Week in Review: Expectations Gone, Energy Unlocked

The Weekly Nutshell:
Luke Keaschall's first week back in action for the Twins started and ended the same way: with dramatic two-run homers that gave fans a necessary morale boost in the wake of one of the darkest moments in franchise history. With their rookie phenom back in the lineup, the Twins won four of five games, putting forth an impressive display against the Tigers on the road and then taking care of the Royals at home. 

Keaschall's presence was felt, but in general the Twins looked like a team that was playing much more free-and-easy after their front office waved the white flag on this season. You had a waiver claim in Thomas Hatch come in and throw four scoreless innings against Detroit. You had minor-league journeyman Ryan Fitzgerald hitting a key two-run blast for his first major-league hit at Target Field. 

I'm not sure the team should be commended for getting its play in order only once the games essentially stopped mattering, but there is a refreshing aspect to watching players like Hatch and Fitzgerald — for whom these opportunities do matter greatly — doing something with them after watching veteran fixtures stumble in key spots over and over again for four months. 

Weekly Snapshot: Mon, 8/4 through Sun, 8/10
***
Record Last Week: 4-2 (Overall: 56-61)
Run Differential Last Week: +10 (Overall: -24)
Standing: 4th Place in AL Central (11 GB) 

Game 112 | DET 6, MIN 3: Tigers Slice Into What Remains of Twins Bullpen in Middle Innings

• Davis: 1 IP, 3 ER, L

Game 113 | MIN 6, DET 3: Twins Pounce on Paddack as Keaschall Homers in Return to Action

• Keaschall: 2-4, HR, 2 RBI

Game 114 | MIN 9, DET 4: Offenses Combine for Six Home Runs, Hatch Holds It Down in Debut

• Roden, Lee, Martin: HR

Game 115 | MIN 9, KC 4: With Pressure Off, Lineup Goes to Work Against Lugo and Royals 

• Jeffers: 3-4, 2 RBI

Game 116 | KC 2, MIN 0: Twins Can't Come Up with a Big Hit, Strand 10 in Shutout Loss

• Twins hitters: 0-10 RISP

Game 117 | MIN 5, KC 3: Keaschall Goes Oppo for 11th-Inning Walk-Off to Seal Series Win

• Keaschall: 3-5, HR, 2 RBI

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NEWS & NOTES

The long-awaited return of Luke Keaschall was the big story of the week, and he made it a bigger one with his spectacular re-entry to the lineup. Out since April 25th with a fractured forearm, Keaschall was activated from the injured list on Tuesday for the second game in Detroit. DaShawn Keirsey Jr. was optioned Triple-A, with the addition of Alan Roden diminishing Keirsey's already minuscule role.

Having cleared out their bullpen at the trade deadline, the Twins are now desperate for usable arms, and they've been inclined to grab any pitcher that happens to find himself on waivers. The aftermath of the deadline is a favorable time for this type of scouring, because a lot of fringy big-leaguers find themselves displaced from 40-man rosters as the result of new acquisitions. 

That was the case for both Thomas Hatch and Brooks Kriske, who came aboard via the Royals and Cubs, respectively. They'll serve in long-relief roles as Rocco Baldelli and the Twins try to navigate through innings in these remaining 45 games. Out of the picture for now is Noah Davis, who was optioned to Triple-A after giving up five earned runs in three innings as a Twin.

Minnesota's long-running streak of using only two starting catchers finally reached an end. Christian Vázquez was placed on the injured list with a left shoulder infection, which apparently required surgery. Organizational newcomer Jhonny Pereda was called up to take over Vázquez's roster spot, but it was Mickey Gasper who got the first nod to start at catcher on Sunday.

Simeon Woods Richardson was forced to the IL by a stomach issue that delayed his latest start. Byron Buxton was not activated during the Royals series over the weekend despite some level of expectation that he would be, suggesting that pain from his rib inflammation is continuing to linger. No reason to rush anything with any of these guys, obviously.

HIGHLIGHTS

Ever since getting a glimpse of what he can bring to the table back in April, Twins fans have been eagerly and impatiently awaiting the return of Keaschall. During his three-month absence, the season spiraled into oblivion and the front office made a bold pivot toward the future. Keaschall wasted no time showing why he figures to be a central part of that future, launching a two-run homer in his first at-bat on Tuesday night and later driving in another run on a single. 

Keaschall was back in the lineup on Wednesday, notching two doubles and again driving in three. He picked up six more hits in the Kansas City series, including two more doubles and Sunday's walk-off homer. The 22-year-old is slashing .415/.500/.707 with just three strikeouts through 48 plate appearances. This is an introduction to the majors like we've never witnessed before. Keaschall's presence is electric and the lineup just feels different with him in it. His return is a jolt of excitement that Twins fans badly needed following the deadline purge.

Another much-needed positive: Travis Adams' performance against Detroit on Monday. Starting at Comerica against the division leaders, Adams allowed two runs over five innings and looked downright nasty at times, racking up seven strikeouts and 15 whiffs. If he could turn himself into a factor on the 2026 staff in some form, that would be a big boost for the Twins as they look to rebuild their bullpen from the ground up.

Zebby Matthews followed with an outstanding start of his own on Tuesday, holding the Tigers to one run in five innings while striking out six and walking one. Consistency is the key now for Matthews, who has alternated between looking very good and very hittable in his rotation turns. But it's great to see him throwing hard and missing bats after spending time sidelined by a shoulder injury.

