In a heart-wrenching game at Progressive Field, the Minnesota Twins squandered a three-run lead to fall 4-3 to the Cleveland Guardians. The loss came down to a dramatic turn of events in the bottom of the eighth inning when Griffin Jax surrendered a game-winning two-run homer to Kyle Manzardo. This defeat marks another setback in a distressing period for the Twins, who have now lost 18 of their last 27 games.
The Twins find themselves clinging to the third AL wild-card spot, their lead now shaved to a thin 1.5 games. As recently as September 5, FanGraphs pegged their postseason odds at a robust 95.4%. However, a string of poor performances has seen these odds plummet to 76.4%, raising considerable concerns within the organization.
"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," lamented pitcher Pablo López after the game.
Offensive Struggles
Adding to their woes, the Twins have struggled to produce offensively. In 12 of their last 27 games, they have failed to score more than three runs. Their team batting average during this stressful stretch stands at a mere .236, with a .296 on-base percentage and a .381 slugging percentage. With the bases empty, the team is hitting just .272, placing them among the worst in the league in such scenarios.
"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," stated manager Rocco Baldelli, highlighting the pressing need for a consistent offensive performance.
Bullpen and Rotation Woes
The bullpen's performance, a crucial element of any successful team, has notably declined. In their first 123 games, the Twins' bullpen maintained a commendable 3.84 ERA and was ranked tenth in the league in win probability added (plus-3.41). However, in the recent 27-game period, they have posted an ERA of 5.47, with a league-worst minus-2.75 win probability added.
"It's pretty heartbreaking. We're kind of running on fumes as a staff," Jax candidly expressed, reflecting the unit's struggles and fatigue.
The rest of the rotation has not fared any better, managing a 6.07 ERA over the last 27 games and averaging just 4.38 innings per start. These numbers are troubling, especially during a critical phase of the season.
Injuries and New Additions
On the brighter side, Max Kepler is expected to return soon, offering a potential boost to the lineup. Additionally, the Twins have recently claimed lefty Cole Irvin off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles. Irvin had a 4.86 ERA in his 16 starts and nine relief appearances this season.
"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, shedding light on the strategic acquisition.
Race for the Playoffs
The race for the postseason is heating up with the Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners trailing the Twins by just two games. Importantly, the Twins hold crucial tiebreakers over both teams. However, the Tigers have been surging, going 23-10 in their last 33 games, putting additional pressure on the Twins.
"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 expressed, emphasizing the need for introspection and unity during this challenging stretch.
Notably, Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa have shown some spark, combining for 5 hits in 15 at-bats with two doubles and a homer this month. Yet, for the Twins to secure their playoff spot, they will need consistent contributions from every corner of their roster.