Kody

Funderburk

Funderburk has done a decent job through his first 19 appearances with the Twins this season, posting a 2.81 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and a 10/13 K/BB ratio over 16 innings of work. The walks are becoming a real problem though, which may be what the Twins want him to work on at the Triple-A level. Kendry Rojas was recalled in a corresponding move to take his place in the team’s bullpen.

He’ll resume his role in Minnesota’s pen in the near future. Funderburk carries a 2.00 ERA in 12 appearances this year — though he has allowed seven total runs against just two earned — and has one save as part of Minnesota’s mega-committee.

Funderburk will be away from the team for up to three days. Kendry Rojas is up to take his spot on the roster.

Connor Prielipp is also coming up to join the taxi squad, according to The Athletic’s Dan Hayes. Rojas just made his season debut after missing time with a hamstring injury, so it’ll probably be a brief stay for him. Funderburk, who has allowed seven runs — two earned — in nine innings this year, will likely miss two or three days.

After a scoreless eighth, Cody Laweryson got Jahmai Jones to fly out to open the ninth. The Twins preferred a lefty at that point, so in came Funderburk. He walked Riley Greene and plunked Dillon Dingler, but he then retired Parker Meadows for the second out. That brought up Zach McKinstry, who delivered a liner into what would have been the gap between first and second, except Luke Keaschall was pulled way over towards the line and managed to snare it to end the game. It’s Funderburk’s first save. He could get more opportunities when the situation calls for a left-hander, but he probably won’t ever be the Twins’ primary closer.

The Twins called upon Topa to clean up the mess left by Kody Funderburk and he could not deliver. He entered the up by two, with runners on first and second, and one out. Then, he gave up back-to-back hits which drove home both inherited runners plus one of his own on his way to a loss. This was his second blown save in this series alone as it looks like he’s no longer the trusted closer in Minnesota. It may very well be Funderburk, but this bullpen is a total mess.

One of the Twins’ top closing options, Topa was asked to pitch the eighth with a one-run lead today, but he couldn’t get the job done. If he had, it probably would have been Cole Sands closing this one out. Kody Funderburk, who had the Twins’ last save Friday, worked a scoreless seventh today.

It wasn’t the smoothest of innings for the 28-year-old southpaw as he allowed a leadoff walk to Gavin Sheets and a one-out walk to Jake Cronenworth that brought the tying run to the plate. He battled back though, getting Yainer Diaz on a swinging third strike and Fernando Tatis Jr. on a fly ball to right to end it. On the season, he now holds a 4.40 ERA, 1.81 WHIP and a 23/15 K/BB ratio over 28 2/3 innings. Don’t expect him to suddenly take over the closer’s role in Minnesota.

Funderburk gives the Twins a second left-hander in the bullpen, as he’s replacing Anthony Misiewicz after Misiewicz was placed on the injured list with a shoulder impingement. Funderburk won’t pitch in a role that garners any sort of fantasy significance.

The Twins plan to promote Travis Adams from Triple-A St. Paul to work as the bulk pitcher on Saturday and they needed to clear a spot on their active roster. Funderburk has appeared in 10 games with the Twins this season, registering an unappetizing 6.92 ERA, 1.85 WHIP and a 9/5 K/BB ratio over 13 innings of work.