At Progressive Field, the Minnesota Twins experienced a disheartening defeat, giving up a three-run lead to ultimately fall 4-3 to the Cleveland Guardians. The pivotal moment came when Griffin Jax surrendered a game-winning two-run homer to Kyle Manzardo in the bottom of the eighth inning. This loss is another setback for a team that has struggled significantly in recent games.
The Twins' recent performance has been dismal, losing 18 of their last 27 games. This worrying trend has seen their postseason odds, which FanGraphs had pegged at 95.4% as of September 5, dwindle to 76.4%. The team currently holds onto the third AL wild-card spot by a razor-thin margin of just 1 1/2 games.
Troubled Offense
One of the key issues plaguing the Twins is their inconsistent offense. In 12 of their last 27 games, the team failed to score more than three runs. During this stretch, they have posted a .236 batting average, a .296 on-base percentage, and a .381 slugging percentage. Particularly troubling is their performance with the bases empty, where they're hitting just .272, ranking them as the fourth worst 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, encapsulating the frustration that has permeated the team. His sentiments were echoed by pitcher Griffin Jax, who lamented, "It's pretty heartbreaking. We're kind of running on fumes as a staff."
Struggles in the Bullpen
The bullpen, which maintained a 3.84 ERA and was ranked tenth in the league in win probability added (plus-3.41) over the first 123 games, has seen a steep decline. In the last 27-game period, the bullpen's ERA has ballooned to 5.47 while posting a league-worst minus-2.75 win probability added. Baldelli highlighted the need for a complete game effort, stating, "We have to put nine innings together."
Despite these struggles, there is some hope on the horizon. Max Kepler is expected to return soon, adding a much-needed boost to the offense. Additionally, the team recently claimed lefty Cole Irvin off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles. Irvin brings a 4.86 ERA from his 16 starts and nine relief appearances this season. Twins President of Baseball Operations Derek Falvey commented on Irvin's potential impact, saying, "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."
Rotation and Fatigue
The rest of the rotation has also been problematic, posting a 6.07 ERA during this rough patch and averaging only 4.38 innings per start. The Twins have played 17 games in the last 18 days, adding physical and mental fatigue to their list of challenges. "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.
Looking Ahead
The Twins face stiff competition in the standings with the Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners just two games behind. However, the Twins hold crucial tiebreakers over both the Tigers and Mariners. The Tigers, in particular, have been on a hot streak, going 23-10 in their last 33 games. Despite the recent struggles, there have been individual bright spots; Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa have combined to go 5 for 15 with two doubles and a homer this month.
"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 remarked, emphasizing the need for the team to rediscover its identity and play consistent baseball. The Twins had the lead 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, underlining their potential to win despite recent setbacks.
The coming days will be crucial for the Twins as they fight to maintain their playoff position. With key players returning, the infusion of new talent, and a hopeful shift in momentum, there's a cautious optimism surrounding the team. But as López aptly put it, it’s now about taking it "one day at a time, one pitch at a time, one at-bat at a time."