Steven Trefz

Most Twins fans had written off the Houston series as bust, only to see a less than prodigious lineup clobber Houston's young ace Hunter Brown around the diamond. Fresh off of a series and season series win against the reigning World Series champs, the Twins took a red eye flight back home to get ready for a pivotal mid-season series against the Cleveland Guardians.
Minnesota can't change the division that they are in, so there is no shame in celebrating being in first place in the AL Central. Reality lurks just around the corner, however, as Detroit and Cleveland are one bad weekend away from taking over the top spot.
Cleveland comes to town having split their last ten games, and only sporting a 25-30 record overall. Every statistic for the Guardians screams "average." The Twins average one more run per game than the Guardians, which speaks more to the struggles of the Cleveland offense than to the success of the Twins.
Interesting Fact: In September 2022, the Twins played a five game series against the Guardians. The Twins entered the series four games behind in the division, and ended up losing four of five, all but ending their season. That's more depressing than interesting for Twins fans, but as the Twins find themselves in the opposite position, can they flip the results as well early in the season?
Weather Factor: Sunny and high-80’s at Target Field this weekend, with Friday's game being the only chance for storms currently.
Pitching Probables
Game 1 - Thursday, June 1st, 2023 – 6:40pm CDT – It's Pablo day at Target Field yet again, as Lopez (3-3, 4.11 ERA) tries to set the tone for the series. The Guardians will send RHP Tanner Bibee (1-1, 2.88 ERA) out to make his seventh career start.
The most pressing question facing the Twins will be the health of Byron Buxton. Will he be back in the lineup Thursday night? What role will Royce Lewis take on in this series? With the St. Paul Saints in Buffalo this weekend, quick call-ups across the river aren't quite as simple to make if injuries begin to linger.
Game 2 – Friday, June 2nd, 2023 – 7:10pm CDT – Twins RHP Bailey Ober (3-2, 2.68 ERA) looks to bounce back from a rough first inning last week as he faces an annual Cleveland nemesis, RHP Aaron Civale (1-1, 2.84 ERA). Civale is only making his third start of the season, while Ober already has seven innings of no-run ball and a victory against Cleveland this season.
Game 3 - Saturday, June 3rd, 2023 – 6:15 pm CDT – In the third game of the series, the Twins call upon the only starter yet to lose this season, RHP Sonny Gray (4-0, 1.94 ERA). He will face Cleveland LHP Logan Allen (2-2, 2.72 ERA), who went 5.2 innings against the Twins on May 6th, surrendering two runs in the process.
Gray looks to stay in the game longer in June than he did in May, as he only averaged five innings per outing last month. The bullpen will most likely be taxed by this point in the series, and a short start won't get the job done.
Game 4 - Sunday, June 4th, 2023 - 1:10pm CDT - The Twins close out the series with RHP Joe Ryan (7-2, 2.77 ERA). Cleveland announced on Thursday that RHP Triston McKenzie will make his season debut, . Ryan looks to continue his home cooking, and deliver a knock out blow to the Guardians as the middle months of the season begin. McKenzie had a 1-2 record, with a 5.46 ERA against the Twins in five starts in 2022.
Prediction Time!
What's your prediction for this series?  Can the Twins maintain their lead in the AL Central throughout this series? Who do you see being the biggest impact player at home this weekend? Let us know in the comments! Go, Twins!
AL Central Standings (through May 31)

Box Score
SP: Joe Ryan: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 6 K (88 pitches, 56 strikes (63.6%)
Home Runs: None
Bottom 3 WPA: Joe Ryan (-0.281), Byron Buxton (-0.115), Max Kepler (-0.059)
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) 

