The Minnesota Twins reinstated center fielder Byron Buxton from the seven-day concussion injured list on Friday before beginning a three-game series in Seattle, two weeks after he collided with shortstop Carlos Correa in pursuit of a shallow fly ball.
Buxton missed 11 games after the collision, which also sent Correa into the concussion protocol. Correa only needed the minimum seven-day stay on the injured list and missed five games.
To make room for Buxton, outfielder Carson McCusker was sent back to Triple-A St. Paul. Buxton was batting .261 with an .834 OPS and 18 extra-base hits, including 10 homers, before he was hurt. He also had 33 runs, 27 RBIs and eight steals in his first 41 games.
Buxton had been off to a terrific start at the plate, on the base paths and defensively in centerfield as the oft-injured Twin has been relatively healthy.
Minnesota Twins (30-25, third in the AL Central) vs. Seattle Mariners (30-25, first in the AL West)
Seattle; Friday, 9:10 p.m. Pregame 8:30 p.m. on 830 WCCO and the Audacy App (in-market restrictions apply)
PITCHING PROBABLES: Twins: Zebby Matthews (0-1, 7.71 ERA, 2.00 WHIP, 14 strikeouts); Mariners: Bryan Woo (5-2, 2.40 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 60 strikeouts)
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Mariners -158, Twins +134; over/under is 7 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Seattle Mariners begin a three-game series at home against the Minnesota Twins on Friday.
Seattle is 14-13 at home and 30-25 overall. The Mariners have an 11-6 record in games when they did not give up a home run.
Minnesota is 12-17 in road games and 30-25 overall. Twins pitchers have a collective 3.29 ERA, which ranks seventh in MLB play.
Friday's game is the first time these teams meet this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Cal Raleigh leads the Mariners with 29 extra base hits (10 doubles and 19 home runs). Julio Rodriguez is 10 for 43 with a double, three home runs and 12 RBIs over the last 10 games.
Ty France has eight doubles, four home runs and 30 RBIs while hitting .254 for the Twins. Kody Clemens is 12 for 32 with three doubles, a triple and three home runs over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Mariners: 4-6, .232 batting average, 4.14 ERA, outscored by 11 runs
Twins: 5-5, .227 batting average, 3.58 ERA, outscored by five runs
INJURIES: Mariners: Bryce Miller: 15-Day IL (elbow), Trent Thornton: 15-Day IL (stomach), Luke Raley: 10-Day IL (side), Gregory Santos: 60-Day IL (knee), Logan Gilbert: 15-Day IL (forearm), Victor Robles: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Ryan Bliss: 60-Day IL (biceps)
Twins: Luke Keaschall: 60-Day IL (forearm), Danny Coulombe: 15-Day IL (forearm), Byron Buxton: 7-Day IL (head), Michael Tonkin: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Matt Wallner: 10-Day IL (hamstring)
The Associated Press contributed to this story.