Twins Falter Again, Dropping Crucial Game to Guardians
At Progressive Field, the Minnesota Twins experienced yet another heart-wrenching loss, collapsing from a three-run lead to fall 4-3 against the Cleveland Guardians. Griffin Jax, who was on the mound in the bottom of the eighth inning, surrendered a critical two-run homer to Kyle Manzardo, ultimately sealing the Twins' fate.
This defeat is part of a worrying trend for the Twins, who have now lost 18 of their last 27 games. The downturn has tightened their grip on the third AL wild-card spot, reducing their lead to a mere 1 1/2 games. Their postseason odds, which once stood at a robust 95.4% according to FanGraphs as of September 5, have now dwindled to 76.4%.
"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," said pitcher Pablo López, encapsulating the mounting pressure the team is facing.
Offensive Struggles and Bullpen Troubles
The Twins' offensive struggles were on full display during this dismal stretch, failing to score more than three runs in 12 of their last 27 games. During this period, the team is batting only .236, with an on-base percentage of .296 and a slugging percentage of .381. When the bases are empty, their hitting drops further to .272, placing them among the worst in the league in these situations.
Manager Rocco Baldelli didn't mince words about the team's performance: "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."
The bullpen, initially a strong point with an ERA of 3.84 and ranked tenth in win probability added (plus-3.41) during the first 123 games, has faltered significantly. Over the recent 27-game stretch, the bullpen's ERA ballooned to 5.47, earning them a league-worst minus-2.75 win probability added. Griffin Jax reflected the team's emotional state: "It's pretty heartbreaking. We're kind of running on fumes as a staff."
The starters haven't fared much better, struggling with a collective 6.07 ERA and averaging only 4.38 innings per start during this difficult period. The Twins had leads in the seventh inning or later in five of their last 18 losses and were tied in the seventh inning or later on two other occasions, underscoring their struggles to close out games.
Roster Moves and Player Updates
In a bid to bolster their pitching options, the Twins recently claimed lefty Cole Irvin off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles. Irvin has had a middling season, posting a 4.86 ERA in 16 starts and nine relief appearances. Derek Falvey, the Twins' President of Baseball Operations, explained the move: "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."
On a more positive note, Max Kepler is expected to return to the lineup soon, potentially providing a much-needed spark to the team's offense. Additionally, Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa have shown signs of life, going a combined 5 for 15 with two doubles and a homer this month.
A Tight Race
The tightening standings add an extra layer of urgency to the Twins' predicament. The Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners are both just two games behind, keeping the pressure on as the season winds down. The Twins do hold crucial tiebreakers over both teams, a small but potentially significant advantage.
The Tigers have been particularly formidable of late, going 23-10 in their last 33 games. This recent surge has only intensified the competition for the playoff spots.
With 17 games played in the last 18 days, the Twins are not only facing tactical challenges but also dealing with physical fatigue. "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," Baldelli said, emphasizing the need for a collective effort to turn things around.
As the season approaches its climax, the Twins must address their myriad issues—both on offense and in the bullpen—if they hope to maintain their tenuous hold on a postseason berth. The road ahead is fraught with challenges, but this team’s resilience will be tested in the days to come.