Say it Ain't So, Joe!
Ryan has been the most consistent Twins starter, and his W/L record shows it. Tuesday was not his night, however, as the Astros got to him early and often. Alex Bregman led off the second inning with a rocket shot (94 mph, barely cleared the fence) to left for a home run. A few batters later, it was Chas McCormick and his .222 batting average's turn to inflate Ryan's ERA with a moon shot to the train tracks in left. 3-0 Astros.
The hits just kept on coming for the Astros in the bottom of the third. A walk to Jeremy Pena with one out, and a single by Yordan Alvarez put runners on the corners for Bregman, and he delivered again with a run-scoring single to left to put the Astros up 4-0. Two batters later, Jose Abreu came up with the bases loaded, and while he couldn't replicate Jose Altuve's grand slam mojo, he did plate another run with a sacrifice fly (that Max Kepler caught while leaping into the wall in right). The Astro lead ballooned to 5-0, and it stayed that way until the fifth inning.
Royce Lewis, Save Us!
In the top of the fifth inning, Lewis stepped up to the plate and unleashed a 104.1 mph double to left. What followed shouldn't surprise Twins fans for the most part. Max Kepler struck out. Michael A. Taylor hit a ground out. The stage was set for the newly "Champion Ringed" Christian Vazquez to find a way to break out of his season-long slump, and he found a way to deliver a small dose of hope back into the game.
The Twins Offense Stinks...Bad
The top of the sixth inning started out well for the Twins, thanks to some uncharacteristic defense from the Astros. Edouard Julien led off with a shot to second base, and Altuve booted it. Carlos Correa drilled a 15 foot squirmer down the third  base line which wasn't fielded. Suddenly, the Twins had two on with no one out, and Byron Buxton strode to the plate.
One changeup later, Buxton hit into a 6-4-3 double play, and the hope meter decreased several notches yet again. Alex Kirilloff continued to get on base, however, and there were runners at the corners with superhero Lewis up at the plate. That walk chased Brandon Bielak from an excellent start, but reliever Phil Maton proved to be kryptonite to Lewis' abilities, and he struck him out swinging to end the threat.
Sands Saves the Week, Win or Lose
Out of all the predictions that were bandied about Twins Daily this week, a four-inning start by Ryan was not a common take. That's where the Twins found themselves Tuesday night, and luckily Cole Sands answered the call. After pitching only once in the last week, Sands found himself thrown into the fire against a hot lineup. He escaped the fifth and sixth innings without allowing a run, but left the game after walking two Astros in the seventh. Jovani Moran was the next man up, and one pitch and an Alvarez 4-6-3 double play later, the score remained 5-1.
The ability to eat up innings won't bring the win home today, but it factors into every other game this week as the Twins don't get another off day until next Monday.
A Double Play Kind of Day
The heart of the Twins order came up in the top of the eighth, with the team amassing only three hits in the first six. Julien led off with a bloop to right that barely missed Altuve's glove. Correa was first pitch swinging, however, and chopped a 6-4-3 to remove the threat. The string of that poor at-bat lingered, as Buxton walked and Kiriloff shot a single into right to put runners at the corners with two outs. This time Ryne Stanek played the role of kryptonite, and Twins fans were forced to reckon with the fact that Lewis can't win 'em all.
The Twins ended up getting six hits, limited the Astros to five hits, and managed to lose 5-1. That sums up Tuesday night's ballgame and the first third of this "Home Run or Bust" season quite well. Tough to watch, but a chance to redeem the series tomorrow.
What’s Next? 
The Minnesota Twins will look to secure the series win again in game three  as they send Louie Varland to the mound. The Astros will counter with young right-hander Hunter Brown.  First pitch is scheduled for 7:10pm CDT.  
Postgame Interviews
(Coming Soon, if available) 
Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet
  FRI SAT SUN MON TUE TOT Sands 0 0 16 0 48 64 De León 19 0 27 0 0 46 Durán 0 12 0 29 0 41 Stewart 0 13 0 18 0 31 Pagán 21 0 7 0 0 28 López 0 22 0 6 0 28 Jax 0 0 12 0 8 20 Morán 0 9 0 0 1 10  

