Taylor is starting in center field and batting ninth Tuesday in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series versus the Blue Jays.
Willi Castro saw plenty of action in center field for the Twins in September while Taylor was banged up, but Taylor handled the position for nine of the final 12 regular-season contests and gets the call in Game 1. It wouldn't be a surprise if he's removed for a pinch-hitter mid-game Tuesday if the Twins are trailing.
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Twins' Michael Taylor: Riding pine in finale
Rotowire
Taylor is not in Sunday's lineup against the Rockies.
He will get a breather on the final day of the regular season, with Willi Castro patrolling center field in his stead. Taylor hit .107 with one home run and 12 strikeouts in nine games since returning from a hamstring injury a couple weeks ago.
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Twins' Michael Taylor: Homers, triples in win
Rotowire
Taylor went 2-for-4 with a triple, a home run, two RBI and a run scored in Friday's 7-6 victory over the Rockies.
Taylor's second-inning homer was his 21st of the season and increased the Twins' lead to three. Prior to Friday, he had gone 1-for-22 since returning Sept. 18 from a stint on the injured list due to a hamstring injury. In 128 games this season, Taylor is slashing .222/.276/.446 with 21 homers, 51 RBI, 46 runs and 13 steals.
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Twins' Michael Taylor: Not in Tuesday's lineup
Rotowire
Taylor is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game in Cincinnati.
Taylor started Monday in his first contest back from the injured list, but he will sit this one out. Willi Castro will patrol center field for the Twins.
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Twins' Michael Taylor: Activated from injured list
Rotowire
Taylor (hamstring) was activated from the 10-day injured list Monday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
Taylor spent just over two weeks on the IL with a hamstring strain and will jump right back into the starting lineup Monday against the Reds, batting ninth while starting in center field. The 32-year-old is hitting just .229 on the season but has been a useful fantasy contributor with 20 home runs and 13 stolen bases over 120 games.
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Twins' Michael Taylor: Returning on road trip
Rotowire
Taylor (hamstring) is slated to be activated from the 10-day injured list during the Twins' upcoming road trip that begins Thursday and runs through Sept. 20, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
The Twins haven't pinpointed an exact day for Taylor to be activated, but he'll already spent the minimum 10 days on the IL and is eligible for reinstatement at any point. Taylor had been serving as the Twins' primary center fielder prior to landing on the shelf and should take back that role, at least until Byron Buxton (hamstring/knee) is cleared to return from IL.
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Twins' Michael Taylor: Hits IL with hamstring strain
Rotowire
The Twins placed Taylor on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a right hamstring strain.
Minnesota reinstated utility man Willi Castro (oblique) from the 10-day IL in a corresponding move, and he and Andrew Stevenson could end up picking up most of the starts in center field while Taylor is on the shelf. With 20 home runs and 13 stolen bases on the campaign, Taylor has been a solid source of counting stats from the bottom of the Minnesota lineup when healthy this season, but he may not have an everyday role waiting for him once activated. Byron Buxton (hamstring, knee) could beat Taylor back from the IL and may get the opportunity to serve as Minnesota's primary center fielder upon his return after having previously been limited to designated-hitter duties all season.
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Twins' Michael Taylor: Likely headed to IL
Rotowire
Taylor (hamstring) is likely to be placed on the 10-day injured list prior to Sunday's game versus the Rangers, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Taylor aggravated a right hamstring injury Saturday, and while the Twins will wait to see how he feels Sunday morning before making a decision, an IL move is expected. Willi Castro (oblique) is in line to take Taylor's roster spot and will also be an option to see action in center field while Taylor is sidelined, with Joey Gallo and Andrew Stevenson also in the mix.
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Twins' Michael Taylor: Aggravates hamstring injury
Rotowire
Taylor was lifted from Saturday's game versus the Rangers in the fourth inning with a right hamstring injury, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Taylor didn't start a couple games earlier this week because of the hamstring and appeared to aggravate the injury while scoring from second base on a single in the top of the fourth. He was removed prior to the Twins taking the field for the bottom of the fourth. It looked to be an injury which could require a stint on the injured list, but more should be known after the contest.
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Twins' Michael Taylor: Remains on bench
Rotowire
Taylor is not in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener with the Rangers.
Taylor will remain on the bench for a second straight game as the Twins begin a series in Texas. Recently promoted Andrew Stevenson will get a look in center field and bat seventh.
