Week in Review: Reinforcements In, Margins Thin

[Nick Nelson]

Image courtesy of Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

The Weekly Nutshell:
The Twins embarked on a lengthy road trip, which started on the southern Atlantic coast and then brought them to the northern Pacific. They dropped both of their series two-to-one, in Tampa and Seattle, but that doesn't necessarily tell the whole story – these were hard-fought games in which Minnesota displayed plenty of the tenacity and resiliency that were disturbingly amiss throughout the early part of the schedule.

It was another week where the pitching shined but the unsteady offense sabotaged some strong efforts, scoring seven runs across 38 innings in four losses. Even with key reinforcements returning and a few laggards starting to step it up, the Twins lineup remains a glaring deficiency standing in the way of a sustainable run of success. It's a problem, but we shouldn't let it take away from all the positives seen during this eventful week on the road.

Weekly Snapshot: Mon, 5/26 through Sun, 6/1
***
Record Last Week: 2-4 (Overall: 31-27)
Run Differential Last Week: -4 (Overall: +30)
Standing: 3rd Place in AL Central (7.0 GB) 

Last Week's Game Results:

Game 53 | TB 7, MIN 2: Bats Come Up Empty Again, Funderburk Flops Late

• Offense: 5 H, 1 XBH

Game 54 | MIN 4, TB 2: Ryan and Relievers Stifle Rays, Lineup Gets It Done

• Correa: 3-4, double

Game 55 | TB 5, MIN 0: Offense Melts Down Again in Swampy Florida Heat

• Offense: 0 XBH, 0-8 RISP

Game 56 | MIN 12, SEA 6 (10): Epic Comeback in 9th Sets Up Explosion in Extras

• Larnach: 4-6, 4 RBI; Castro: 2 HR

Game 57 | SEA 5, MIN 4 (11): Another Comeback Attempt Falls Short in 11th Inning

• Castro: 3-4, SB

Game 58 | SEA 2, MIN 1: Castillo and Mariners Outduel Paddack to Take Tight Series

• Paddack: 8 IP, 1 ER, 10 K

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NEWS & NOTES

Carson McCusker made only six plate appearances during his 11 days with the Twins, striking out in four of them, before being optioned on Thursday to set up the return of Byron Buxton on Friday from the concussion injured list, where he ended up spending two weeks. McCusker didn't get much of an opportunity during his short time in the majors, reflecting the team's lack of faith in him despite the gaudy Triple-A numbers. 

On Saturday, Matt Wallner followed Buxton in being activated from the IL, where he spent significantly more time due to a hamstring strain suffered in mid-April. Wallner obliterated Triple-A pitching while rehabbing with the Saints, leaving no doubt as to his readiness. DaShawn Keirsey Jr. was optioned as a corresponding move.

Replacing two fringe (at best) major-league players in McCusker and Keirsey Jr. with arguably the team's two best hitters is a roster upgrade of immense proportions. Neither of the returning outfielders wasted any time in making their presence and impact felt. On Friday night Buxton singled, stole second and scored the tying run with two outs in the ninth. On Saturday, Wallner gave Minnesota a 2-0 lead with a home run on his first swing of the bat.

 

HIGHLIGHTS

Friday night's win over the Mariners was the clear highlight of the week and probably the highlight of the season so far. It was the type of magical, unyielding, against-all-odds comeback that sticks in your mind for months if not years – the kind of showing that will make you (as a fan or player) feel for the rest of the season like you're never out of a game, and no deficit is unsurmountable. 

Down 4-0 before most fans even found their seats, the Twins scratched and clawed over the course of the game but found themselves down 6-3 entering the ninth, with closer extraordinaire Andrés Muñoz summoned to close it out. Coming into this appearance, Muñoz was 17-for-19 on save attempts. He had not allowed an earned run, or even an extra-base hit, all season. Staring at infinitesimal odds of victory, Minnesota faced the tallest of tasks, especially once they quickly found themselves down to their last out. Then it happened.

Willi Castro clubbed a two-run homer, his second of the game, to draw the Twins back within a run. That one-run deficit still loomed large with the bases empty and two down. Up came Buxton, who pulled an 0-1 pitch between short and third for a single. Then Buxton stole second with ease. Trevor Larnach followed with a clutch game-tying single to center field, his fourth knock of the night, scoring the speedy Buxton to tie the game before a stunned crowd of Mariners fans.