The Twins limp into Houston on the heels of a 2-4 homestand against the Giants and Blue Jays. In their two victories, the Twins netted seven runs apiece. In their four losses, the Twins scored one, three, one, and zero runs respectively. Their reliance on the home run for offensive success again rose to the front of the storyline, and their inability to manufacture runs with consistent contact continued to waste quality starts and winnable games.
However, the team still finds itself in first place in the division as we approach the 54th game of the season. This success glimmers like fool's gold, as a series sweep against the Astros would also find the Twins two games under .500.
The imminent return of Royce Lewis to the lineup should be enough reason to get anyone excited, but the absolute offensive tear that he’s been on makes the waiting almost unbearable. Where will he play? (Third base) Who gets sent down? (Kyle Garlick, Matt Wallner) Can the Twins find a way to get him an at-bat in every inning like in a spring training rehab start? (We wish). 
Storylines abound this Memorial Day week, so let’s dig into the details.
Interesting Fact: The Astros have only missed the playoffs once since 2014. For a great read about the years of “glory” that they’ve experienced, check out Winning Fixes Everything by Evan Drellich, 2023.
Weather Factor: Sunny and high-80’s as the Texas summer kicks into gear. The roof of Minute Maid Park will most likely be closed for the series, so weather shouldn’t be a factor.
Pitching Probables
Game 1 – Monday, May 29, 2023 – 3:10 pm CDT – The Twins turn to RHP Sonny Gray (4-0, 1.82 ERA) to kick off the series, and he will face Astros RHP J.P. France (1-1, 3.43 ERA). Both teams are coming off of a short night of sleep, and the advantage should be in the hands of the pitchers.
How will Carlos Correa be received in Houston now that his permanent home has been established? (Note, along with Puerto Rico, Correa's permanent home is in Houston, but his baseball home is the Twin Cities.) Will he finally find a respite from the boo-birds on the road? (Yes) Will he finally find his swing again? (We hope so!)
Game 2 – Tuesday, May 30th, 2023 – 7:10pm CDT – Twins RHP Joe Ryan (7-1, 2.21 ERA) looks to extend his All-Star resume when he faces Houston RHP Brandon Bielak (1-2, 3.55 ERA) on Tuesday night. Ryan got the victory against the Astros in early April, giving up four runs over six innings.
Game 3 - Wednesday, May 31st, 2023 – 7:10 pm CDT – In the final game of the series, the Twins call upon RHP Louie Varland (2-1, 4.24 ERA) to continue his winning ways against fellow young hurler, RHP Hunter Brown (5-1, 3.12 ERA) for the Astros. Brown is 7-1 in 17 starts, with a 1.17 WHIP in his first two seasons.
Varland looks to keep his role in the rotation with Kenta Maeda beginning his rehab assignment. Brown looks to make Astros fans forget about some guy named Justin Verlander. With the Twins facing the Guardians for four games beginning Thursday, Varland’s ability to eat up innings on Wednesday couldn’t be more important.
Prediction Time!
What's your prediction for this series?  Can the Twins maintain their lead in the AL Central through this series? Who do you see being the biggest impact player in Houston this week? Let us know in the comments! Go, Twins!

Box Score
SP: Bailey Ober-  5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 0 HR (95 Pitches, 61 Strikes, 64%)
Home Runs: None
Bottom 3 WPA: Kyle Farmer (-0.162), Matt Wallner (-0.159), Byron Buxton (-0.115)
Win Probability Chart (Via Fangraphs):
Eduoard Julien's Growing Pains
The game started off promising for the Twins offense, as Joey Gallo led off with a single, Julien worked a walk after being in the hole 0-2, and Carlos Correa delivered a single to the opposite field. In his best effort to help the Twins avoid a bases-loaded opportunity, Julien found a way to miss seeing the largest man on the field (Gallo) still standing at third base after being held up. The Jays easily threw out Julien, who was stuck in no-mans-land between second and third. No runs, plenty of "what might have been."
In the top of the second, Julien made an excellent stop on a ground ball in the hole between first and second. When he popped up to make the throw, however, the ball did not come with him. While not ruled an error, it was an out that needed to be completed as it extended the inning for Alejandro Kirk. The light-hitting catcher (Editor's Note: ... who won a Silver Slugger in 2022) hit a weak fly ball to left-center, and no Twins could get there in time to catch it. By the time the dust settled, two Blue Jay runs had scored, and Julien's gaffes became an unfortunate focus of the early innings.
Pitch Count and Pitches that Count
Bailey Ober fell behind in the game due to a mixture of bad luck and bad counts. He reached 60 pitches before he obtained his seventh out. Time after time Ober found himself ahead in the count at 0-2 or 1-2, only find the count evened out at 2-2 or 3-2. Non-competitive pitches didn't entice the Blue Jays to swing, and the patience of the Toronto hitters led to Ober only going five innings.
Jose Berrios Can Still Pitch
The rumors of Berrios' demise have been much exaggerated. Berrios commanded his change-up when it mattered most, and the Twins were unable to deliver clutch hits yet again. He scattered four hits and five walks, in 5 2/3 innings. Was the goose egg on the scoreboard the result of Twins hitting or Berrios' pitching? That's a question that has no right answer for Twins fans.
Heartless Baseball
During the game, I received several texts from lifelong Twins fans who had either turned the game off, or were bemoaning the fact that the games are terrible to watch and devoid of emotion and heart. All I can say Twins fans, is that Royce Lewis will meet us in Houston. To be continued...
What’s Next: The Twins travel south to Minute Maid Park to face the defending champion Astros for a three-game series. Monday's matchup will feature Twins' RHP Sonny Gray (4-0, 1.82 ERA) and Astros RHP J.P. France (1-1, 3.43 ERA). The Memorial Day first pitch is slated earlier than usual, at 3:10pm CDT. 
Postgame Interviews:
Bullpen Usage Chart:
  WED THU FRI SAT SUN TOT De Leon 21 0 19 0 27 67 Moran 24 0 0 9 0 33 Stewart 20 0 0 13 0 33 Pagan 0 0 21 0 7 28 Duran 13 0 0 12 0 25 Lopez 0 0 0 22 0 22 Sands 0 0 0 0 16 16 Jax 0 0 0 0 12 12  

