At Progressive Field last night, the Minnesota Twins experienced yet another disheartening defeat, succumbed to the Cleveland Guardians 4-3 after blowing a three-run lead. This loss was cemented by a game-winning two-run homer by Kyle Manzardo off Griffin Jax in the bottom of the eighth inning. Such losses have become an all-too-familiar tale for the Twins.
The Twins' recent form has been nothing short of frustrating for their fans and team alike. They have lost 18 out of their last 27 games, a period that has seen their postseason odds on FanGraphs drop significantly from 95.4% to a more precarious 76.4%. Despite currently holding onto the third AL wild-card spot, their lead is thinning, now standing at a mere 1.5 games.
Pablo López, expressing the sentiment of the players, remarked, "Our margin of error keeps shrinking and shrinking. Now it's to the point where you've got to take it one day at a time, one pitch at a time, one at-bat at a time. Today will be a tough pill to swallow."
Offensive Struggles
The Twins' batting woes are glaringly evident. In 12 of their last 27 games, they have failed to score more than three runs. Over this span, they’ve hit .236, with a .296 on-base percentage and a .381 slugging percentage. Their inefficiency is underscored when bases are empty, as they hit just .272, placing them among the league's worst in this scenario.
Rocco Baldelli has been candid about the team's offensive inconsistencies. "If we're able to do what we need to do on the offensive end, we win, but we did not. We have to do better and we have to put nine innings together," said Baldelli. "We have to find ourselves as a team. We've been looking over the last month as far as who we are and how we're going to do this."
Pitching Woes and Bullpen Disintegration
The troubles aren't confined to the batting. The Twins' bullpen, once reliable with a 3.84 ERA and ranking tenth in win probability added (plus-3.41) over the first 123 games, has crumbled in the recent 27-game stretch, sporting a 5.47 ERA and a league-worst minus-2.75 win probability added. Griffin Jax summed up the frustrations of the pitching staff by saying, "It's pretty heartbreaking. We're kind of running on fumes as a staff."
Furthermore, the rest of the rotation hasn’t fared much better, posting a 6.07 ERA during the same period while averaging just 4.38 innings per start. To address these woes, the Twins recently made a move to bolster their roster by claiming lefty Cole Irvin off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles. Irvin, who had a 4.86 ERA in 16 starts and nine relief appearances, brings versatility that could be crucial down the stretch.
Fatigue and Resilience
Adding to their struggles is the grueling schedule the Twins have faced, competing in 17 games over the last 18 days. Despite this, they have shown resilience, having held the lead in the seventh inning or later in five of their last 18 losses, and being tied in the seventh inning or later in two other instances. The team’s determination to fight until the end remains evident.
Derek Falvey, discussing the addition of Cole Irvin, noted, "We were thinking, how do we lengthen out what we already have? He could be your prototypical swingman who can pitch out of the bullpen. We don't have a left-handed starter in the mix right now either. He just adds another guy that we think can help."
Postseason Battle
The Minnesota Twins find themselves in a precarious position, with both the Detroit Tigers and the Seattle Mariners nipping at their heels, just two games behind in the standings. However, the Twins hold crucial tiebreakers over both teams, providing a slight buffer in their fight to secure a postseason spot. The Tigers, on a strong run with a 23-10 record in their last 33 games, pose a significant threat.
While the Twins await the return of Max Kepler, both Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa have shown encouraging signs this month; they have collectively gone 5 for 15 with two doubles and a homer.
The Minnesota Twins’ road to the playoffs is fraught with challenges. With mounting losses, struggling pitching, and inconsistent batting, every game becomes increasingly crucial. As Griffin Jax aptly put it, "We have to put nine innings together." The team's resilience and ability to "find themselves", as Baldelli emphasized, will be pivotal in determining whether they can secure their place in the postseason.