The Minnesota Twins faced a heartbreaking loss at Progressive Field, squandering a three-run advantage to fall 4-3 to the Cleveland Guardians. The defeat marked their 18th loss in the last 27 games, an alarming trend that has jeopardized their playoff prospects.
Griffin Jax was on the mound when calamity struck, serving up a two-run homer to Kyle Manzardo in the bottom of the eighth, which ultimately sealed the Twins' fate. Jax voiced the collective frustration of the team, stating, "It's pretty heartbreaking. We're kind of running on fumes as a staff."
Currently clinging to the third AL wild-card spot, the Twins' lead has been whittled down to just 1 1/2 games. "Our margin of error keeps shrinking and shrinking," remarked Pablo López. "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."
Earlier in the season, analytics from FanGraphs had pegged the Twins' postseason odds at a promising 95.4%. However, as of September 5, those odds have dwindled to 76.4%, a testament to their recent slump. The team has struggled offensively, failing to score more than three runs in 12 of their last 27 games—a point supported by their .236 batting average, .296 on-base percentage, and .381 slugging percentage during this dismal stretch.
Head coach Rocco Baldelli emphasized the need for a comprehensive team effort. "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," Baldelli said. "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."
Struggles with Situational Hitting and Bullpen Woes
The Twins' struggles extend to their situational hitting. When the bases are empty, they have managed a mere .272 batting average, placing them among the bottom four in this category. Despite their offensive woes, some assistance may be on the horizon with the expected return of Max Kepler, who could provide much-needed firepower.
The bullpen has not been immune to the team's downturn. After maintaining a respectable 3.84 ERA and ranking tenth in the league for win probability added (plus-3.41) over their first 123 games, the bullpen's performance has nosedived. Over the recent 27-game span, their ERA has ballooned to 5.47, and their win probability added has plummeted to a league-worst minus-2.75.
Adding to the bullpen's challenges is the rotation's recent performance. Over the last 27 games, the rotation has posted a 6.07 ERA while averaging only 4.38 innings per start. This lack of depth has forced the bullpen into extended duty, further exacerbating their struggles.
Roster Moves and Light at the End of the Tunnel
In an effort to bolster their pitching staff, the Twins recently claimed left-hander Cole Irvin off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles. Irvin, who had a 4.86 ERA in 16 starts and nine relief appearances, was described by Derek Falvey 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."
Despite these challenges, the Twins possess crucial tiebreakers over the Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners, both of whom are two games behind in the standings. The Tigers, in particular, have been on a tear, going 23-10 in their last 33 games. Baldelli's squad must find a way to halt their slide and capitalize on these tiebreakers to secure their playoff berth.
In a glimmer of hope, Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa have shown signs of life, combining to go 5 for 15 with two doubles and a homer this month. If the Twins are to emerge from their slump, they will need these key players to continue stepping up.
The Twins have endured a grueling schedule, playing 17 games in the last 18 days. As fatigue sets in, finding a way to muster strength and focus becomes paramount. For now, the team must heed Baldelli's advice and aim to "put nine innings together" in every game as they navigate the final stretch of the regular season.