Some other notable standout performances from the past week:

• Ryan Jeffers had four multi-hit games and ran his active hitting streak to 12 straight contests. For the week he went 12-for-26 with a homer and three doubles, raising his OPS by almost 40 points. 
• Trevor Larnach homered in back-to-back games at Detroit. He had gone deep just once in his previous 26 games, slugging .259 during that span. It's been a very disappointing season for Larnach, who could really use a strong finish to convince Twins leadership (current or future) that he's worth keeping in their plans.
• Matt Wallner went 4-for-15 with two homers and a double, continuing to show remarkably improved discipline at the plate with three walks and only three strikeouts. Wallner has a 16-to-13 K/BB ratio dating back to the All-Star break, and he has a 1.035 OPS in that stretch. He went on the paternity list on Saturday (congrats!) but should be back in the lineup in the coming week.

LOWLIGHTS

Not everyone is making the most of the opportunity being put in front of them. Austin Martin had a nightmarish series in the outfield in Detroit, reinforcing the skepticism around his capability in center, which is essential to his staying power as a big-leaguer. The bat just doesn't impress – Martin did pop a solo homer in Detroit but otherwise had just three hits in 19 at-bats. He also hasn't proven to be much of an asset on the basepaths, where he made multiple sloppy mistakes.

Gasper has the chance to get some substantive major-league playing time here in the final weeks of the season, and if he doesn't do anything with it, probably his last chance. He got four starts against Detroit and Kansas City – two at DH, one at first, one at catcher – and went 1-for-15. His week ended with a strikeout on a bunt foul with the winning run on second base and no outs. I guess you might as well keep feeding him plate appearances to see if any of that production from Triple-A can materialize, but Gasper has shown very little in the major leagues.

Royce Lewis, who was really heating up in the latter half of July, had a very rough week, finishing 2-for-19 with a double in five games. On Saturday night he went 0-for-4, stranding runners in scoring position every time he came to the plate. After briefly getting his OPS up over the .700 mark, Lewis is back down to .659 and he's now gone over three weeks without a home run.

The lone holdover in Minnesota's high-leverage relief mix, Cole Sands, has looked pretty awful since the deadline, which makes the idea of starting over in the bullpen feel all the more intimidating. He gave up two runs on three hits in one inning against Detroit on Tuesday night, then gave up a go-ahead two-run homer against Kansas City's Vinnie Pasquantino on Sunday. Sands' ERA now sits at 4.50 one the season. He hasn't been good this year, but at this point he's the best they've got heading into 2026.

TRENDING STORYLINE

The player whose performance and growth over the final seven weeks of the season are most critical, for my money, is Brooks Lee. The disgraceful trade of Carlos Correa leaves a massive hole in the team's short-term plans at shortstop unless Lee can fill it, and now is his time to prove he's up to the task. So far he's not making a strong case.

Through 148 MLB games Lee has been a sub-replacement level player, posting an OPS 25% below average while offering horrible plate discipline, middling power and zero footspeed. His luster as a former high draft pick and top prospect have worn off as his sample of sub-par play in the majors has grown. 

Lee swatted a home run in Detroit, as he's shown the propensity to do from time to time, but otherwise there was just way too much soft contact, ground balls and terrible swing decisions. Hard-hit line drives are way too hard to come by. Since the start of July he is batting .170 with an OPS barely over .500. In 109 plate appearances during this span, he has hit one double. One! Slashing doubles to the gaps was supposed to be one of his signature skills. It's just another glaring example of how much Lee has fallen short of what the Twins and evaluators thought he could be. 

At a minimum, Lee needs to show over the remaining stretch of the season that he can handle short defensively. But from my view he's got to show something more at the plate to warrant being given the starting shortstop job next year. You can't just run this offensive profile out there and cross your fingers indefinitely on an offense that desperately needs to improve.  

Then again, I'm not sure what choice the Twins are going to have either way. There are no worthwhile shortstops hitting free agency in the offseason and Kaelen Culpepper will need more time in the minors. I guess all those fans who are thrilled to no longer have to watch an average shortstop who made a lot of money can now enjoy watching a vastly below-average one while ownership gets to keep said money. Good stuff.

LOOKING AHEAD

There's nothing like a trip to Yankee Stadium to test the Twins' improved vibes. Out that way, vibes are not so good, with New York tumbling in the standings and putting a once-surefire postseason berth at risk. Minnesota has an opportunity to intensify the misery of Yankees fans, which I personally would take a lot of satisfaction from. After the quick trip out east, the Twins return to Target Field for a four-game series against the Tigers, which in another reality would have been a really exciting and meaningful divisional showdown as the stretch run heats up. Oh well.

MONDAY, AUGUST 11: TWINS @ YANKEES — RHP Zebby Matthews v. RHP Will Warren
TUESDAY, AUGUST 12: TWINS @ YANKEES — TBD v. LHP Carlos Rodon
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13: TWINS @ YANKEES — RHP Joe Ryan v. RHP Cam Schlittler
THURSDAY, AUGUST 14: TIGERS @ TWINS — RHP Charlie Morton v. RHP Bailey Ober
FRIDAY, AUGUST 15: TIGERS @ TWINS — RHP Casey Mize v. RHP Jose Urena
SATURDAY, AUGUST 16: TIGERS @ TWINS — RHP Chris Paddack v. RHP Zebby Matthews
SUNDAY, AUGUST 17: TIGERS @ TWINS — RHP Jack Flaherty v. TBD