After a rough start and a bad start to this week, the Minnesota Twins still find themselves tied for second place in the American League (AL) Central Division with the Cleveland Guardians. They are six back of the Detroit Tigers, who, at 37-20, hold the best record in all of Major League Baseball (MLB). And while it will be hard for any of their division rivals to corral the runaway Tigers, the Twins have put themselves in a strong position to compete for the first wild card spot.

However, Minnesota has taken a rather lopsided approach to baseball success. While their pitching staff, save for a rocky start from some of their staff, has been as good as advertised, their offense has struggled. Due to injuries and some lackluster performances, the team ranks near the bottom in several key statistical areas. And their best hitter remains on the injured list in concussion protocol.

Twins Pitching Success

Coming into this season, the expectation was that the Twins’ pitching, from top to bottom, would be a team strength. Save for some rough outings from starter Chris Paddack and reliever Griffin Jax in April, Minnesota’s pitchers have held up their end of the bargain. Statistically, they rank seventh in ERA (3.29), tied for third in Whip (1.16), eighth in strikeouts (487), and lead all of MLB for the fewest walks allowed (133).

The Twins’ starting pitching has been outstanding all season. Joe Ryan leads the way with a record of 5-2, 72 strikeouts in 63 innings, an ERA of 2.57, and his WHIP is a minuscule 0.83. Pablo Lopez follows close behind with a 4-3 record while fanning 57 hitters in 55.2 innings and posting a 2.75 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP.

Bailey Ober is 4-1 with a 1.33 WHIP. And Paddack has rebounded nicely lowering his WHIP to 1.20. Only Simeon Woods Richardson has faltered and was optioned to the Triple-A St. Paul Saints on May 15 with a 5.02 ERA and 1.54 WHIP.

And Minnesota’s bullpen has had success closing out many low-scoring games this season. Despite a lack of early save opportunities, closer Jhoan Duran’s ERA is 1.07, along with a WHIP of 1.11. And his +100-mph fastball has returned leading to 30 strikeouts in 25.1 innings pitched.

Jax has recovered nicely and has struck out 41 batters in 24.2 innings. Louis Varland has become a reliable late-inning option with 27 strikeouts in 25.1 innings and a puny 0.99 WHIP. Cole Sands has not walked a batter since May 1. And lefty Danny Coulombe has been an excellent addition. He has not surrendered an earned run all season and he leads the Twins with 0.60 WHIP.

Hitting Woes

However, Minnesota’s hitting production has been another story. They rank 23rd in runs scored (216) and 23rd in RBI (206). and their team slash line is an embarrassing .236/.305/.375. Their best hitter, Byron Buxton, is still on the injured list after a collision with shortstop Carlos Correa on May 15. Correa just returned to the Twins lineup last week and has been inconsistent at the plate. Fan favorite Royce Lewis is mired in a 0-24 slump, and he has not resembled the dynamic player that he is capable of being all season.

But some unfamiliar names have stepped up to partially fill the gap. Free agent outfielder Harrison Bader has been a key contributor all season, clobbering five home runs while driving in 21 and playing outstanding defense in left and center field. Trevor Larnach continues his improvement as an everyday starter and is second on the team to Buxton with seven round-trippers.

First basemen Ty France has delivered in the clutch since the start of the 2025 campaign and leads the Twins with 30 RBI. And the biggest surprise, journeyman Kody Clemens has thrilled the hometown fans hitting .304 with five homers and 12 runs driven in.

Continued Path to Success

For the Twins to stay on their playoff path, their pitching staff must continue to excel until the end of the season. The bullpen is pretty established, but settling on a fifth starter, whether it be David Festa or Zebby Matthews, will be essential if they make a run at the Tigers.

And their “Big Gun” hitters have to step up and deliver. Manager Rocco Baldelli and the Minnesota training staff have to find a way to keep Buxton healthy and in the lineup. Correa must display the consistency at the plate that has alluded him so far. And Lewis has to pull himself out of the worst slump of his career to once again become the sparkplug that electrifies this team.