Week in Review: 'Better' vs. 'Good Enough'

[Cory Moen]

Image courtesy of © Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

 

Week in a Nutshell
Last week saw the Twins face a couple of AL Central opponents. A week after losing two of three to the White Sox in Chicago, they saw the Sox for another three games, this time at home. They then welcomed the last-place Kansas City Royals in a four-game set. 

They went 3-4 in an up-and-down week, taking two of three from Chicago but then allowing the limping Royals to claim three of four. The Twins will start this week with an off day, before visiting the Tigers in Detroit. This weekend, they'll loop back to Target Field and encounter the Cardinals.

Weekly Snapshot: Mon, 6/1 through Sun 6/7
Record: 3-4
Run Differential: -5
Standing: 3rd Place in AL Central (7 GB)

Game-by-Game Results: 

Game 61 | MIN 9, CWS 6: Twins Snap Five-Game Skid Behind Tristan Gray's Grand Slam

• Tristan Gray: 1-3, HR, 5 RBI

Game 62 | MIN 6, CWS 4: As Connor Prielipp Learns Ropes, Twins Rally Past White Sox

• Keaschall, Gray, Jackson: 6-12, 5 RBI

Game 63 | CWS 8, MIN 0: Twins Get Shut Out for The First Time This Season In Loss to White Sox

• Buxton, Lee, Larnach: 0-11, 1 BB

Game 64 | KC 8, MIN 6: It was Like Tug-of-War Between Two Pigs in the Mud

• Caratini: 3-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI

Game 65 | MIN 5, KC 3: Sixth Inning Ambush Fuels Comeback Win

• Matthews: 7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 2 K

Game 66 | KC 3, MIN 2: Late-Inning Momentum Swings and Costly Mistake Decide the Game

• Ryan: 6 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 K

Game 67 | KC 6, MIN 5: Cameron Dominates Twins Again, Rally Falls Short As Royals Take Series

• Morris: 1 2/3 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 4 K

NEWS & NOTES
One of the bigger news items from this past week was the Twins trading right-handed pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson to the Toronto Blue Jays for cash considerations. This came after the Twins designated him for assignment or release after Woods Richardson started 0-7 with a 7.74 ERA and a 6.17 FIP. As they try to cobble together a viable bullpen, meanwhile, they acquired righty reliever Justin Lawrence from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Lawrence has made three appearances for the Twins, throwing 2 ⅔ innings, striking out four with three walks, and giving up zero runs.

Royce Lewis was recalled after tearing up Triple-A pitching. He's played two games (one at second base and one at first base) since being recalled. He'll probably move around the diamond for a while, depending on who else is in the lineup on any given day. The Twins pulled the trigger quickly on returning him to the big leagues, and will have to hope he rediscovers the magic that made him a good hitter until about August 2024.

HIGHLIGHTS
The Joe Ryan Experience has continued, with Ryan throwing another very good start against the Royals on Saturday. This came after throwing six innings against the White Sox on Monday night, giving up four runs over six innings—good enough for his fourth win on the season, though not good enough to satisfy Ryan. He's been solid for the majority of the year, with a 4-3 record and a 3.07 ERA over 14 starts. The closer it gets to the trade deadline, the more Ryan's name will come up in national conversations.

Another highlight from the week came in that Monday night contest, when Tristan Gray hit a grand slam in the fourth inning off White Sox starter David Sandlin. The grand slam helped the Twins to a 9-6 win over the second-place Sox. 

On Friday, Zebby Matthews threw seven innings, giving up two runs, which was a nice bounce-back after a tough previous appearance. This was a solid start for a rotation suddenly looking for more depth, after some of the depth has disappeared due to injuries or poor performance. 

LOWLIGHTS
Unfortunately, Byron Buxton was taken out of the game on Friday night after making a catch and running into the wall in center field. He was officially removed with an injury to the same shoulder he injured earlier in the season. He is considered day-to-day, and the Twins are hoping and expecting him to return for Tuesday’s series opener against the Tigers—but it's not a great sign that he wasn't available to pinch-hit with the game on the line Sunday afternoon.

The Twins' bullpen has been a storyline all year, and the inconsistencies showed this past week. The bullpen threw 27 innings over the seven games, which is more than you typically want a shaky bullpen to throw over a seven-game stretch. They had a few good outings, but the 5.24 relief ERA and their -0.60 WPA tell the real story. The latter figure was fourth-worst in the majors.

TRENDING STORYLINES
Another thing to keep an eye on is how Connor Prielipp is adjusting to hitters adjusting to him. His start against the White Sox on Tuesday was a nice (though not dominant) rebound after two difficult outings. The follow-up on Sunday was similarly good, but equally un-great. Prielipp has had ups and downs, but his development into a solid starting pitcher is one of the most important things to track throughout this season for Minnesota.

Matt Wallner is looking to follow in Lewis’s footsteps and earn a call back up to the big-league club. He's been crushing Triple-A pitching to the tune of .275/.359/.897 since being demoted in mid-May, with five home runs, six doubles, and eight walks over 80 at-bats. If he continues this hot stretch, he could be back at Target Field in short order. 

