The stage is set for a fun Friday night at Target Field featuring Ryan vs. fellow All-Star Paul Skenes and a postgame concert.

The Minnesota Twins held All-Star center fielder Byron Buxton out of the starting lineup on Thursday because of a bruised left hand that is not expected to affect his availability for long.

After being looked at by a team trainer, Buxton stayed in the game and eventually scored on a hit by Ryan Jeffers. But Brooks Lee pinch hit for Buxton in the second inning. Buxton

Twins All-Star center fielder Byron Buxton is, perhaps unsurprisingly, out of the lineup for Thursday afternoon's series finale against the Cubs. Buxton left Wednesday night's game an inning after being hit by a 98 mile-per-hour fastball on the top of his left hand. The good news is he appears to have avoided a significant injury.

An All-Star Game appearance, no matter where it is, is a special honor and acknowledgement. But for Byron Buxton, with the game being held in Atlanta, a little over three hours from his hometown

His second All-Star Game selection will go down as one of his greatest satisfactions in the sport, considering the path he's taken to get here and the fact that the festivities next week will be in his native Georgia.

New York Mets slugger and two-time winner Pete Alonso joined Philadelphia designated hitter Kyle Schwarber in electing to skip the Home Run Derby

A Philadelphia Phillies trade idea would land Minnesota Twins' Byron Buxton for Justin Crawford and Andrew Painter in a "Godfather" trade offer.