Twins Set Lineup as Bailey Ober Looks to Help Avoid Sweep vs. Padres

The Twins will look to avoid a three-game sweep in San Diego after Saturday’s gut-punch 7-5 loss.

Aug 17, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins pitcher Bailey Ober (17) tosses to first base for the out during the third inning against the Atlanta Braves at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

After a gut-punch 7-5 loss to the Padres that saw a late bullpen collapse, the Twins will now look to avoid the sweep at the hands of the Padres before heading to West Sacramento for three games against the Athletics.

For the Twins on Sunday, they will be sending out right-hander Bailey Ober against the powerful and relentless Padres lineup.

This season, Ober has a 7-4 record with a 4.62 ERA and 71 strikeouts on the season. Ober will need to keep the ball in the ballpark tonight against a Padres lineup, and having given up home runs this season at a 1.48 HR/9 rate, that might be a tough task.

For the Padres, it will be RHP Walker Buehler making his first career start against the Twins. On the season, Buehler is 7-6 with a 4.79 ERA and 104 strikeouts. Buehler comes into the start having given up 14 home runs over 120.1 innings of work, so to some extent he can keep the ball in the ballpark, but the Twins are going to need to make him work.

The good news for the Twins, the Padres have used closer Mason Miller on back-to-back days, so that might prevent the Padres from using him on Sunday.

First pitch is scheduled for 3:10 p.m. CT at Petco Park.

Minnesota Twins Starting Lineup

1. Luke Keaschall — RF
2. Byron Buxton — CF
3. Josh Bell — DH
4. Kody Clemens — 2B
5. Royce Lewis — 1B
6. Brooks Lee — 3B
7. Alan Roden — LF
8. Víctor Caratini — C
9. Kaelen Culpepper — SS

Lineup Notes

Ryan Jeffers is not in the Twins lineup tonight in a day game after a night game. Victor Caratini is getting the start behind the plate. The Twins are also giving Alan Roden the start in LF today with Trevor Larnach struggling in the month of August.

3 Matchups to Watch

Aug 5, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Minnesota Twins first baseman Victor Caratini (37) drives in a run in the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Bailey Ober vs. Ty France

Over the first two games, Ty France has been one of the hotter hitters in the Padres lineup, recording four RBIs with a home run against his former ballclub. In order for the Twins to collect a win today in the series finale, they are going to need to get France out in big spots, and Ober has had success against France in his career over 16 at-bats, striking him out five times and holding him to a .188 batting average.

Josh Bell vs. Walker Buehler

Bell has reached base in 24 straight games and has been tearing the cover off the ball as of late. Against Buehler in his career, Bell is 5-for-11 with a .545 slugging percentage. This is a great matchup for the Twins because if Bell is hitting tonight, especially for power, it’s going to be difficult to contain the Twins' lineup.

Victor Caratini vs. Walker Buehler

The only other batter that’s faced Buehler and has had some good success is backup catcher Victor Caratini, who has a career .273 batting average against Buehler in 11 at-bats. It’s not a huge sample size, but there is some substance of success, and the Twins can hope that Caratini will help the middle of the lineup’s production tonight.