Jhoan Durán pitched a clean bottom of the ninth to send the game to extras, and that's where Minnesota's offense really went to work. Carlos Correa ripped a two-run homer, putting the Twins up 8-6, and later in the inning Buxton and Larnach both struck again with two-run hits to turn a surefire loss into an unthinkable blowout victory.

 

The emphatic returns of Buxton and Wallner were definitely a big boost for an offense that is still searching for a consistent heartbeat. Just as helpful, though, are the signs of awakening from other key bats that have been dormant in the first two months of the season. 

Correa is at the head of that list. He went 7-for-22 with two homers and two doubles and is slugging .667 in nine games since coming off the concussion IL. The power-hitting capability that was completely amiss for Correa in the early going has finally materialized, and that's a potentially huge development for the lineup.

 

Another one is Castro starting to provide a spark. The 2024 All-Star was below replacement level through the first third of this season, but was a key contributor over the past week with seven hits in 21 at-bats. Castro's two home runs on Friday were critical in fueling the comeback victory, and matched his total from his first 35 games. 

On the rotation front, the Twins got a strong performance from Joe Ryan (6 IP, 1 ER) and exceptional work in two starts from Chris Paddack (13.2 IP, 3 ER). The team also seemingly saw a bit of a breakthrough from Zebby Matthews. He had a nightmarish beginning to his start against the Mariners on Friday, allowing four runs on two homers before getting the second out of the game, but he recovered to pitch through seven innings – a career high – with just two hits and a walk allowed the rest of the way, striking out seven. Zebby's gutsy effort saved the bullpen from heavy work and enabled a late comeback. It was a big "I belong" moment.

A shout-out is also due to Durán, who bounced back from a somewhat rocky week to deliver three clean innings, all in very high leverage. He picked up a save (his ninth) and a win (his fourth) while lowering his ERA to 0.99 on the season. If he keeps getting these results Durán seems like a lock to make his first All-Star team.

LOWLIGHTS

Two hitters who are NOT finding their stride at the plate: Royce Lewis and Brooks Lee. Both are doing much to limit the lineup's effectiveness.

In Lewis's case, we know what an X-factor he can be, for better or worse. We've seen him turn into a one-man wrecking crew at times, carrying the offense with his stellar slugging prowess. Any semblance of that form would be such a massive difference-maker for the Twins. But we haven't seen any semblance of it for a very long time. Lewis was 0-for-13 last week, extending his latest hitless streak to 30 at-bats. The futility is simply astonishing to behold from a player for whom success always seemed to come so easily.

On Sunday, for the first time since he was a rookie back in 2022, Lewis found himself batting ninth in the starting lineup, and it was well deserved – his OPS has dropped below 400. The Twins have been demonstrating patience and giving him time, but nothing is clicking for the embattled third baseman. He avoided a minor-league demotion this past week, but that course of action has to be on the table at this rate. He'd be in greater danger if someone like Edouard Julien or José Miranda were showing any signs of life in Triple-A, but that's not the case. 

Meanwhile, Lee presents an interesting situation. Unlike Lewis, he hasn't really given us any reason thus far to believe he can be an impact hitter in the majors, yet Rocco Baldelli is expressing a very high level of confidence in the switch-hitting 24-year-old nevertheless. When the Twins ran out their first "full strength" lineup of the season on Saturday night, with both Buxton and Wallner included, Lee was batting third despite a .625 OPS that dropped to .613 after he went 1-for-6 with a single. His production as a big-leaguer has barely outpaced Christian Vázquez in the same time span.

From my view, it's tough to see much offensive upside in Lee right now unless he can start hitting the ball with more authority, which he has shown no signs of doing. He's not disciplined or patient, and he is extremely slow-footed. I'm not exactly sure what it is that has Rocco so enamored other than Lee's ability to take good ABs and put the ball in play. At the bottom of the order that's fine from a glove-first middle infielder, but there isn't much reason for Lee to be hitting in prime lineup spots at this time.

Pitching-wise, things are good but not perfect. While the top arms in the Twins bullpen are excelling, the soft underbelly has proven susceptible to getting sliced open. Usage of Kody Funderburk has become a bit of a white-flag signal; he allowed five earned runs over just 1 ⅔ innings in two appearances, putting a close game out of reach on Monday in Tampa by allowing four runs on six hits while recording only two outs.