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Twins' Michael Taylor: Takes seat Wednesday
Rotowire
Taylor is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the Guardians.
Taylor went yard in Tuesday's loss to Cleveland -- his fifth home run over his last nine games -- but he'll get a breather for the series finale. Joey Gallo will patrol center field in Taylor's stead Wednesday.
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Twins' Michael Taylor: Homers again in loss
Rotowire
Taylor went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's loss to the Guardians.
Taylor cut the Twins' deficit to 4-2 in the ninth inning with a solo homer off Emmanuel Clase. The long ball was Taylor's fifth in his last nine games -- he's gone 11-for-31 (.355) with a 1.267 OPS in that span. The veteran outfielder is now slashing .228/.281/.454with a career-best 20 homers, 45 RBI, 44 runs scored and 13 steals across 351 plate appearances as he continues to see regular playing time in Minnesota.
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Twins' Michael Taylor: Forces in winning run
Rotowire
Taylor went 0-for-4 with two walks, one RBI and two runs scored in Sunday's 7-6 extra-innings win over the Rangers.
Taylor wasn't able to collect a hit in his return from hamstring tightness, but he drew a walk-off walk in the 13th inning. His seven-game hitting streak ended, though the outfielder is still batting .246 (16-for-65) with seven home runs and 14 RBI over 19 games in August. It's a slight improvement on his season slash line of .225/.279/.446 through 115 contests, which has been enough for him to see the majority of playing time in center field.
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Twins' Michael Taylor: Back in action Sunday
Rotowire
Taylor (hamstring) will start in center field and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Rangers.
A tight hamstring kept Taylor on the bench for the past two games, but it wasn't serious enough to prevent him from playing in the series finale. Taylor had been on fire at the dish prior to picking up the injury, as he'll take a seven-game hitting streak into Sunday's contest. During that stretch, Taylor went 9-for-22 with four home runs, two walks, seven RBI, five runs and a stolen base.
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Twins' Michael Taylor: Dealing with hamstring issue
Rotowire
Taylor's absence from the lineup Saturday against Texas is due to a tight hamstring, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Taylor is hitting .409 with four homers over his last seven games, so it was a surprise to see him left out of the lineup for a second consecutive game. The injury offers a clear explanation, and while it doesn't appear to be a particularly serious issue, it's not yet known whether Taylor is expected to return to action Sunday.
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Twins' Michael Taylor: Remains on bench
Rotowire
Taylor will sit for the second consecutive game Saturday against the Rangers.
Taylor is riding a seven-game hitting streak in which he's homered four times, so it's somewhat strange to see him sit twice in a row. Joey Gallo will make another start in center field Saturday.
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Twins' Michael Taylor: Gets breather Friday
Rotowire
Taylor is not in the lineup Friday against the Rangers.
Taylor went deep twice in Thursday's series opener versus Texas and boasts a .925 OPS with seven home runs in 18 games since the calendar turned to August, but he'll grab some rest Friday as Joey Gallo covers center field for Minnesota. Matt Wallner is in left field while Max Kepler handles right.
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Twins' Michael Taylor: Remains hot with two homers
Rotowire
Taylor went 2-for-3 with a pair of solo home runs Thursday in a 7-5 win against the Rangers.
Taylor tagged Texas starter Andrew Heaney for two long balls, swatting a solo shot in each of the third and fifth innings. The veteran outfielder has gone deep four times over his past six games to push his season total to 19, tying his career-best mark. During his current seven-game hitting streak, Taylor is batting .409 (9-for-22) with seven RBI, providing valuable production from the bottom of Minnesota's order.
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Twins' Michael Taylor: Hits 16th homer in win
Rotowire
Taylor went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Friday's win over the Pirates.
Taylor opened the scoring with a two-out, two-run homer in the fourth inning that proved to be the game-winning hit for the Twins. Taylor now has 16 homers on the season to go along with 38 RBI, 37 runs scored and 12 steals. He has been a mainstay at the bottom of the Twins lineup most of the year and has earned that role despite an unimpressive slash line of .216/.267/.422.
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Twins' Michael Taylor: Gets rest Wednesday
Rotowire
Taylor is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers.
With Willi Castro (oblique) landing on the injured list Tuesday, Taylor looks like he'll have a clear path to regular duties in center field. Though he'll sit Wednesday in favor of Joey Gallo, Taylor had manned center in each of the last four contests, going 3-for-15 with a walk and a stolen base.
