Buxton picked the right time to power up

The Twins’ Chicago-centric week would indicate that the degree of difficulty once they finish their four-game set with the White Sox won’t let up for another few days. With a three-game series against the Cubs looming this weekend at Wrigley Field, the Twins won’t have it easy while they work to maintain their spot in what is largely a two-team race in the American League Central.

That’s all to say that this a very good time for outfielder Byron Buxton to be emerging as an offensive leader in a strong lineup that could always use a little more pop. Buxton has been red-hot since he returned from the injured list with a shoulder issue earlier this month, homering more -- a lot more -- and striking out less.

Entering Thursday’s matinee at Guaranteed Rate Field, Buxton had homered in five of his past eight games, and since his return from the IL, he was hitting .308 with two doubles, five homers, 10 RBIs and a 1.051 OPS, with just seven strikeouts.

His tear continued in the series finale, as he hit a pair of solo homers off White Sox starter Reynaldo López, his 11th in the second inning, and his 12th in the fifth.

Buxton has had modest power numbers over his career. Is this recent trend an indication of something more transformative?

“Not necessarily. I think [it's] a little bit more of knowing what pitchers are going to do to me a little bit more, experience, I guess,” Buxton said prior to Thursday's game. “And just going in having a clear mind, and being ready to hit. It’s kind of one of those things like [manager] Rocco [Baldelli] put in us last year -- don’t be afraid to go up there and make an out. Don't give up a fastball down the middle or a get-me-over pitch. Go up there ready to hit. The last week or so, it has been really good.”

Buxton has always had a high swing rate, but he has been even more aggressive than usual, including against pitches in the strike zone. According to Statcast, his in-zone swing rate is up 85 percent since Sept. 7, the day his homer surge began. That’s 10 points higher than it was before that.

Similarly, his swing rate at pitches in the “heart” of the strike zone -- at least one baseball’s width inside the edges of the zone -- is also up nine percentage points, from 79 percent through Sept. 6 to 88 percent beginning the next day.

Physical health, of course, plays a role. Buxton was productive before he was sidelined with inflammation in his shoulder, and he’s feeling good now, with results to show.

Peace of mind, and the confidence that comes from that, may be in play as well.

“Physically, it’s more about me staying on the field and staying healthy,” he said. “But mentally, it’s kind of pushing yourself to be better and get over the hump, to get to the next stage and not go at-bat to at-bat and try to figure things out pitch by pitch.”

Odorizzi day to day

Baldelli said on Thursday that he thinks “there’s a chance” right-hander Jake Odorizzi will pitch again before the end of the season, but it’ll be a couple more days before the club can draw any definitive conclusions about his immediate future.

Odorizzi left Wednesday's start -- his first in nearly a month -- in the fourth inning when a blister on his right middle finger split.

“Right now it’s just about assessing where Jake’s at -- physically, not just optimistically -- but objectively where’s he’s at,” Baldelli said. “How long do we think it’s going to be before he can go out there and throw a bullpen, really rip some of his pitches at full speed with that finger? ... We’re going to asses that today.”

Roster move

Right-hander Zack Littell cleared outright waivers and was assigned to the club’s alternate training site in St. Paul. The Twins’ 40-man roster now stands at 39.