will start Jeffrey Springs (1-0, 2.38 ERA) in the finale. Springs has allowed two runs or fewer in 18 of 32 starts since joining the A’s last season. He earned a win on Friday against the Houston Astros by allowing one run on two hits in six innings.  Springs is 2-1 with a 2.03 ERA in 11 career appearances (three starts) against the Yankees, but he hasn’t faced them since 2022.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Yankees #punch #bottom #hitters #AthleticsApr 4, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Ryan Weathers (40) delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the second inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

The New York Yankees are off to a quick start even with some difficulties hitting with runners in scoring position and getting production from the bottom of their lineup.

The Yankees hope to see improvement in both areas Thursday afternoon when they host the Athletics in the decisive game of a three-game series.

After winning seven of their first eight games, the Yankees dropped two of their past three and struggled to bring home baserunners.

In a 7-6 loss to the visiting Miami Marlins on Sunday, New York finished 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position. In a 3-2 defeat to the A’s on Wednesday, the Yankees went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position, had three of their season-low four hits in the opening inning and struck out a season-high 15 times.

“The story was we didn’t score when we had a chance to throw a knockout punch there early,” New York manager Aaron Boone said. “Just couldn’t break through and they held us down. Just one of those nights where we didn’t do enough.”

Cody Bellinger hit an RBI single, but Ben Rice struck out four times and the Yankees saw their average with runners in scoring position drop to .227 (22-for-97) with 34 strikeouts.

The Yankees also saw their bottom three hitters go 1-for-10, and that includes Ryan McMahon, who is 2-for-26 (.077) after going hitless in his first career start at shortstop. Overall, New York’s seven through nine hitters are 16-for-111 (.144) so far.

“It’s (11) games in,” Boone said about McMahon. “He’s scuffling right now, but the reality is the last three games, he’s been on base four times, too, with walks and hits and big at-bats. We want him to improve to who he’s been in his career and he’s off to a slow start right now, but a number of our guys are as well.”


The A’s are trying to claim their first series victory at Yankee Stadium since 2016 after Brent Rooker hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the ninth inning off David Bednar on Wednesday.

Rooker has seven of his eight RBIs in the past three games. His fly ball scored Nick Kurtz, who is 6-for-16 in his past four games.

Rooker’s RBI occurred on a night when the A’s saw their bullpen combine to allow no hits and two walks while striking out eight in four shutout innings. One game earlier, the Athletics’ Mark Leiter Jr. allowed a go-ahead three-run homer to Amed Rosario in the eighth inning as the Yankees pulled out a 5-3 win.

“(Tuesday) was a tough loss,” second baseman Jeff McNeil said on the Athletics’ postgame show after producing an RBI single among his two hits. “It says a lot about these guys to bounce back and get the W. The bullpen was huge.”

The Yankees have not had a starter allow more than three runs so far, and Ryan Weathers (0-0, 4.50 ERA) will attempt to continue the trend and get deeper into his outing on Thursday.

Weathers lasted 3 2/3 innings when he allowed three runs on six hits in a no-decision against the Marlins before the Yankees earned a 9-7 win on Saturday.

In the left-hander’s only previous start against the A’s, he allowed three runs on five hits in six innings and took the loss for the Marlins on May 3, 2024.

After getting five innings apiece from veterans Aaron Civale and Luis Severino in the series, the A’s will start Jeffrey Springs (1-0, 2.38 ERA) in the finale. Springs has allowed two runs or fewer in 18 of 32 starts since joining the A’s last season. He earned a win on Friday against the Houston Astros by allowing one run on two hits in six innings.

