MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Twins right-hander Mike Paredes was scratched from his scheduled start Saturday against the Athletics just minutes before the game was scheduled to begin.
Paredes suffered a left oblique strain during warmups, the team said. Left-hander Kendry Rojas replaced Paredes as the starter. It was the rookie's fourth start.
“It happened in the bullpen, and from talking to the guys down there, it looked like it got him pretty good,” Twins manager Derek Shelton said of Paredes. “Kendry was going to pitch second, so we just sent him down there. ... Overall, he kind of set the tone.”
Rojas was given time to warm up in the bullpen before taking the mound to start the game. He pitched four shutout innings and allowed just one hit in the Twins 2-0 win.
“I was not expecting it. I was just sitting, chilling, talking, and then they told me to get the start, so I sprinted my way back there,” Rojas said postgame, with teammate Pablo Lopez serving as his interpreter. “After that, it was just doing my thing.”
The 25-year-old Paredes debuted with Minnesota earlier this year and is 0-3 in nine career big league games, including five starts. He's allowed at least one run in each of his appearances and has a 4.72 ERA this season, with 19 strikeouts and 13 walks.
If Paredes lands on the injured list, that would free up a roster spot for left-hander Connor Prielipp, who has been on the IL since July 9 with a blister and could return soon.
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Minnesota Twins pitcher Kendry Rojas throws to the Athletics during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 25, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Alan Roden hit a two-run single to snap Minnesota's scoreless streak at 14 2/3 innings and the Twins beat the Athletics 2-0 on Saturday night.
The Twins had not scored in 25 of their previous 27 innings before Roden drove in a pair in the bottom of the sixth off A's reliever Mason Barnett. Minnesota was shut out in Friday's series opener and scored in just two innings Thursday in Cleveland.
Minnesota left-hander Kendry Rojas moved into the starting role after scheduled starter Mike Paredes was scratched with a left oblique strain he suffered during warmups. Rojas was solid in four innings of work, striking out five and allowing just one hit.
Taylor Rogers (6-3) pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Rojas to earn the win. Yoendrys Gómez picked up his 13th save of the season and his 12th with the Twins. Barnett (1-1) took the loss for the A’s.
Nick Kurtz returned to action for the Athletics on Saturday after spending time on the injured list with a right thumb strain. He struggled in his return, striking out four times as the designated hitter.
The Athletics' best chance on offense came in the top of the eighth after the first two batters reach base against Twins reliever Andrew Morris. But Morris struck out Kurtz and Tyler Soderstrom and got Jonah Heim to ground out to escape the jam.
Athletics LHP Jeffrey Springs (3-8, 5.96 ERA) looks for his first win since April 14. The Twins have not named a starter, but Connor Prielipp (2-5, 5.00) is expected to return from the IL and start.
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Athletics pitcher Brady Basso throws to the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 25, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
Minnesota Twins pitcher Kendry Rojas throws to the Athletics during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 25, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
Minnesota Twins' Josh Bell celebrates in the dugout after scoring during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Saturday, July 25, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
Minnesota Twins' Alan Roden hits a two-run single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Saturday, July 25, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