Jorge Alcalá also has not done much to merit pitching in high leverage, but Baldelli had little choice on Saturday when Bailey Ober's four-inning start forced the Twins to turn to the bullpen early. Alcalá came on in the seventh with a 3-2 lead and surrendered a two-run homer that put Seattle on top. The right-hander has shown improvement of late, with just one run allowed in his previous six appearances, but this is the kind of outing that makes it hard to trust in him.

The Twins are feeling the absence of Danny Coulombe in the bullpen. He's now eligible to return from the IL, but there's been no indication that's imminent.

TRENDING STORYLINE

How much longer does Royce Lewis have? Right now the decision in front of the Twins is less about trying to optimize their lineup – which he's doing plenty to hinder by making outs constantly – and more about trying to put the skids on a spiral that threatens to derail his promising career. To see Lewis bat ninth in the lineup on Sunday, and then get pinch-hit for by Brooks Lee after two at-bats, is a very telling sign of the team's current view on the former centerpiece star.

What's the best plan going forward? I wouldn't claim to know. As mentioned, no one in Triple-A is exactly knocking the door down for a call-up, unless you wanna give Mickey Gasper another go. But again: at this point it's less about improving the lineup and more about finding a way to halt Lewis's descent from unstoppable to unusable; from captain clutch to cautionary tale. Right now the 25-year-old's play doesn't inspire any confidence nor do his "I'm at a point where the hope is gone" comments.

In one sense, the idea of sending Lewis to the minor leagues seems absurd, given all he's accomplished. In another sense, the idea of continuing to run him out in a major-league starting lineup when he looks like this day after day seems even more so. I don't know what the answer is but the status quo is looking increasingly unacceptable.

LOOKING AHEAD

After opening the past week by playing in a minor-league ballpark, the Twins will do so again when they travel to Sacramento for a four-game series against the Athletics. It's theoretically a very favorable matchup against an A's club that's been free-falling here in May, with 16 losses in their past 17 games, but we just saw first-hand how playing in these unorthodox venues can throw a wrench in the works.

From there, the Twins return home from their 10-game road trip without a break, kicking off a weekend series against the Blue Jays at Target Field on Friday. 

MONDAY, JUNE 2: TWINS @ ATHLETICS — RHP Joe Ryan v. RHP Luis Severino
TUESDAY, JUNE 3: TWINS @ ATHLETICS — RHP Pablo Lopez v. LHP Jacob Lopez
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4: TWINS @ ATHLETICS — RHP Zebby Matthews v. LHP Jeffrey Springs
THURSDAY, JUNE 5: TWINS @ ATHLETICS — RHP Bailey Ober v. RHP Gunnar Hoglund
FRIDAY, JUNE 6: BLUE JAYS @ TWINS — RHP Kevin Gausman v. RHP Chris Paddack
SATURDAY, JUNE 7: BLUE JAYS @ TWINS — TBD v. RHP Joe Ryan
SUNDAY, JUNE 8: BLUE JAYS @ TWINS — RHP Jose Berrios v. RHP Pablo Lopez

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[Vanimal46]

It’s time to end the Alcala experience

[FlyingFinn]

If we are pinch hitting for Lewis because he can't hit, why is he playing? Why is not in St. Paul? I think he'll be good again but he needs a reset in the minors.

[thelanges5]

I’m not as optimistic as Mr Nelson. Offense continues to waste solid pitching performances and have hit like this since last August. A few flashes but nothing consistent. 

[tony&rodney]

 

Nick does a good job of highlighting the current debacles that are Brooks Lee and Royce Lewis. Lee is so sluggish, impatient, and often swing off of his front foot but he is still adequate on defense. Lewis can only be judged as hurt. His speed, awkwardness, and reflexes cannot merely be so diminished due to psychological reasons. I don't believe he is fully healthy and his legs are compounding problems. Get him off his feet for two weeks minimum. Plan for a positive return after the All Star Game, which would allow for healing, a reset of his mechanics, and a full rehab stint at the minor league level.

The pitching has continued to be superb. The Twins need any offense they can find. I thought Gasper looked pretty overmatched at the MLB level but he could not do any worse than Lewis or Lee. Meanwhile the Twins are still looking decent when Buxton and Correa play. Gotta keep looking for bats.

[Parfigliano]

2 hours ago, FlyingFinn said:

If we are pinch hitting for Lewis because he can't hit, why is he playing? Why is not in St. Paul? I think he'll be good again but he needs a reset in the minors.

What evidence is there that he'll be good again?  He's been what he is now for approaching a year.