Speaking of crushing Triple-A pitching, former first-round pick Kaelen Culpepper has looked the part of a top prospect this year, hitting 14 home runs in 56 games played with the Saints, recording a .862 OPS along with 13 stolen bases. With Lewis changing positions and Brooks Lee moving to third base, don’t be surprised to see Culpepper with the Twins in the very near future, if he continues to produce at the level he has so far this year. 

LOOKING AHEAD
The Twins start the week with a long-awaited off day. Their last day off was Thursday, May 21. They'll head to Detroit and play three games against the Tigers, who have (surprisingly) struggled this year. Both clubs are looking to turn things around before it gets too late. The Twins would love to take advantage of a struggling rival before hosting the second-place Cardinals. It should be a fun and interesting week.

• MONDAY, JUNE 8: OFF DAY
• TUESDAY, JUNE 9: TWINS @ TIGERS - RHP Taj Bradley vs RHP Troy Melton
• WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10: TWINS @ TIGERS - TBD vs LHP Framber Valdez
• THURSDAY, JUNE 11: TWINS @ TIGERS - RHP Zebby Matthews vs RHP Keider Montero
• FRIDAY, JUNE 12: CARDINALS @ TWINS - TBD vs TBD
• SATURDAY, JUNE 13: CARDINALS @ TWINS - TBD vs TBD
• SUNDAY, JUNE 14: CARDINALS @ TWINS - TBD vs TBD

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[Peter]

Thinking 4-7 wins this week!!! We need to have winning week/start taking series-KC was series we should’ve won 3 or swept them! Gomez needs to be our closer-also twins desperately need ober/rojas/able back!!! I’ll still continue to watch every game as twins aren’t as bad as some of you suggest 

[mikelink45]

The big question isn't if Wallner should come up, but rather can Lewis find success in MLB after shining in AAA?  Short term he has not looked great in two games - let's hope he catches lightning in his bat soon.

Prielipp is pitching well below his expectations.  After watching Pittsburgh's young pitchers blossom it is time for one of ours to shine.

When Culpepper comes up which of the Gray, Kreidler, Arcia trio leaves?

Can Martin regain the batting mojo that he had for the first two months?

Will we ever score enough so Ryan can win as many games as he deserves?

When does a pitcher return from his injuries?  We need a starter. I was disappointed that Morris did not take advantage of his work as an opener and when a rotation spot. Will they try Parades in one of the TBD slots?

[thelanges5]

I keep hearing and reading about the Twins playing against the struggling Royals and Tigers. Well KC just took 3 at Target Field and the Tigers have won 4 of their last 5. Twins are 3-7 in the last 10, they are the team heading in the wrong direction here. 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Honestly this well written summary of the past week was just depressing to me.  Instead of being slightly above average, the Twins were slightly below average. This season is just like the past Twins' seasons and this season  will not end with a bang, but with a whimper. 

[Bracky]

3 hours ago, Peter said:

Thinking 4-7 wins this week!!! We need to have winning week/start taking series-KC was series we should’ve won 3 or swept them! Gomez needs to be our closer-also twins desperately need ober/rojas/able back!!! I’ll still continue to watch every game as twins aren’t as bad as some of you suggest 

I feel this. I'll keep tuning in. I don't know, but for me some parts of this year are still more fun than others recently. No good logical explanation as to why. 

[thelanges5]

3 hours ago, Peter said:

Thinking 4-7 wins this week!!! We need to have winning week/start taking series-KC was series we should’ve won 3 or swept them! Gomez needs to be our closer-also twins desperately need ober/rojas/able back!!! I’ll still continue to watch every game as twins aren’t as bad as some of you suggest 

Not sure what to make of this Detroit series, but after that is a pretty tough stretch - St. Louis, at Texas, at Arizona, and then the Dodgers. 

[tony&rodney]

1 hour ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

Honestly this well written summary of the past week was just depressing to me.  Instead of being slightly above average, the Twins were slightly below average. This season is just like the past Twins' seasons and this season  will not end with a bang, but with a whimper. 

Never give up. Hope is eternal. The last decent season was when three rookies led the team. It can happen again.

[Blyleven2011]

24 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Never give up. Hope is eternal. The last decent season was when three rookies led the team. It can happen again.

Glory days , well they will pass you by in a wink of a young girls eye ...

2 of them are not on the roster , wallner AAA and Julien playing for the Rockies ...

Lewis underperforming and we are hoping for a turnaround  ...

[tony&rodney]

51 minutes ago, Blyleven2011 said:

Glory days , well they will pass you by in a wink of a young girls eye ...

2 of them are not on the roster , wallner AAA and Julien playing for the Rockies ...

Lewis underperforming and we are hoping for a turnaround  ...

My money is on Kaelen Culpepper, Walker Jenkins, and Emmanuel Rodriguez all surpassing the trio of Lewis, Julien, and Wallner. Look to the future. At the close of the 2023 season I suggested the Twins cash in all three of those rookies. Lewis had high value and both Julien and Wallner only had futures as DH guys for a good team. The next group has a significantly better set of baseball tools.