Box Score
SP: Bailey Ober-  5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 0 HR (95 Pitches, 61 Strikes, 64%)
Home Runs: None
Bottom 3 WPA: Kyle Farmer (-0.162), Matt Wallner (-0.159), Byron Buxton (-0.115)
Win Probability Chart (Via Fangraphs):
Eduoard Julien's Growing Pains
The game started off promising for the Twins offense, as Joey Gallo led off with a single, Julien worked a walk after being in the hole 0-2, and Carlos Correa delivered a single to the opposite field. In his best effort to help the Twins avoid a bases-loaded opportunity, Julien found a way to miss seeing the largest man on the field (Gallo) still standing at third base after being held up. The Jays easily threw out Julien, who was stuck in no-mans-land between second and third. No runs, plenty of "what might have been."
In the top of the second, Julien made an excellent stop on a ground ball in the hole between first and second. When he popped up to make the throw, however, the ball did not come with him. While not ruled an error, it was an out that needed to be completed as it extended the inning for Alejandro Kirk. The light-hitting catcher (Editor's Note: ... who won a Silver Slugger in 2022) hit a weak fly ball to left-center, and no Twins could get there in time to catch it. By the time the dust settled, two Blue Jay runs had scored, and Julien's gaffes became an unfortunate focus of the early innings.
Pitch Count and Pitches that Count
Bailey Ober fell behind in the game due to a mixture of bad luck and bad counts. He reached 60 pitches before he obtained his seventh out. Time after time Ober found himself ahead in the count at 0-2 or 1-2, only find the count evened out at 2-2 or 3-2. Non-competitive pitches didn't entice the Blue Jays to swing, and the patience of the Toronto hitters led to Ober only going five innings.
Jose Berrios Can Still Pitch
The rumors of Berrios' demise have been much exaggerated. Berrios commanded his change-up when it mattered most, and the Twins were unable to deliver clutch hits yet again. He scattered four hits and five walks, in 5 2/3 innings. Was the goose egg on the scoreboard the result of Twins hitting or Berrios' pitching? That's a question that has no right answer for Twins fans.
Heartless Baseball
During the game, I received several texts from lifelong Twins fans who had either turned the game off, or were bemoaning the fact that the games are terrible to watch and devoid of emotion and heart. All I can say Twins fans, is that Royce Lewis will meet us in Houston. To be continued...
What’s Next: The Twins travel south to Minute Maid Park to face the defending champion Astros for a three-game series. Monday's matchup will feature Twins' RHP Sonny Gray (4-0, 1.82 ERA) and Astros RHP J.P. France (1-1, 3.43 ERA). The Memorial Day first pitch is slated earlier than usual, at 3:10pm CDT. 
Postgame Interviews:
Bullpen Usage Chart:
  WED THU FRI SAT SUN TOT De Leon 21 0 19 0 27 67 Moran 24 0 0 9 0 33 Stewart 20 0 0 13 0 33 Pagan 0 0 21 0 7 28 Duran 13 0 0 12 0 25 Lopez 0 0 0 22 0 22 Sands 0 0 0 0 16 16 Jax 0 0 0 0 12 12  

Box Score
SP: Bailey Ober-  5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 0 HR (95 Pitches, 61 Strikes, 64%)
Home Runs: None
Bottom 3 WPA: Kyle Farmer (-0.162), Matt Wallner (-0.159), Byron Buxton (-0.115)
Win Probability Chart (Via Fangraphs):
Eduoard Julien's Growing Pains
The game started off promising for the Twins offense, as Joey Gallo led off with a single, Julien worked a walk after being in the hole 0-2, and Carlos Correa delivered a single to the opposite field. In his best effort to help the Twins avoid a bases-loaded opportunity, Julien found a way to miss seeing the largest man on the field (Gallo) still standing at third base after being held up. The Jays easily threw out Julien, who was stuck in no-mans-land between second and third. No runs, plenty of "what might have been."
In the top of the second, Julien made an excellent stop on a ground ball in the hole between first and second. When he popped up to make the throw, however, the ball did not come with him. While not ruled an error, it was an out that needed to be completed as it extended the inning for Alejandro Kirk. The light-hitting catcher (Editor's Note: ... who won a Silver Slugger in 2022) hit a weak fly ball to left-center, and no Twins could get there in time to catch it. By the time the dust settled, two Blue Jay runs had scored, and Julien's gaffes became an unfortunate focus of the early innings.
Pitch Count and Pitches that Count
Bailey Ober fell behind in the game due to a mixture of bad luck and bad counts. He reached 60 pitches before he obtained his seventh out. Time after time Ober found himself ahead in the count at 0-2 or 1-2, only find the count evened out at 2-2 or 3-2. Non-competitive pitches didn't entice the Blue Jays to swing, and the patience of the Toronto hitters led to Ober only going five innings.
Jose Berrios Can Still Pitch
The rumors of Berrios' demise have been much exaggerated. Berrios commanded his change-up when it mattered most, and the Twins were unable to deliver clutch hits yet again. He scattered four hits and five walks, in 5 2/3 innings. Was the goose egg on the scoreboard the result of Twins hitting or Berrios' pitching? That's a question that has no right answer for Twins fans.
Heartless Baseball
During the game, I received several texts from lifelong Twins fans who had either turned the game off, or were bemoaning the fact that the games are terrible to watch and devoid of emotion and heart. All I can say Twins fans, is that Royce Lewis will meet us in Houston. To be continued...
What’s Next: The Twins travel south to Minute Maid Park to face the defending champion Astros for a three-game series. Monday's matchup will feature Twins' RHP Sonny Gray (4-0, 1.82 ERA) and Astros RHP J.P. France (1-1, 3.43 ERA). The Memorial Day first pitch is slated earlier than usual, at 3:10pm CDT. 
Postgame Interviews:
Bullpen Usage Chart:
  WED THU FRI SAT SUN TOT De Leon 21 0 19 0 27 67 Moran 24 0 0 9 0 33 Stewart 20 0 0 13 0 33 Pagan 0 0 21 0 7 28 Duran 13 0 0 12 0 25 Lopez 0 0 0 22 0 22 Sands 0 0 0 0 16 16 Jax 0 0 0 0 12 12  

Box Score
SP: Sonny Gray: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K (105 pitches, 69 strikes (66%)
Home Runs: Byron Buxton (10), Michael A. Taylor (6)
Top 3 WPA: Buxton (.119), Javoni Moran (.085), Griffin Jax (.048)
Bottom 3 WPA: Jorge Lopez (-.356), Donovan Solano (-.063), Willi Castro (-.070)
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) 

Monday night's loss left a sour taste across Twins Territory, and left both the team and the fans eager to get redemption for a night of poor plate appearances and questionable decisions. Carlos Correa took the night off with a sore heel on Tuesday, and Trevor Larnach hit the IL with a lingering illness. Would the remaining Twins be able to stand their ground against a streaky Giants squad?
Live by the Long Ball
Things got off to a bang for the Twins offense, when Donavan Solano drilled an opposite field single to right with one out. After an Alex Kirilloff strike out, Byron Buxton went first-pitch hunting and did not miss, jolting a home run to deep left center to put the Twins up 2-0 early.
Die by the Small Ball
In the bottom of the second inning, the Twins got a lucky break on a Kyle Farmer grounder to LaMonte Wade Jr. that bounced away and led to an errant throw. Willi Castro followed with an attempted sacrifice bunt, but Alex Cobb was able to get Farmer at second base. A quick Christian Vázquez double play ball later, and the rally was snuffed out on two pitches.
Live by the Long Ball - Part 2
The Twins failed to manufacture runs throughout the middle innings, until Michael A. Taylor came up with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. On a 1-2 count, Taylor called for time, gathered his bearings, and then left the yard for the sixth time this year to put the Twins up 3-0.
Sonny Skies Turn Gray in the Sixth
Gray hadn't been dominant through the first five innings, scattering five hits across the scoreless frames. J.D. Davis worked a lead-off walk in the sixth, and Michael Conforto powered a double to the left field gap. Gray stayed in to face Mitch Haniger to eclipse the 100 pitch mark, and ended up walking him as well to load the bases.
The mess was left to Jovani Moran to clean up, and he started out well by inducing a fly out by Casey Schmitt to short center, and then by striking out Wilmer Flores. The third out wouldn't come as easily, as control issues returned to Moran's outing, and he walked Patrick Bailey on four pitches to bring in the first Giants run.
When Bryce Johnson entered as a pinch hitter, Rocco Baldelli went to the bullpen again. This time it was Brock Stewart's turn to face loaded bases and a pivotal moment in the game. He responded by walking Johnson on five pitches. You can't make this stuff up.
LaMonte Wade Jr. came up next, and Stewart responded by missing badly with his first two pitches. Wade Jr. had the third best walk rate in the Majors, and things looked bleak. Pitching coach Pete Make made his way to the mound, and luckily whatever he said worked. Three strikes later, Stewart was out of the jam, and the Twins held on to their 3-2 advantage.
Die by the Long Ball
The threats just kept on coming for the Giants, as Thairo Estrada led off the top of the seventh with a scorching double off of Jorge Lopez. Kyle Farmer robbed J.D. Davis of another extra base hit, but Conforto struck again, and he would not be robbed as he lofted a two run homer about two inches beyond the left field wall to put the Giants ahead 4-3.
Live and Let Die
It's not just a catchy 007 lyric, its what Twins Territory was asking about the rest of the summer heading into the bottom of the eighth inning. Therapy sessions were being offered on Twitter, fishing rods were being readied for months of baseball-free evenings, and Twins players were beginning to plan their October vacations. Stop me if you heard this one, but another medium-level left-handed reliever dominated Kyle Garlick, Solano, and Kirilloff. 
Buxton, Edouard Julien, and newly called-up Matt Wallner (who had already played a game today) tried to keep hope alive in the ninth. Two strikeouts later, and it was up to Wallner. Matt took one for the team on the right ankle, bringing Castro up as the winning run with two outs.
Fade to black. Castro strikes out swinging, and the Twins find themselves just one game above the .500 mark.
What’s Next? 
In the third and final game of the series the Twins will send Joe Ryan and his 6-1 record, and 0.89 WHIP to the mound. The Giants will counter with Anthony DeSclafani and his 3-3 record, and 0.99 WHIP. This in when the ace rises to the top of the deck, so can Twins fans count on a win Wednesday?
Postgame Interviews
Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet
  FRI SAT SUN MON TUE TOT   Jax 33 0 0 17 18 68   J. López 0 19 12 0 18 49   Sands 0 0 0 44 0 44   Pagán 0 0 0 23 9 32   De León 0 0 31 0 0 31   Stewart 11 5 0 0 10 26   Durán 0 20 0 0 0 20   Morán 0 9 0 0 10 19  

This match-up of division leaders offers a chance for the Twins to prove that they belong at the top of the class. The Dodgers have historically disposed of the Twins at Dodgers Stadium in short order. The Twins come in having erupted for 27 runs in the past two games against the Cubs. The Dodgers come in having taken care of business versus the Padres at home.
Fun Fact: Monday night is Mookie Betts bobblehead night. I'm not sure if that is fun or not, but I didn't want to talk about where the Kenta Maeda/Brusdar Graterol trade currently stands.
Weather Factor: No rain delays in sight, and we should see mid-to-high 70's at first pitch. Sunscreen isn't optional.
Pitching Probables
Game 1 - Monday, May 15, 2023 – 9:10 pm CDT – The Twins RHP Pablo Lopez (2-2, 3.47 ERA) will square off against RHP Noah Syndergaard (1-3, 6.12 ERA) for the Dodgers. Syndergaard hasn't gone longer than six innings in his last five starts, and this appears to be a favorable matchup the way the Twins left-handed bats have been mashing the past few games.
The only batter with a long track record is Freddie Freeman, who is batting .355 with three home runs versus Lopez during the Marlin phase of his pitching career. The stage is set for Lopez to continue living into his "ace" role.
Game 2 – Tuesday, May 16, 2023 – 9:10 pm CDT - Twins RHP Bailey Ober (2-0 1.85 ERA) gets the assignment of dethroning future Hall of Famer, LHP Clayton Kershaw (6-2, 2-36 ERA). Kershaw versus Twins usually carries no-hit potential, and he has been dealing yet again this season. Tuesday will be an emotional night for Kershaw, as his mother passed away this weekend, and yet he is determined to pitch.
Honestly, anything other than a shutout for the Twins would be considered a success against pitching royalty, especially with how the right-handed hitters in our lineup have been pressing. Carlos Correa jumps off the page as a "must hit for victory" player for Tuesday's game.
Game 3 - Wednesday, May 17, 2023 – 2:10 pm CDT - In the final game of the series, Twins RHP Sonny Gray (4-0, 1.39 ERA) aims to get his winning ways back on track against Dodgers RHP Dustin May (4-1, 2.68 ERA). Gray left his last start early as the pitch count ballooned on him, a feat that can't be repeated if the Twins hope to win this game against the patient Dodger bats.
The Twins have an off-day on Thursday before traveling a few miles east to Anaheim. Their bullpen should be all-hands-on-deck to try to finish off this series.
Prediction Time!
What's your prediction for this series? Whose pitching stats will get played out in real time this week? Will the Twin's power surge continue? Let us know in the comments! Go, Twins!