[Peter]

Tough past weekend-close series with Seattle that we should’ve won. But this will hopefully be bounce back week. Thinking 7-0 but more realistic 5-2. 

[Jeff K]

11 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

 

Nick does a good job of highlighting the current debacles that are Brooks Lee and Royce Lewis. Lee is so sluggish, impatient, and often swing off of his front foot but he is still adequate on defense. Lewis can only be judged as hurt. His speed, awkwardness, and reflexes cannot merely be so diminished due to psychological reasons. I don't believe he is fully healthy and his legs are compounding problems. Get him off his feet for two weeks minimum. Plan for a positive return after the All Star Game, which would allow for healing, a reset of his mechanics, and a full rehab stint at the minor league level.

The pitching has continued to be superb. The Twins need any offense they can find. I thought Gasper looked pretty overmatched at the MLB level but he could not do any worse than Lewis or Lee. Meanwhile the Twins are still looking decent when Buxton and Correa play. Gotta keep looking for bats.

I agree, I think a complete pause for Lee is better than sending him down.  And Gaspar as a PH or DH is a better option...of course, right now, any player is a better option than Lewis.  If Castro's quality week is indicative of his return to relevance, then he should stay in the infield and the Twins can call up an outfielder.  Sadly, I'm not sure anyone is ready at AAA.

[LambchoP]

With the team struggling on offense, some changes need to be made. I'd send Lewis down to AAA after a 7 day IL stint. Get him off his feet for a week, then try to get right in St Paul. Castro can handle third. Lee should only be hitting in the bottom of the lineup until he can get his bat going. Maybe it's time to give Gasper another chance. He looks like Babe Ruth when he gets consistent playing time in the minors. Pitching wise, Alcala and Funderburk need to go. They are nothing but a liability. Hopefully Coloumbe is back soon to replace Funderburk and someone like Adams or Macgaughen can take Alcala place.

[thelanges5]

5-7 since the winning streak ended. 
3.4 runs per game and that includes the 12 on Friday. Its only 2.9 runs per game with Friday removed. 

[DocBauer]

The biggest bummer of the road trip so far was the 2nd Seattle game. They came back, and had the M's on the ropes in extra innings and ket the game slip away. That was worse than the Alcala 2 run HR as the Twins still had time to rally down by 1 run and did.

If Alcala could turn the "consistency" nob up even 1 more notch he could be really useful as the 7th or 8th man. And as Nick pointed out, he had been quite good in his previous 5-6 appearances. His ERA is skewed by a few bad performances as he hasn't been that bad all season. If the Twins tried to DFA him, he'd be snapped up in a second by someone. And im just not sure who you'd call up to replace him right now with Tonkin out, (not everyone likes him i get that). Blewett is gone, and I don't know if anyone else is ready to take over that last spot that offers more upside. I think I'd stick with him a little longer before making a decision.

Having the ability to make good contact and spray the ball around the way Lee does is a good basis for future production. I agree with @tony&rodneythat he seems to hit off his front foot at times. He looks too hunched over the plate to me instead of being cocked and locked and ready to strike the ball hard. But again i say he should play daily as much as possible thr entire season. He's still growing as a hitter, definitely has upside, and has a good glove and solid instincts as a ballplayer. But he should be hitting at the bottom of the order right now, despite Rocco's faith in him.

I honestly didn't realize until today that Lewis is the only Twin to ever have a PAIR of 0-30+ hitless streaks in his career. He may not be the superman he appeared to be previously, but I have little doubt there's a solid bat still in there. If he's not actually hurt, I'd play him against the A's to see if some baseball fairy dust settles on him. And I'd probably bring him home for the homestand for some home cooking before I made a final decision. 

But if he doesn't appease whatever minor deity he's offended to get him off to this horrific start by then, he's got to have a re-set of some sort.

The problem is who comes up to replace him? Miranda and Julien have continued to mostly flounder. What we've seen of Gasper so far has been very unimpressive. And Keaschall is out for another month or so. I don't see someone like Schobel being added and jumping from AA, despite having an impressive season. Honestly...not because he continues to be an interesting story...but I'd bring McCusker back up and let him DH and play a little OF and see if he can walk in to a few doubles and a few bombs hitting near the bottom of the lineup. I ask yet again, what do you have to lose?

Lee can be the primary 3B, with Bride and Castro also seeing time there, and Clemens can cover 2B most days until/unless the magic suddenly disappears completely from his bat. Lee and Castro obviously can factor in at 2B as well.