Springs is 2-1 with a 2.03 ERA in 11 career appearances (three starts) against the Yankees, but he hasn’t faced them since 2022.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Yankees #punch #bottom #hitters #Athletics">Deadspin | Yankees need more punch from bottom 3 hitters vs. Athletics  Apr 4, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Ryan Weathers (40) delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the second inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images   The New York Yankees are off to a quick start even with some difficulties hitting with runners in scoring position and getting production from the bottom of their lineup.  The Yankees hope to see improvement in both areas Thursday afternoon when they host the Athletics in the decisive game of a three-game series.  After winning seven of their first eight games, the Yankees dropped two of their past three and struggled to bring home baserunners.  In a 7-6 loss to the visiting Miami Marlins on Sunday, New York finished 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position. In a 3-2 defeat to the A’s on Wednesday, the Yankees went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position, had three of their season-low four hits in the opening inning and struck out a season-high 15 times.  “The story was we didn’t score when we had a chance to throw a knockout punch there early,” New York manager Aaron Boone said. “Just couldn’t break through and they held us down. Just one of those nights where we didn’t do enough.”  Cody Bellinger hit an RBI single, but Ben Rice struck out four times and the Yankees saw their average with runners in scoring position drop to .227 (22-for-97) with 34 strikeouts.  The Yankees also saw their bottom three hitters go 1-for-10, and that includes Ryan McMahon, who is 2-for-26 (.077) after going hitless in his first career start at shortstop. Overall, New York’s seven through nine hitters are 16-for-111 (.144) so far.  “It’s (11) games in,” Boone said about McMahon. “He’s scuffling right now, but the reality is the last three games, he’s been on base four times, too, with walks and hits and big at-bats. We want him to improve to who he’s been in his career and he’s off to a slow start right now, but a number of our guys are as well.”  The A’s are trying to claim their first series victory at Yankee Stadium since 2016 after Brent Rooker hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the ninth inning off David Bednar on Wednesday.   Rooker has seven of his eight RBIs in the past three games. His fly ball scored Nick Kurtz, who is 6-for-16 in his past four games.  Rooker’s RBI occurred on a night when the A’s saw their bullpen combine to allow no hits and two walks while striking out eight in four shutout innings. One game earlier, the Athletics’ Mark Leiter Jr. allowed a go-ahead three-run homer to Amed Rosario in the eighth inning as the Yankees pulled out a 5-3 win.  “(Tuesday) was a tough loss,” second baseman Jeff McNeil said on the Athletics’ postgame show after producing an RBI single among his two hits. “It says a lot about these guys to bounce back and get the W. The bullpen was huge.”  The Yankees have not had a starter allow more than three runs so far, and Ryan Weathers (0-0, 4.50 ERA) will attempt to continue the trend and get deeper into his outing on Thursday.  Weathers lasted 3 2/3 innings when he allowed three runs on six hits in a no-decision against the Marlins before the Yankees earned a 9-7 win on Saturday.  In the left-hander’s only previous start against the A’s, he allowed three runs on five hits in six innings and took the loss for the Marlins on May 3, 2024.  After getting five innings apiece from veterans Aaron Civale and Luis Severino in the series, the A’s will start Jeffrey Springs (1-0, 2.38 ERA) in the finale. Springs has allowed two runs or fewer in 18 of 32 starts since joining the A’s last season. He earned a win on Friday against the Houston Astros by allowing one run on two hits in six innings.  Springs is 2-1 with a 2.03 ERA in 11 career appearances (three starts) against the Yankees, but he hasn’t faced them since 2022.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Yankees #punch #bottom #hitters #Athletics

Deadspin | Twins pursue sweep of 4-game set against Tigers  Apr 8, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton (25) hits a double during the sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images   The Minnesota Twins already have secured their first series victory of the season.  Now they are eager to complete a four-game sweep.  Minnesota will aim for its fourth straight win when it faces the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon in Minneapolis. The Twins are coming off an 8-6 win over the Tigers on Wednesday night, which followed a 4-2 victory on Tuesday and a 7-3 triumph in the series opener on Monday.  Meanwhile, Detroit is eager to stop an early-season slide.  The Tigers have lost eight of 12 games to start the season, including each of their past four contests. They are 2-7 on the road.  Detroit manager A.J. Hinch knows that something needs to change for his team, which has ambitions to win the American League Central and competing for the World Series after making the playoffs each of the past two years.  “Team-wise, you’re always pushing to play winning baseball,” Hinch said. “Right now, we haven’t done that. We’re trying to find ways to get back to our brand of baseball that produces those wins without overreacting.”  Colt Keith and Kevin McGonigle have fared well at the plate, but many Tigers hitters have struggled to open the season. Hinch acknowledged that players who have a slump at the start of the season receive disproportionate attention as someone who hits a midseason lull.  “It’s a tricky time when you look at guys coming out of the spring,” Hinch said. “They’re hot or they’re cold, or they run into some bad luck or don’t get something to fall, and there’s the psychology that comes with the big board putting your numbers up there.”   Tigers right-hander Jack Flaherty (0-1, 7.56 ERA) will try to help his team avoid the sweep. He is looking to improve his command after issuing four walks in each of his first two starts of the season.  In his 2026 debut, Flaherty allowed three runs (two earned) in 4 1/3 innings in a loss to the San Diego Padres on March 29. He did not last any longer on Saturday in his start against the St. Louis Cardinals, who touched him up for five runs on three hits in four-plus innings.  Flaherty is 0-1 with a 4.37 ERA in four career starts vs. Minnesota.  Twins right-hander Mick Abel (0-2, 11.05 ERA) will try to bounce back from a turbulent start to the season when he gets the ball on Thursday.  Abel gave up five runs in 3 1/3 innings in a long-relief appearance against the Baltimore Orioles in his season debut on March 29. He allowed four runs in a four-inning start against the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday.  Abel, 24, never has faced the Tigers in his brief career.  Twins manager Derek Shelton praised his players for their success so far against Detroit, especially for putting up eight runs on 10 hits in five-plus innings on Wednesday against two-time All-Star Framber Valdez.  “A four-game series, winning the first three against a team that’s a really good team in our own division (is great),” Shelton said. “Yeah, it was a little bit closer than we expected, but I was really proud of our group.”  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Twins #pursue #sweep #4game #set #TigersApr 8, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton (25) hits a double during the sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Twins already have secured their first series victory of the season.

Now they are eager to complete a four-game sweep.

Minnesota will aim for its fourth straight win when it faces the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon in Minneapolis. The Twins are coming off an 8-6 win over the Tigers on Wednesday night, which followed a 4-2 victory on Tuesday and a 7-3 triumph in the series opener on Monday.

