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Cedric Mullins, Baltimore Orioles Await Challenge From Minnesota Twins

Cedric Mullins, Baltimore Orioles Await Challenge From Minnesota Twins

Yahoo05-05-2025

It's been a tough start to the 2025 MLB season for the Baltimore Orioles and Minnesota Twins. Both teams already have 20 losses early in May schedule. Baltimore and Minnesota can change their courses when they square off in a three-game series at Target Field starting on Tuesday.
Baltimore, which has gone 2-3 in its last five games, sits in last place in the American League East Division at 13-20. As for Minnesota, the Twins are 15-20 and already seven games behind in the AL Central. They would be in last place if not for the hapless Chicago White Sox.
Mullins is catalyst on offense for O's
The Orioles hope Cedric Mullins continues to deliver at the plate. Entering Tuesday's opener, Mullins leads the Orioles with seven home runs and 21 RBI, according to StatMuse. He hit one of Baltimore's four homers on Sunday against the Kansas City Royals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
He's hitting at a .255 clip with an OBP of .379. Ryan O'Hearn has the top batting average for Baltimore at .307.
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Young phenom Jackson Holliday had himself a day in the Orioles' 11-7 loss against the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.
Holliday hit two solo home runs, marking his first multi-homer game in his career. Baltimore would not mind seeing Holliday's power surge continue against the Twins.
Minnesota's offense has been paced by Byron Buxton's seven homers and Ty France's 19 RBI. Harrison Bader tops the Twins with a .280 batting average. Just like the Orioles, the Twins have gone 2-3 in their last five games. Bailey Ober, Joe Ryan and Pablo López pace the Minnesota pitching staff.
Pitching probables for Tuesday's series opener are right-hander Dean Kremer (3-4, 5.73 ERA) opposite the Twins' Ryan (2-2, 2.93 ERA). Baltimore's pitching staff has been decimated by injuries, so any length that Kremer can give Orioles manager Brandon Hyde probably will be appreciated.

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Highest risk: Jalen Hurts, PHI Most impact: Lamar Jackson, BAL Most upside: Jayden Daniels, WAS Jayden Daniels took the NFL by storm as a rookie in 2024. A combination of performance as a passer and mobility finds him atop many new SuperFlex start-up drafts, and with good reason. Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson should be solid for years to come, while Patrick Mahomes is slipping due to a lack of targets and an aging Travis Kelce. Jalen Hurts remains a top-tier player due to offensive scheme, weapons and at least one more year of the tush push, but his value is slipping in 2025. Joe Burrow won't be losing his receivers now and, thus, maintains his place in my top tier. Because of the names in the top tier, combined with the youth in my third tier, my second tier consists of only two names. I fully expect this will be resolved by this time next year, with multiple names moving up from Tier 3. Most to prove: C.J. Stroud, HOU To be honest, both quarterbacks have a lot to prove in 2025. C.J. Stroud regressed badly in 2024 (QB18), while Justin Herbert produced as the QB13 last season. There are reasons to believe both will materially improve upon their 2024 production, but until they do, it's wait-and-see, and I won't be surprised if they are leapfrogged by more than one 2024 rookie. Both names continue to fall in SuperFlex drafts, usually appearing in or after the third round. Daniels stole the show among the rookie quarterbacks last season, while fellow rookies Caleb Williams and Bo Nix showed flashes. Both need to take developmental steps in 2025, and if they do, it's not out of the question that they could attain Tier 1 status. Highest ceiling: Caleb Williams, CHI Lowest floor: Trevor Lawrence, JAX There is no sugarcoating what we saw in 2024. Caleb Williams struggled, holding the ball too long and taking a league-leading 68 sacks. At the same time, the Bears continue to add playmakers on offense, providing few excuses should Williams struggle again. 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Most upside: Justin Fields, NYJ Most underrated: Jared Goff, DET Highest risk: Cam Ward, TEN Most faded: Anthony Richardson, IND Most intriguing: J.J. McCarthy, MIN Biggest sleeper: Sam Darnold, SEA Biggest underdog: Bryce Young, CAR I look up and down this list and see so many interesting stories. Justin Fields in the Jets' green and white feels like a fit that will finally unlock his upside, reunited with fellow Ohio State receiver Garrett Wilson. Jared Goff has been overlooked year after year. Consider his past two seasons, and you will find QB8 (2023) and QB6 (2024) rankings. What more can you ask for? He's only 30 years old. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Drake Maye is trending up in a big way! Advertisement Baker Mayfield, like Goff, continues to be faded in drafts. I'm very interested in J.J. McCarthy taking over for Sam Darnold. He now has a year of watching from the sidelines and inherits an offense that helped Darnold put up 14 victories. 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Adding rookie TE Tyler Warren should provide a new dimension to the offense not seen since Dallas Clark. If Jones bests Richardson for the starting gig, he could be a late-round steal. Not listed here is Aaron Rodgers, who continues to hold the Steelers (and fans) hostage while he decides his playing future. I expect the mercurial vet to be under-center come Week 1, but I'll be avoiding him at all costs unless in dire circumstances. I hope you enjoyed this look at my dynasty quarterback rankings for 2025. Thank you for your continued engagement and support. Reads, ratings and comments make all the difference, and therefore, more dynasty content is on the way. If you have questions or comments, you know what to do. I look forward to interacting with my readers. Please follow me on Twitter and Threads: @DLF_Jeff. (Top photo of Lamar Jackson: Alex Slitz / Getty Images)

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