IMPACT PLAYER
Byron Buxton, Twins
AL Player of the Week starts campaign for next week's award with a two-run, first-inning homer
BY THE NUMBERS
9 Consecutive victories without a loss, dating back to 2020, by reliever Caleb Thielbar
.399 Luis Arraez's career batting average in the first inning (61 for 153)
1 Pitches thrown by Twins reliever Joe Smith, who recorded an inning-ending ground out
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Wild
Wild winger Mats Zuccarello will be out 3-4 weeks after surgery
The veteran forward was injured when hit with a shot during Thursday's victory over Montreal.
NFC North picks: Will Bears' changes change their fortunes vs. Packers?
The Minnesota Star Tribune's Mark Craig takes a spin around the NFC North and finds stout run defense in Detroit, impatience in Chicago and a notable winning streak in Green Bay.
Wild
For the Wild, the Central is central indeed
Saturday's game against Dallas presents an opportunity to indicate the team won't repeat the flop in division games that wrecked last season.
![Glass and metal siding outside US Bank Stadium create graphic shapes against the summer sky. ] JIM GEHRZïjames.gehrz@startribune.com (JIM GEHRZ/S](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/PI2OUIUAMXQV5Y646EPZ7G2XLA.jpg?h=91&w=145&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Football: Johnson's three TD's leads Jackson County Central into 2A Prep Bowl
Jackson County Central's (12-0) return to the title game is the program's first since its championship win in 2001. This postseason marked the Huskies' third consecutive trip to the state tournament.
Vikings-Titans prediction: Minnesota defense takes aim at another young QB
Young quarterbacks have found it difficult to face the Vikings defense, and it's Will Levis' turn to confront this challenge as the 7-2 Vikings visit 2-7 Tennessee on Sunday.