Mets 2, Twins 0: Blanked on Deadline Day, On and Off the Field

Box Score
SP: David Festa 5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K (68 pitches, 44 strikes, 9 whiffs)
Home Runs: N/A
Bottom 3 WPA: Byron Buxton (-.139), Christian Vazquez (-.104), Jose Miranda (-.095)

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

Festa Rides Again
David Festa was promoted for a pair of starts earlier this season that didn’t go well. When the Twins needed him again, he was called upon as the bulk guy after Steven Okert. Working against the Phillies, he shoved and earned himself another turn. Tuesday night against the New York Mets, Minnesota’s top pitching prospect turned in another good outing.

Festa worked five innings of two-run baseball. He allowed just three hits and walked one. Mark Vientos got him for a solo home run, but Festa struck out six. Rocco Baldelli’s lineup managed just two hits and did little to support their arms on the evening.

Late-inning intrigue
The recently acquired Ryne Stanek took over for Sean Manaea in the eighth inning. The Mets starter punched out 11 while walking only one, and despite being left-handed, Minnesota failed to show any level of prowess against him. Stanek walked one while getting a pair of outs, but turned the ball over to closer Edwin Diaz. After Max Kepler reached on an error and Brooks Lee walked, Byron Buxton stepped in with two outs. Up against a full count, he chased out of the zone for his fourth strikeout of the night, and the man with a lesser entrance than the Twins Jhoan Duran stifled Minnesota’s threat.

Caleb Thielbar came on in the bottom of the eighth inning and quickly retired Harrison Bader and Francisco Lindor. Brandon Nimmo beat out an infield single to give the Mets a baserunner, but struck out J.D. Martinez to give his lineup a chance in the ninth inning.

The Twins recorded just a pair of hits on the evening, with only two passing the hard-hit threshold. Not a single ball Minnesota put in play was hit harder than 100 mph. Buxton, Royce Lewis, and Jose Miranda combined to go 0-for-11 with 10 strikeouts. Minnesota struck out a whopping 13 times with just two walks.

Notes
After more than 1,000 days since his last day on a major league roster, Randy Dobnak is back. He announced the move in the most perfect way. Minnesota moved Alex Kirilloff to the 60-day IL and placed Brock Stewart back on the injured list to accommodate the roster juggling.

Despite being the absolute last team to make a move of any sort prior to the trade deadline, the Twins added Trevor Richards from the Toronto Blue Jays. With ownership unwilling to do anything to support their product, they sent out prospect Jay Harry for a reliever with mediocre numbers and less than $1.5 million left on his 2024 contract.

What’s Next?
Pablo Lopez will look to play stopper on Wednesday afternoon. The Mets are one game away from a series sweep and will send Luis Severino to the mound. Minnesota has an off day Thursday before returning home to a pieced-out Detroit Tigers club over the weekend.

Postgame Interviews

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet