The New York Yankees make the trip to Minneapolis for a Monday night regular season clash against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field, with first pitch scheduled for 7:40 PM ET. Will Warren gets the ball for New York against Minnesota's Dean Kremer in a matchup that carries playoff-race weight this deep into the September schedule. Aaron Judge leads a Yankee lineup that has the talent to do damage against anyone, and how Warren handles a Twins order that can put up runs will go a long way toward determining which team leaves with a win. Catch the action on YES Network or WFAN 660/101.9 FM.

Pitching Matchup: Will Warren vs. Dean Kremer

Will Warren draws the start for the Yankees and steps into a meaningful September assignment. Warren has been part of New York's rotation mix this season, and outings like Monday's are the ones that define a young pitcher's credibility down the stretch. He'll need to command the strike zone and keep the Twins from stringing together big innings — something Minnesota is capable of doing in the friendly confines of Target Field.

Dean Kremer takes the hill for Minnesota. The right-hander gives the Twins a serviceable arm to work with, and a strong home start could help keep the Yankees' bats quiet through the middle innings. The battle between these two starters figures to set the tone for the entire game.

Yankees Lineup: Judge in the Cleanup Spot with a Fresh Look Around Him

New York sends out an interesting lineup card Monday. Ben Rice leads off as the designated hitter, with Cody Bellinger hitting second in left field. Aaron Judge slots into the three-hole in right field, where he remains the most dangerous hitter on the roster by a wide margin. Luis García Jr. bats cleanup at first base, followed by Spencer Jones in center field.

George Lombard Jr. hits sixth at shortstop in what looks like a youth-infused middle of the order. Ryan McMahon mans third base and bats seventh, Austin Wells handles catching duties and hits eighth, and José Caballero rounds out the order at second base. It's a lineup that blends established contributors with younger players getting significant at-bats this time of year.

Twins Lineup: Target Field Crowd Behind a Patchwork Order

Minnesota counters with Luke Keaschall leading off in right field, Brooks Lee batting second at third base, and Kody Clemens hitting third at second base. Ryan Jeffers, one of the more reliable offensive catchers in the American League, bats cleanup. Josh Bell serves as the DH hitting fifth, with Emmanuel Rodriguez in left field at six.

Victor Caratini starts at first base and bats seventh, Ryan Kreidler hits eighth at shortstop, and top prospect Walker Jenkins bats ninth in center field. The Twins are leaning on a mix of veterans and young pieces — a lineup the Yankees cannot take lightly regardless of where individual names fall in the order.

Keys to Watch

• Warren's command in the early innings — if he gets ahead in counts, he can keep Minnesota's lineup off balance all night.
• Aaron Judge's at-bats against Kremer — Judge is the engine, and if he gets going, the Yankees can win this game without a perfect performance from the rest of the lineup.
• Spencer Jones and George Lombard Jr. producing in the middle and bottom of the order — the Yankees need contributions beyond Judge to put up a crooked number.
• How New York's bullpen is positioned heading into this game — Warren's pitch count and effectiveness will determine how much work the relief corps needs to handle.
• Walker Jenkins for Minnesota — the young center fielder is worth monitoring as a potential difference-maker the Yankees cannot underestimate.

Prediction

This is a winnable game for New York if Warren can give the Yankees five or six quality innings and keep the Twins from getting into the bullpen early. Judge is the X-factor, as always — get him going in a key spot and the lineup has a way of feeding off that energy. Minnesota at home is never a pushover, and Kremer is capable of a strong outing. But with the Yankees' lineup depth and Judge in the middle of it, New York has the edge. Yankees 5, Twins 3.