This match-up of division leaders offers a chance for the Twins to prove that they belong at the top of the class. The Dodgers have historically disposed of the Twins at Dodgers Stadium in short order. The Twins come in having erupted for 27 runs in the past two games against the Cubs. The Dodgers come in having taken care of business versus the Padres at home.
Fun Fact: Monday night is Mookie Betts bobblehead night. I'm not sure if that is fun or not, but I didn't want to talk about where the Kenta Maeda/Brusdar Graterol trade currently stands.
Weather Factor: No rain delays in sight, and we should see mid-to-high 70's at first pitch. Sunscreen isn't optional.
Pitching Probables
Game 1 - Monday, May 15, 2023 – 9:10 pm CDT – The Twins RHP Pablo Lopez (2-2, 3.47 ERA) will square off against RHP Noah Syndergaard (1-3, 6.12 ERA) for the Dodgers. Syndergaard hasn't gone longer than six innings in his last five starts, and this appears to be a favorable matchup the way the Twins left-handed bats have been mashing the past few games.
The only batter with a long track record is Freddie Freeman, who is batting .355 with three home runs versus Lopez during the Marlin phase of his pitching career. The stage is set for Lopez to continue living into his "ace" role.
Game 2 – Tuesday, May 16, 2023 – 9:10 pm CDT - Twins RHP Bailey Ober (2-0 1.85 ERA) gets the assignment of dethroning future Hall of Famer, LHP Clayton Kershaw (6-2, 2-36 ERA). Kershaw versus Twins usually carries no-hit potential, and he has been dealing yet again this season. Tuesday will be an emotional night for Kershaw, as his mother passed away this weekend, and yet he is determined to pitch.
Honestly, anything other than a shutout for the Twins would be considered a success against pitching royalty, especially with how the right-handed hitters in our lineup have been pressing. Carlos Correa jumps off the page as a "must hit for victory" player for Tuesday's game.
Game 3 - Wednesday, May 17, 2023 – 2:10 pm CDT - In the final game of the series, Twins RHP Sonny Gray (4-0, 1.39 ERA) aims to get his winning ways back on track against Dodgers RHP Dustin May (4-1, 2.68 ERA). Gray left his last start early as the pitch count ballooned on him, a feat that can't be repeated if the Twins hope to win this game against the patient Dodger bats.
The Twins have an off-day on Thursday before traveling a few miles east to Anaheim. Their bullpen should be all-hands-on-deck to try to finish off this series.
Prediction Time!
What's your prediction for this series? Whose pitching stats will get played out in real time this week? Will the Twin's power surge continue? Let us know in the comments! Go, Twins!

This match-up of division leaders offers a chance for the Twins to prove that they belong at the top of the class. The Dodgers have historically disposed of the Twins at Dodgers Stadium in short order. The Twins come in having erupted for 27 runs in the past two games against the Cubs. The Dodgers come in having taken care of business versus the Padres at home.
Fun Fact: Monday night is Mookie Betts bobblehead night. I'm not sure if that is fun or not, but I didn't want to talk about where the Kenta Maeda/Brusdar Graterol trade currently stands.
Weather Factor: No rain delays in sight, and we should see mid-to-high 70's at first pitch. Sunscreen isn't optional.
Pitching Probables
Game 1 - Monday, May 15, 2023 – 9:10 pm CDT – The Twins RHP Pablo Lopez (2-2, 3.47 ERA) will square off against RHP Noah Syndergaard (1-3, 6.12 ERA) for the Dodgers. Syndergaard hasn't gone longer than six innings in his last five starts, and this appears to be a favorable matchup the way the Twins left-handed bats have been mashing the past few games.
The only batter with a long track record is Freddie Freeman, who is batting .355 with three home runs versus Lopez during the Marlin phase of his pitching career. The stage is set for Lopez to continue living into his "ace" role.
Game 2 – Tuesday, May 16, 2023 – 9:10 pm CDT - Twins RHP Bailey Ober (2-0 1.85 ERA) gets the assignment of dethroning future Hall of Famer, LHP Clayton Kershaw (6-2, 2-36 ERA). Kershaw versus Twins usually carries no-hit potential, and he has been dealing yet again this season. Tuesday will be an emotional night for Kershaw, as his mother passed away this weekend, and yet he is determined to pitch.
Honestly, anything other than a shutout for the Twins would be considered a success against pitching royalty, especially with how the right-handed hitters in our lineup have been pressing. Carlos Correa jumps off the page as a "must hit for victory" player for Tuesday's game.
Game 3 - Wednesday, May 17, 2023 – 2:10 pm CDT - In the final game of the series, Twins RHP Sonny Gray (4-0, 1.39 ERA) aims to get his winning ways back on track against Dodgers RHP Dustin May (4-1, 2.68 ERA). Gray left his last start early as the pitch count ballooned on him, a feat that can't be repeated if the Twins hope to win this game against the patient Dodger bats.
The Twins have an off-day on Thursday before traveling a few miles east to Anaheim. Their bullpen should be all-hands-on-deck to try to finish off this series.
Prediction Time!
What's your prediction for this series? Whose pitching stats will get played out in real time this week? Will the Twin's power surge continue? Let us know in the comments! Go, Twins!

