Twins' David Festa: Punches out five in no-decision
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Festa did not factor into the decision in Wednesday's win over the White Sox. He allowed two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out five across four innings.
Festa was able to get through the first four innings with relative ease, but he was pulled in the fifth frame after putting the first two batters he faced on base, both of which came around to score. He tossed 80 pitches (52 strikes) with 13 first-pitch strikes, and he has steadily increased his pitch count in his three starts since being recalled from Triple-A St. Paul on April 11. Festa will likely return the minors as Pablo Lopez (hamstring) is set to return during the Twins' weekend series against the Angels.
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Twins' David Festa: Fans six in abbreviated outing
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Festa came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 4-3 extra-inning win over the Mets, allowing five hits and a walk over 4.1 scoreless innings. He struck out six.
The 25-year-old right-hander had an impressive, if short, performance, tossing 51 of 76 pitches for strikes before exiting the mound. Festa also got plenty of help to preserve his scoreless outing, as Harrison Bader threw a runner out at the plate in the second inning and Danny Coulombe escaped the one-out, bases-loaded jam he inherited in the fifth by getting Juan Soto to ground into a double play. Through his first two starts in the majors this season, Festa has yet to give up a run over nine innings, posting a 1.11 WHIP and 10:2 K:BB, but he also has yet to pitch the full five frames necessary to qualify for a win. If he sticks around on the big-league roster, he'll aim to give the Twins more length in his next trip to the mound, which lines up to come at home next week against the White Sox.
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Twins' David Festa: Getting another start
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Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said Sunday that Festa will start Wednesday against the Mets, Phil Miller of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Festa was called up from Triple-A St. Paul to start Friday with Pablo Lopez (hamstring) on the injured list. He performed well, allowing one unearned run in 4.2 innings with four strikeouts in a no-decision against the Tigers. The Twins had said they planned to give two starters extra rest this week ahead of a long stretch of consecutive games, so Festa could be in line for just one more start in the majors before returning to Triple-A. However, with the Twins possibly shaking up the roster after a sluggish start to the season, it's possible the right-hander could remain in the majors with another strong outing.
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Twins' David Festa: Fine work in no-decision
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Festa allowed an unearned run on three hits and a walk while striking out four over 4.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Tigers on Friday.
Festa threw 41 of 64 pitches for strikes in his first major-league outing of the season. He came up short of having a chance at the win, though the Twins' bullpen blew the lead in the sixth inning anyway. The 25-year-old right-hander pitched to a 4.90 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 77:23 K:BB over 64.1 innings in 2024, starting in 13 of his 14 appearances last year. Festa has a chance to stick in the rotation while Pablo Lopez (hamstring) is out and would line up for a tough home matchup versus the Mets next week -- that is, unless the Twins add Zebby Matthews and move to a six-man rotation, in which case Festa would face Atlanta on the road.
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Twins' David Festa: Recalled from Triple-A
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The Twins recalled Festa from Triple-A St. Paul on Friday.
Minnesota placed Pablo Lopez (hamstring) on the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move. Festa is expected to make the start Friday against the Tigers. In two starts at the Triple-A level this season, the right-hander has an 8:2 K:BB and 5.40 ERA across 8.1 innings. He made 14 regular-season appearances (13 starts) for the Twins last season, turning in a 4.90 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 77:23 K:BB in 64.1 innings of work.
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Twins' David Festa: Expected to start Friday vs Detroit
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The Twins are expected to promote Festa from Triple-A St. Paul to start Friday's game against the Tigers, Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
The Twins have an opening in their rotation with Pablo Lopez (hamstring) expected to land on the 15-day injured list. Lopez's next turn would have come Sunday, but the club is electing to bring Festa up Friday and push Chris Paddack and Simeon Woods Richardson each back a day. Festa has permitted six runs (five earned) with an 8:2 K:BB over 8.1 innings in his first two starts with St. Paul this season. He's a candidate to receive additional starts while Lopez is out, although the Twins could also give Zebby Matthews a look.
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Twins' David Festa: Looks sharp in spring debut
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Festa threw two scoreless innings Sunday against Pittsburgh with two strikeouts and no walks in his spring debut. He pitched exclusively out of the stretch, which he plans to do this season, MLB.com reports. He also debuted a new sinker during the outing.
