At Progressive Field, the Minnesota Twins faced a gut-wrenching defeat, collapsing from a three-run lead to fall 4-3 against the Cleveland Guardians. Griffin Jax surrendered a game-deciding two-run homer to Kyle Manzardo in the bottom of the eighth, pushing the Twins further into a downward spiral that has seen them lose 18 of their last 27 games.
Pablo López captured the team's current plight with stark honesty: "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."
As of September 5, FanGraphs listed the Twins' postseason odds at a reassuring 95.4 percent. However, that figure has dwindled to 76.4 percent, reflecting their recent struggles. Despite clinging to the third AL wild-card spot, their lead has been reduced to a narrow 1 ½ games, intensifying the pressure as the Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners, both just two games behind, wait in the wings. Luckily, the Twins hold crucial tiebreakers over these contenders.
Offensive Woes Persist
The Twins’ offensive inconsistency has raised alarms, failing to score more than three runs in 12 of their last 27 games. During this challenging stretch, they've managed a paltry .236 batting average, a .296 on-base percentage, and a .381 slugging percentage. When the bases are empty, their batting average drops to .272, placing them as the fourth 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," emphasized Rocco Baldelli, voicing the sentiment resonating throughout the dugout.
Bullpen and Rotation Struggles
The pitching staff has not been spared from criticism. Initially, the bullpen showed promise with a 3.84 ERA and a ranking of tenth in the league in win probability added (plus-3.41) during the first 123 games. However, in the past 27 games, the bullpen's ERA has ballooned to 5.47, earning them a league-worst minus-2.75 win probability added during this span. Griffin Jax lamented the team’s current status: "It's pretty heartbreaking. We're kind of running on fumes as a staff."
This sentiment is corroborated by the rotation's recent performance, posting a 6.07 ERA and averaging just 4.38 innings per start over the same period. The Twins have had the lead in the seventh inning or later in five of their last 18 losses and were tied on two other occasions, pointing to late-game collapses as a recurring issue.
Roster Moves and Player Updates
In a recent move aimed at bolstering the team, the Twins claimed left-hander Cole Irvin off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles. Irvin, who posted a 4.86 ERA in 16 starts and nine relief appearances, is seen as a versatile addition. "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," explained Derek Falvey.
On the brighter side, Max Kepler is expected to return, providing a needed boost to the offense. Additionally, Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa have shown sparks of life, combining to go 5 for 15 with two doubles and a homer this month. However, consistency remains the key for a lineup still searching for its identity. "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," said Baldelli.
The grueling schedule has also taken a toll, with the Twins playing 17 games in the last 18 days. Fatigue is palpable among the players, compounding the challenges they face on the field.
As the Twins navigate this critical juncture of the season, the words of Lopez echo most strongly: "Our margin of error keeps shrinking and shrinking." Each game, inning, and at-bat carries amplified importance as they strive to stabilize and reclaim their early-season form. "We have to put nine innings together," Baldelli reiterated, underscoring the unified effort needed to right the ship and secure a postseason berth.