At Progressive Field, the Minnesota Twins' struggles continue as they blew a three-run lead to fall 4-3 against the Cleveland Guardians. Griffin Jax was the unfortunate pitcher, surrendering a game-winning two-run homer to Kyle Manzardo in the bottom of the eighth inning.
This latest loss marks another notch in a troubling pattern for the Twins. Over their last 27 games, they have suffered 18 losses, a slide that has reduced their lead for the third AL wild-card spot to just 1 1/2 games. Not long ago, FanGraphs had their postseason odds pegged at 95.4%, but as of recent counts, those odds have dwindled to 76.4%. Concern is mounting within the organization.
Offensive Woes and Struggles
The Twins' batting woes have been glaring. In 12 of their last 27 games, they've failed to score more than three runs. Collectively, they are hitting a subpar .236 with a .296 on-base percentage and a .381 slugging percentage. Strangely, when the bases are empty, they fare even worse, hitting just .272, placing them among the worst in the league in this scenario.
"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 manager Rocco Baldelli. His frustration is evident, and the need for improvement is clear.
In a minor positive note, Max Kepler is expected to return soon, which might provide the much-needed boost to the struggling offense.
Pitching - A Tale of Two Narratives
Starting pitching has also been a weak spot. Over the last 27 games, the rotation has posted a dismal 6.07 ERA and has averaged just 4.38 innings per start. The bullpen, initially a strength with a 3.84 ERA in the first 123 games, has faltered significantly in recent weeks, with their ERA ballooning to 5.47 and having the worst win probability added in the league at minus-2.75.
"It's pretty heartbreaking. We're kind of running on fumes as a staff," admitted Griffin Jax, who has been among those struggling recently.
The Twins have 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. This points to not only issues in closing out games but suggests a tired and overextended bullpen. The team has played 17 games in the last 18 days, putting extra strain on their pitchers.
Recent Moves and Hopeful Signs
Looking for immediate reinforcements, the Twins recently claimed lefty Cole Irvin off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles. With a 4.86 ERA in 16 starts and nine relief appearances, Irvin might provide some stability and flexibility either as a starter or a long reliever.
"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," said Derek Falvey.
The Twins also hold crucial tiebreakers over the Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners, both of whom are two games behind the Twins in the standings. The Tigers have been on an impressive surge, going 23-10 in their last 33 games, which places further pressure on the Twins to hold onto their playoff position.
Cautious Optimism Amidst Challenges
Amidst the turmoil, there are small glimpses of hope. The combination of Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa has shown signs of heating up, being 5 for 15 with two doubles and a homer this month.
Nevertheless, the team's current form leaves much to be desired. As Baldelli poignantly stated, "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." The message is clear: It's now or never for the Twins if they hope to secure their postseason aspirations.