Festa is competing with Chris Paddack, Simeon Woods Richardson and Zebby Matthews for the final two spots in the rotation. Paddack and Woods Richardson are the favorites, but Festa could force his way into the rotation with a strong spring. Festa showed promise last season with a 10.8 K/9 and 12.7 percent swinging strike rate, but he recorded a 4.40 ERA (though a 3.75 FIP) in 14 games.
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Twins' David Festa: Strikes out five in no-decision
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Festa did not factor into the decision in an extra-innings loss to the Marlins on Thursday, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and one walk over 4.1 innings. He struck out five.
Festa got tagged for a run in the first inning after issuing a leadoff walk to open the frame and then surrendering an RBI double to Jake Burger two batters later. The right-hander then went on to retire nine of the next 10 batters he faced before allowing four of the first five batters to reach in the fifth, leading to his early departure. Festa has failed to make it through five frames in three of his last four outings, allowing multiple runs three times over that span. He carries a 4.91 ERA in September and hasn't won a start since Aug. 5 against the Cubs, a span of nine starts.
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Twins' David Festa: Takes sixth loss
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Festa (2-6) allowed four runs on four hits and three walks while striking out four batters over four innings in a loss to the Angels on Monday.
Festa fell behind quickly in the contest, giving up a pair of runs on a walk and two hits in the first inning. The other two runs he allowed came on a two-run Brandon Drury homer in the third frame. The rookie right-hander has lost each of his past four starts, though this was the first time in that span that he's given up more than three runs. Despite going 1-5 since the All-Star break, Festa has been fairly effective, posting a 3.70 ERA and 54:15 K:BB over 41.1 innings.
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Twins' David Festa: Folds against Cards
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Festa (2-3) took the loss Friday, giving up three runs on three hits and two walks over 3.2 innings as the Twins fell 6-1 to the Cardinals. He struck out five.
The rookie right-hander tossed an inefficient 75 pitches (45 strikes) as he saw another early exit. The Twins are being cautious with Festa and the 24-year-old has yet to pitch more than five innings in any of his first eight big-league appearances (seven starts), but that babying hasn't led to impressive numbers. Through 36.1 innings, he's served up seven homers and been saddled with a 5.20 ERA and 1.32 WHIP, despite a 44:11 K:BB that highlights his potential. Festa will try to keep the ball in the yard in his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against Atlanta.
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Twins' David Festa: Gets no help in loss
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Festa (1-2) took the loss Tuesday as the Twins were downed 2-0 by the Mets, giving up two runs on three hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out six.
The rookie right-hander put together his best performance so far in the majors, tossing 44 of 68 pitches for strikes, but Minnesota managed only two hits in support of him. Festa has allowed just three runs in 9.1 innings since returning to the 26-man roster last week, but he continues to have trouble keeping the ball in the yard -- a solo shot by Mark Vientos in the fifth inning Tuesday was the sixth homer Festa has served up in 19.1 big-league frames. With the Twins having failed to add any rotation help at the trade deadline, his spot seems fairly secure for the moment, and Festa lines up to make his next start on the road early next week against the Cubs.
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Twins' David Festa: Drawing start Tuesday
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Festa is scheduled to start Tuesday's game against the Mets at Citi Field.
After being roughed up for 12 earned runs in 10 innings in his first two big-league starts earlier this summer, Festa was deployed as a bulk reliever in this past Wednesday's game against the Phillies following his call-up from Triple-A St. Paul. Upon entering the game behind opening pitcher Steven Okert, Festa delivered by far his best MLB outing to date, striking out seven over four innings of relief while giving up one earned run on four hits and two walks. Despite Festa's success out of the bullpen, the Twins will give him another look in a starting role when his next turn through the rotation comes up in New York. Festa brings plenty of strikeout upside to the table, though keeping the ball in the yard has been a major issue for the 24-year-old both in the majors and minors in 2024.
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Twins' David Festa: Called up, set for bulk relief
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The Twins recalled Festa from Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday.