It's frustrating, disappointing, even a bit scary that Vazquez is pretty much out hitting Royce at this time. Give him the A's series, bring him home, then make a decision. If he still looks lost, 7 days or rest and a re-set at AAA to regain confidence would seem the best course of action.

[tony&rodney]

11 hours ago, DocBauer said:

I'd bring McCusker back up and let him DH and play a little OF and see if he can walk in to a few doubles and a few bombs hitting near the bottom of the lineup. I ask yet again, what do you have to lose?

Lewis? Who knows.

The ship has sailed on McCusker. He sat when all of Buxton, Wallner, Bader, and Castro were out or too injured to play. The Twins don't have any use for him based on how he was treated in his time on the MLB roster. 

[RpR]

16 hours ago, DocBauer said:

The biggest bummer of the road trip so far was the 2nd Seattle game. They came back, and had the M's on the ropes in extra innings and ket the game slip away. That was worse than the Alcala 2 run HR as the Twins still had time to rally down by 1 run and did.

If Alcala could turn the "consistency" nob up even 1 more notch he could be really useful as the 7th or 8th man. And as Nick pointed out, he had been quite good in his previous 5-6 appearances. His ERA is skewed by a few bad performances as he hasn't been that bad all season. If the Twins tried to DFA him, he'd be snapped up in a second by someone. And im just not sure who you'd call up to replace him right now with Tonkin out, (not everyone likes him i get that). Blewett is gone, and I don't know if anyone else is ready to take over that last spot that offers more upside. I think I'd stick with him a little longer before making a decision.

Having the ability to make good contact and spray the ball around the way Lee does is a good basis for future production. I agree with @tony&rodneythat he seems to hit off his front foot at times. He looks too hunched over the plate to me instead of being cocked and locked and ready to strike the ball hard. But again i say he should play daily as much as possible thr entire season. He's still growing as a hitter, definitely has upside, and has a good glove and solid instincts as a ballplayer. But he should be hitting at the bottom of the order right now, despite Rocco's faith in him.

I honestly didn't realize until today that Lewis is the only Twin to ever have a PAIR of 0-30+ hitless streaks in his career. He may not be the superman he appeared to be previously, but I have little doubt there's a solid bat still in there. If he's not actually hurt, I'd play him against the A's to see if some baseball fairy dust settles on him. And I'd probably bring him home for the homestand for some home cooking before I made a final decision. 

But if he doesn't appease whatever minor deity he's offended to get him off to this horrific start by then, he's got to have a re-set of some sort.

The problem is who comes up to replace him? Miranda and Julien have continued to mostly flounder. What we've seen of Gasper so far has been very unimpressive. And Keaschall is out for another month or so. I don't see someone like Schobel being added and jumping from AA, despite having an impressive season. Honestly...not because he continues to be an interesting story...but I'd bring McCusker back up and let him DH and play a little OF and see if he can walk in to a few doubles and a few bombs hitting near the bottom of the lineup. I ask yet again, what do you have to lose?

Lee can be the primary 3B, with Bride and Castro also seeing time there, and Clemens can cover 2B most days until/unless the magic suddenly disappears completely from his bat. Lee and Castro obviously can factor in at 2B as well.

It's frustrating, disappointing, even a bit scary that Vazquez is pretty much out hitting Royce at this time. Give him the A's series, bring him home, then make a decision. If he still looks lost, 7 days or rest and a re-set at AAA to regain confidence would seem the best course of action.

Send him down, way down, for a looong time.

[DocBauer]

12 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

Lewis? Who knows.

The ship has sailed on McCusker. He sat when all of Buxton, Wallner, Bader, and Castro were out or too injured to play. The Twins don't have any use for him based on how he was treated in his time on the MLB roster. 

I don't agree with their opinion or usage of McCusker. I know they are a hell of a lot more informed than I ever will be. But being stubborn...my opinion...doesn't mean opportunities and opinions can't change. Unless they want to look at Gasper yet again, McCusker is the only other bat probably worthy of being brought up IF Lewis goes down. And I'll say again, what do you have to lose by letting him get an actual opportunity to play? He might be lousy. Odds say he wont be very good. But if he hit .200 but stroked 4 doubles and 3 HR just from the contact he DOES make, he'd be a bottom of the order asset that could prove better than what we've been seeing down there most games.

That's really all I'm saying. Sometimes you roll thr dice and take a chance and see if you get lucky. It wouldn't be the first that happened in recent history.