Twins Tidbit: The Lineup is Heating Up in June

[TwinsData]

After going 30-21 through April and May, the Twins have stalled in the standings in June despite a surging lineup. Which hitters have driven the increased production and which have taken a step back?

 

The above graph shows each hitter's June OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) compared to their OPS from April & May. A few notes:

• Team OPS in April & May: 0.684 ... team OPS in June: 0.720
• The biggest boost is Alex Kirilloff, whose newfound comfort in his wrist will change the Twins lineup for the better. The biggest June bust is Trevor Larnach, whose core injury surely played a part.
• The Twins have also gotten big improvements in June from Byron Buxton, Carlos Correa, and Jorge Polanco. It's clear that the top half of the Twins lineup will be a force to be reckoned with going forward.
• Is it time to start giving José Miranda a more regular role? With an 0.862 OPS, he outperformed both Gio Urshela and Gary Sánchez in June, two players whose positions (3B and DH respectively) Miranda could adequately fill.

If the Twins bullpen can find its feet, they should get back on track in July, because almost every part of this lineup is heating up.

 

 

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[wsnydes]

If this is the case, I hope it brings some consistency with it.  It's great to see the younger players blossoming, but young players aren't typically known for being consistent.

Simply being more consistent would likely help this team out quite a bit.

[Unwinder]

Kirilloff and Larnach are not allowed to be good at the same time.

[wsnydes]

50 minutes ago, Unwinder said:

Kirilloff and Larnach are not allowed to be good at the same time.

Is this a rule?  Because if it is, I don't like it!

[RpR]

If Larnach comes back as the double hitting monster he was between Kirilloff, Miranda and Larnach, some one may find himself trade bait for improved pitching.

[DocBauer]

3 hours ago, Unwinder said:

Kirilloff and Larnach are not allowed to be good at the same time.

Darkly humorous,  absolutely. Made me laugh to be sure. But equally sucks in reality. For the 2nd year Larnach has had an injury that is curtailing his development and his contributions to the lineup. Grrr.

I just don't want to re-examine the Urshela vs Miranda debate yet again. I really like so many things about Urshela and am kinda hoping there's room for him on the 2023 roster in some capacity. But it's very, very easy to so Kirilloff, Miranda, and Larnach in some 4-6 combination for 2023 and going forward. 

And yes, I left Kepler out of that group. As good as he has been at times, as good as he's been this year, seeming to really change his approach at the plate...hitting LHP again like he had done a few times previously in his career and may be growing as a hitter...I'm slotting him lower than the other LH bats of AK and Larnach FOR NOW. He could easily prove this year is not an aberration and jump in to the 4-6 discussion. It's all on him. But I'd be ecstatic if the others were so good, expected and projected good, that they would force him to be a tremendous bottom of the order AB with his great defense.

[verninski]

A stat graph like this that would show a pithing staff ups and downs would be scary! I don’t think pitching and hitting can be good at the same time or starting and relieving pitching either!

[RpR]

2 hours ago, DocBauer said:

Darkly humorous,  absolutely. Made me laugh to be sure. But equally sucks in reality. For the 2nd year Larnach has had an injury that is curtailing his development and his contributions to the lineup. Grrr.

I just don't want to re-examine the Urshela vs Miranda debate yet again. I really like so many things about Urshela and am kinda hoping there's room for him on the 2023 roster in some capacity. But it's very, very easy to so Kirilloff, Miranda, and Larnach in some 4-6 combination for 2023 and going forward. 

And yes, I left Kepler out of that group. As good as he has been at times, as good as he's been this year, seeming to really change his approach at the plate...hitting LHP again like he had done a few times previously in his career and may be growing as a hitter...I'm slotting him lower than the other LH bats of AK and Larnach FOR NOW. He could easily prove this year is not an aberration and jump in to the 4-6 discussion. It's all on him. But I'd be ecstatic if the others were so good, expected and projected good, that they would force him to be a tremendous bottom of the order AB with his great defense.

None has shown an inkling of equaling his fieldig skill, so he proably has no worries.

[Minny505]

Miranda and Arraez should be getting most of the 3B & DH starts going forward, with Arraez getting some 1B time as well. He's really good over there.

Miranda is terrible at 1B and I'd rather he be the "break glass in case of emergency" option.