Twins' Byron Buxton bids to continue power surge in clash vs. Jays

Minnesota Twins manager Derek Shelton said he loves what he has seen from his team's defense during the past week.

The Twins' success at the plate on Thursday is icing on the cake.

"I think we're starting to get in a better flow defensively," Shelton said. "I feel it's been the last 7-10 days where it's really kind of ticked up."

Minnesota will go for back-to-back wins against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night in Minneapolis. The Twins pulled away for a 7-1 victory in Thursday's series opener as Ryan Jeffers and Byron Buxton homered.

Buxton has gone deep in three of his last four games.

The Blue Jays will try to regain their footing after slipping three games below .500. Toronto started slowly but has won its previous three series, and the Blue Jays are 4-2 since April 25.

Daulton Varsho will try to stay hot after homering in the series opener, but Blue Jays manager John Schneider said he would like to see more of a collective effort from his hitters as they look to produce runs.

"We function best when we're feeding off one another," Schneider said. "I was just talking to (catcher Tyler) Heineman about this: ‘What are you actually swinging at?'

"We know a lot of these guys make contact. Are you just making contact, or are you making quality contact? Are you in a hurry to make contact?"

Blue Jays left-hander Patrick Corbin (0-0, 3.72 ERA) will make his fifth start of the season. The 36-year-old will try for his first victory with the Blue Jays, whom he joined during the offseason after spending 2025 with the Texas Rangers.

Corbin has yet to pitch six innings in a game this season. In his most recent outing, he allowed two runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings Sunday against the Cleveland Guardians and came away with his fourth consecutive no-decision as Toronto won 4-2.

This will be Corbin's seventh career start against the Twins. He is 2-3 with a 6.75 ERA in his first six meetings and has allowed eight home runs in 30 2/3 innings.

Twins right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson (0-4, 6.30 ERA) also is searching for his first victory of the season as he prepares for his seventh start. He is looking to bounce back from his most recent outing. in which he allowed four runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings in a 4-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.

Woods Richardson has faced the Blue Jays three times in his career, going 0-1 with an 11.25 ERA and giving up 19 hits over 12 innings.

Blue Jays reliever Louis Varland did not pitch in Thursday's game and could be available Friday night. Varland is from nearby Saint Paul, Minn., and started his career with the Twins before they traded him to Toronto last year.

Schneider said he loves having Varland in the clubhouse.

"He's quickly become one of my favorite guys," Schneider said. "He's just like, ‘I'm going ice fishing today, and I'll be throwing 100 tomorrow.' He's pretty cool."

--Field Level Media