Festa started in his two appearances with the Twins earlier this season back on June 27 and July 3, giving up 12 earned runs while striking out eight batters over 10 innings. Though the Twins have an opening in the rotation for Wednesday's game against the Phillies after Chris Paddack (forearm) landed on the injured list, Festa looks set to work as a bulk reliever rather than a traditional starter, per Dan Hayes of The Athletic. Reliever Steven Okert will start the contest and likely work an inning or two before giving way to Festa, who owns a 4.06 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 93:28 K:BB over 64.1 innings at Triple-A this season.
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Twins' David Festa: Promotion imminent
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The Twins will recall Festa from Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
The Twins will use Steven Okert as an opener for Wednesday's series finale against the Phillies, and Festa is expected to work in bulk relief once Okert is removed from the game. Doing so will allow him to avoid facing Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner and Bryce Harper to begin the game, though Festa's 10.80 ERA in the majors doesn't exactly spark confidence in his ability to handle Philadelphia's high-scoring offense at any point in the contest.
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Twins' David Festa: Back up as 27th man
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The Twins recalled Festa from Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday.
Festa will serve as the 27th man for Wednesday's doubleheader against the White Sox and will be available, if needed, in long relief. The young right-hander had previously allowed 12 runs over 10 innings in two starts for Minnesota this season.
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Twins' David Festa: Optioned to Triple-A
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The Twins optioned Festa to Triple-A St. Paul on Friday.
Festa had a rough welcoming to the majors in his first two starts, allowing 12 runs over 10 innings. The Twins will announced a corresponding move prior to Friday's game versus the Astros. Chris Paddack (arm) could be ready to rejoin the rotation next week in the spot Festa had occupied.
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Twins' David Festa: Awarded another start
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Festa is scheduled to start Wednesday's game against the Tigers at Target Field.
Tabbed as a replacement in the big-league rotation this past Thursday for the injured Chris Paddack (forearm), Festa surrendered five earned runs on seven hits and one walk and struck out just two batters but received enough run support to come away with a win against the Diamondbacks. Festa was cruising early in his debut and faced just one batter more than the minimum through three innings, but he began to unravel over his final two frames, when he allowed all seven of his hits. Festa may need a better showing in Minnesota against a weaker Detroit offense to ensure he gets additional turns through the rotation, as Caleb Boushley has been pitching well at Triple-A St. Paul and looms as an alternative as the Twins' No. 5 starter if Festa can't get the job done.
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Twins' David Festa: Earns win in first career start
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Festa (1-0) allowed five runs on seven hits and one walk over five innings to earn the win Thursday against the Diamondbacks. He struck out two.
Festa's first career start began about as well as he could have possibly imagined. By the time he hit the mound in the fourth inning, he had faced just one batter over the minimum and was staked to an 11-run lead. Following a solo homer to open the fourth, Festa struck out the next two but followed up by allowing five consecutive singles and three additional earned runs. Festa then allowed one more run in the fifth as the Twins coasted to victory. It was an up-and-down debut, but Festa should continue to earn additional starting opportunities for the Twins if they continue to have a rotational need. His next chance is slated to come in the middle of next week when the Twins welcome the Tigers to Minnesota.
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Twins' David Festa: Set to make MLB debut Thursday
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Festa will be called up from Triple-A St. Paul to make his major-league debut Thursday in Arizona, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports.
Festa is assuming the rotation spot vacated by Chris Paddack, who went on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with right arm fatigue. With Paddack slated to miss at least two turns through the rotation, Festa will have an opportunity to remain in the majors beyond Thursday's outing, although that could hinge on how his debut goes. Festa is among the minor-league leaders with 87 strikeouts this season and has also walked 24 while posting a 3.77 ERA over 59.2 innings.
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Twins' David Festa: Hot start at Triple-A
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Festa has a 1.46 ERA and 11.2 K/9 through four games (12.1 innings) at Triple-A St. Paul.
Festa threw four scoreless innings in his last start Wednesday. Festa is perhaps Minnesota's top pitching prospect, and his early success is notable with the last two spots in the big-league rotation struggling (Louie Varland and Chris Paddack). However, Festa has an ugly 8.2 BB/9 and hasn't gone more than four innings in any start. As a result, he may not be seen as an option this early in the season even if Varland and Paddack continue to labor.
