At Progressive Field, the Minnesota Twins faced a crushing defeat, squandering a three-run lead to lose 4-3 to the Cleveland Guardians. This loss is just the latest setback in a troubling stretch that has seen the team drop 18 of their last 27 games. Griffin Jax's surrender of a game-winning two-run homer to Kyle Manzardo in the bottom of the eighth inning epitomizes the recent woes of the beleaguered bullpen.
In the last 27 games, the Twins’ offensive struggles have been glaring. They've failed to score more than three runs in 12 of those contests, batting a mere .236 with a .296 on-base percentage and a .381 slugging percentage. One glaring issue lies in their performance when the bases are empty, where they hold a .272 batting average, making them the fourth worst in the league in this scenario.
Postseason Hopes & Tiebreakers
Currently clinging to the third AL wild-card spot, the Twins have seen their lead diminished to a precarious 1 1/2 games. As of September 5, FanGraphs pegged their postseason odds at 95.4%, but those odds have now dwindled to 76.4%. The Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners are hot on their heels, just two games behind in the standings. Fortunately, the Twins hold crucial tiebreakers over both teams, which could be pivotal as the season concludes.
Pitching Problems
The once-reliable Twins bullpen has faltered dramatically, posting a 5.47 ERA and a league-worst minus-2.75 win probability added over the last 27 games. This is a stark contrast to their performance over their first 123 games, where they boasted a 3.84 ERA and ranked tenth in the league in win probability added at plus-3.41. The rotation hasn't fared much better, with a 6.07 ERA and an average of just 4.38 innings per start during this stretch.
"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," said Pablo López. "Today will be a tough pill to swallow."
Offensive Inconsistencies
The offensive struggles have been equally detrimental. Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa combined for a 5 for 15 performance with two doubles and a homer this month. Manager Rocco Baldelli emphasized the need for a complete game effort, saying, "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."
Key Injuries and Fatigue
The Twins' roster has had its share of challenges, including significant fatigue from playing 17 games in the last 18 days. Griffin Jax highlighted the physical toll on the team, noting, "It's pretty heartbreaking. We're kind of running on fumes as a staff."
Max Kepler's return is eagerly anticipated, potentially providing a needed boost. Meanwhile, the recent acquisition of lefty Cole Irvin off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles could add some depth. Derek Falvey explained, "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."
Looking for Solutions
As the Twins seek to reverse their fortunes, Baldelli remains focused on finding consistency. "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," he remarked. Despite their recent setbacks, the Twins have had leads in the seventh inning or later in five of their last 18 losses and were tied in two others. This indicates that competitive performances have been there, but closing out games has been an issue.
As the season draws to a close, the Twins will need to rediscover their form quickly to secure their wildcard spot and make a postseason push. "We have to put nine innings together," Baldelli reiterated. It's a simple mantra that, if executed, could see the Twins through to October.