Alec Burleson Extends 3-Game Power Run Before Cardinals Vs Twins

Alec Burleson carried a three-game homer streak into cardinals vs twins on Friday, June 12, 2026, when St. Louis met Minnesota at Target Field. The Cardinals arrived at 37-29, while the Twins were 31-39 and third in the AL Central.

Burleson And Joe Ryan

Burleson’s stretch was the cleanest offensive marker in the matchup. He entered the 8:10 p.m. ET start looking to keep that run alive against Joe Ryan, who took the ball for Minnesota with a 3.07 ERA and a 4-3 record.

Kyle Leahy started for St. Louis. That pairing gave the game a direct pitcher-versus-pitcher frame, with Burleson carrying the power streak into a meeting that already sat on opposite sides of the standings.

Target Field Records

The records told the rest of the setup. St. Louis came in five games over.500 and second in the NL Central, while Minnesota was 31-39 and trying to climb from third in the AL Central.

That gap put extra weight on every early inning. For the Cardinals, Burleson’s run offered a chance to keep pressure on a team below.500. For the Twins, Ryan had to manage a lineup built around a hitter already on a three-game home run streak.

Twins Injury List

Minnesota also carried a long injured list into the night. Ryan Jeffers was out on the 10-day injured list with a hand injury, while Bailey Ober, Cole Sands, Mick Abel, and Kendry Rojas were all on the 15-day injured list with elbow or forearm issues.

Pablo Lopez, Garrett Acton, and David Festa were on the 60-day injured list, and the Twins were also missing Ramón Urías. St. Louis had Ryan Fernandez on the 15-day injured list with a back injury, adding more turnover to a game that asked both clubs to work around roster gaps instead of full lineups.

With Burleson carrying the streak, Leahy opening for St. Louis, and Ryan starting for Minnesota, the matchup turned on whether the Cardinals could keep their offensive edge while the Twins tried to absorb another night shaped by injuries and a losing record.