Meanwhile, Detroit is eager to stop an early-season slide.

The Tigers have lost eight of 12 games to start the season, including each of their past four contests. They are 2-7 on the road.

Detroit manager A.J. Hinch knows that something needs to change for his team, which has ambitions to win the American League Central and competing for the World Series after making the playoffs each of the past two years.

“Team-wise, you’re always pushing to play winning baseball,” Hinch said. “Right now, we haven’t done that. We’re trying to find ways to get back to our brand of baseball that produces those wins without overreacting.”

Colt Keith and Kevin McGonigle have fared well at the plate, but many Tigers hitters have struggled to open the season. Hinch acknowledged that players who have a slump at the start of the season receive disproportionate attention as someone who hits a midseason lull.


“It’s a tricky time when you look at guys coming out of the spring,” Hinch said. “They’re hot or they’re cold, or they run into some bad luck or don’t get something to fall, and there’s the psychology that comes with the big board putting your numbers up there.”

Tigers right-hander Jack Flaherty (0-1, 7.56 ERA) will try to help his team avoid the sweep. He is looking to improve his command after issuing four walks in each of his first two starts of the season.

In his 2026 debut, Flaherty allowed three runs (two earned) in 4 1/3 innings in a loss to the San Diego Padres on March 29. He did not last any longer on Saturday in his start against the St. Louis Cardinals, who touched him up for five runs on three hits in four-plus innings.

Flaherty is 0-1 with a 4.37 ERA in four career starts vs. Minnesota.

Twins right-hander Mick Abel (0-2, 11.05 ERA) will try to bounce back from a turbulent start to the season when he gets the ball on Thursday.

Abel gave up five runs in 3 1/3 innings in a long-relief appearance against the Baltimore Orioles in his season debut on March 29. He allowed four runs in a four-inning start against the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday.

Abel, 24, never has faced the Tigers in his brief career.

Twins manager Derek Shelton praised his players for their success so far against Detroit, especially for putting up eight runs on 10 hits in five-plus innings on Wednesday against two-time All-Star Framber Valdez.

“A four-game series, winning the first three against a team that’s a really good team in our own division (is great),” Shelton said. “Yeah, it was a little bit closer than we expected, but I was really proud of our group.”


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Twins #pursue #sweep #4game #set #Tigers">Deadspin | Twins pursue sweep of 4-game set against Tigers  Apr 8, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton (25) hits a double during the sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images   The Minnesota Twins already have secured their first series victory of the season.  Now they are eager to complete a four-game sweep.  Minnesota will aim for its fourth straight win when it faces the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon in Minneapolis. The Twins are coming off an 8-6 win over the Tigers on Wednesday night, which followed a 4-2 victory on Tuesday and a 7-3 triumph in the series opener on Monday.  Meanwhile, Detroit is eager to stop an early-season slide.  The Tigers have lost eight of 12 games to start the season, including each of their past four contests. They are 2-7 on the road.  Detroit manager A.J. Hinch knows that something needs to change for his team, which has ambitions to win the American League Central and competing for the World Series after making the playoffs each of the past two years.  “Team-wise, you’re always pushing to play winning baseball,” Hinch said. “Right now, we haven’t done that. We’re trying to find ways to get back to our brand of baseball that produces those wins without overreacting.”  Colt Keith and Kevin McGonigle have fared well at the plate, but many Tigers hitters have struggled to open the season. Hinch acknowledged that players who have a slump at the start of the season receive disproportionate attention as someone who hits a midseason lull.  “It’s a tricky time when you look at guys coming out of the spring,” Hinch said. “They’re hot or they’re cold, or they run into some bad luck or don’t get something to fall, and there’s the psychology that comes with the big board putting your numbers up there.”   Tigers right-hander Jack Flaherty (0-1, 7.56 ERA) will try to help his team avoid the sweep. He is looking to improve his command after issuing four walks in each of his first two starts of the season.  In his 2026 debut, Flaherty allowed three runs (two earned) in 4 1/3 innings in a loss to the San Diego Padres on March 29. He did not last any longer on Saturday in his start against the St. Louis Cardinals, who touched him up for five runs on three hits in four-plus innings.  Flaherty is 0-1 with a 4.37 ERA in four career starts vs. Minnesota.  Twins right-hander Mick Abel (0-2, 11.05 ERA) will try to bounce back from a turbulent start to the season when he gets the ball on Thursday.  Abel gave up five runs in 3 1/3 innings in a long-relief appearance against the Baltimore Orioles in his season debut on March 29. He allowed four runs in a four-inning start against the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday.  Abel, 24, never has faced the Tigers in his brief career.  Twins manager Derek Shelton praised his players for their success so far against Detroit, especially for putting up eight runs on 10 hits in five-plus innings on Wednesday against two-time All-Star Framber Valdez.  “A four-game series, winning the first three against a team that’s a really good team in our own division (is great),” Shelton said. “Yeah, it was a little bit closer than we expected, but I was really proud of our group.”  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Twins #pursue #sweep #4game #set #Tigers

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