Bailey

Ober

Well, that’s definitely a positive season-ending result for the one of the year’s most disappointing pitchers. He struck out five and walked one on his way to finishing up 6-9 with a 5.10 ERA. Still, he actually had some of his worst velocity of the year in this one, averaging 88.4 mph with his fastball. He never touched his season average of 90.3 mph, topping out at 90.1 mph today. The rough campaign means he probably won’t make more than $5 million in arbitration, so it will make sense for the Twins to keep him and hope he bounces back. Still, with the team likely to continue to trim payroll, it’s possible he’ll be sent packing this winter.

A rare bad start from Ober that didn’t involve any home runs. The previous three times he gave up at least six runs this season, he allowed four homers twice and three once. Ober also struck out just one batter tonight. The only other time that’s happened in a start was in a game in which he lasted just 1 1/3 innings. It was the oddest outing yet for one of the season’s most confounding pitchers. Ober will take a 5-9 record and a 5.32 ERA into his finale against the Phillies.

Ober allowed a double and an RBI single with two outs in the second. In the fourth, he hit a batter and then surrendered a single and a homer. Those were the only batters to reach against Ober during his six innings, but it scarcely mattered when four of the five scored. Ober, who topped his previous season high in strikeouts by two, is now 5-8 with a 5.12 ERA. He’s due to face the Guardians next.

It’s Ober’s first win since way back on May 3, when he improved to 4-1. He’d been 0-6 with a 5.91 ERA in 17 starts since. Ober went without allowing a homer today for just the second time in 12 starts since the beginning of June, though he gave up doubles to Maikel Garcia and Mike Yastrzemski that, according to Statcast, would have been homers in 14 and 11 parks, respectively. Ober will face the Diamondbacks next, but while that’s not a bad matchup, it’s hard to recommend him right now.

With Colson Montgomery and Chase Meidroth taking him deep, Ober allowed two homers and four runs for the second straight start. He’s now surrendered 29 homers in 124 innings on the season. Last year, he gave up 27 in 178 2/3 innings. Ober figures to face the Royals this weekend.

George Springer hit two long homers off him. Ober didn’t touch 90 mph on a single pitch tonight, averaging 88.8 mph with his fastball. That’s down 1.7 mph from his 2025 average and 3.0 mph from last year. It sure seems like he can safely be written off for the remainder of the year, but he should stay in the Twins rotation and face the White Sox on Monday.

Ober had both his changeup and sweeper working in this one. They combined to force 12 of his 18 total swings-and-misses and were his most consistent pitches. He needed both of them too, because his fastball velocity fell a bit more than a full mile per hour and he threw a handful of them below 90 mph. Still, he tied his season-high with seven strikeouts and has a 3.68 ERA in 22 innings since coming off the injured list at the beginning of the month. He has a two-start week coming up against the Blue Jays and Padres.

Ober blanked the Twins over the first three innings, but he gave up a two-run homer to Riley Greene and was charged for another run in the sixth. He struck out for, and the 6-foot-9 right-hander didn’t issue a walk. Coulda been worse. Ober will take an ugly/deserved 5.15 ERA into a scheduled start Wednesday versus the Athletics.

Ober struck out four and walked one while throwing 55 of his 89 pitches for strikes. Ober also averaged 91.3 mph on his fastball, which is almost one mph up from his season average. He posted a modest 16 percent whiff rate and 25 percent CSW, but much of that was because he didn’t get many swings and misses on his changeup, which he kept off the plate often. Still, Ober looked healthy, which is more than we could say for any of his outings in July. He gets a start against the Tigers next week, but he should be rostered in most formats.

More of the same for Ober in his return from the injured list. His velocity was up by about one mph from his season average, but he still managed just eight whiffs in 91 pitches and gave up two homers, bringing his season total to 23 allowed in 94 2/3 innings. Last year, he gave up 27 in 178 2/3 innings. Next week’s matchup is a good one for him, as the Royals lack power. Still, he doesn’t seem like a mixed-league guy right now.