This match-up of division leaders offers a chance for the Twins to prove that they belong at the top of the class. The Dodgers have historically disposed of the Twins at Dodgers Stadium in short order. The Twins come in having erupted for 27 runs in the past two games against the Cubs. The Dodgers come in having taken care of business versus the Padres at home.
Fun Fact: Monday night is Mookie Betts bobblehead night. I'm not sure if that is fun or not, but I didn't want to talk about where the Kenta Maeda/Brusdar Graterol trade currently stands.
Weather Factor: No rain delays in sight, and we should see mid-to-high 70's at first pitch. Sunscreen isn't optional.
Pitching Probables
Game 1 - Monday, May 15, 2023 – 9:10 pm CDT – The Twins RHP Pablo Lopez (2-2, 3.47 ERA) will square off against RHP Noah Syndergaard (1-3, 6.12 ERA) for the Dodgers. Syndergaard hasn't gone longer than six innings in his last five starts, and this appears to be a favorable matchup the way the Twins left-handed bats have been mashing the past few games.
The only batter with a long track record is Freddie Freeman, who is batting .355 with three home runs versus Lopez during the Marlin phase of his pitching career. The stage is set for Lopez to continue living into his "ace" role.
Game 2 – Tuesday, May 16, 2023 – 9:10 pm CDT - Twins RHP Bailey Ober (2-0 1.85 ERA) gets the assignment of dethroning future Hall of Famer, LHP Clayton Kershaw (6-2, 2-36 ERA). Kershaw versus Twins usually carries no-hit potential, and he has been dealing yet again this season. Tuesday will be an emotional night for Kershaw, as his mother passed away this weekend, and yet he is determined to pitch.
Honestly, anything other than a shutout for the Twins would be considered a success against pitching royalty, especially with how the right-handed hitters in our lineup have been pressing. Carlos Correa jumps off the page as a "must hit for victory" player for Tuesday's game.
Game 3 - Wednesday, May 17, 2023 – 2:10 pm CDT - In the final game of the series, Twins RHP Sonny Gray (4-0, 1.39 ERA) aims to get his winning ways back on track against Dodgers RHP Dustin May (4-1, 2.68 ERA). Gray left his last start early as the pitch count ballooned on him, a feat that can't be repeated if the Twins hope to win this game against the patient Dodger bats.
The Twins have an off-day on Thursday before traveling a few miles east to Anaheim. Their bullpen should be all-hands-on-deck to try to finish off this series.
Prediction Time!
What's your prediction for this series? Whose pitching stats will get played out in real time this week? Will the Twin's power surge continue? Let us know in the comments! Go, Twins!

Box Score
Starting Pitcher: Joe Ryan, 6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K (87 pitches, 60 strikes, 69%)
Home Runs: Nick Gordon (1)
Top 3 WPA: .Joe Ryan (.364), Nick Gordon (.177), Brock Stewart (.135)
Bottom 3 WPA: Jorge Lopez (-.397), Caleb Thielbar (-.365), Jose Miranda (-.155)
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)
 
Baseball Weather
Guaranteed Rate Field felt like 45 degrees at the start of the game, and the baseball acted accordingly. Minnesota missed out on a chance to bust out the "Land of 10,000 Rakes" vest early, as Carlos Correa's 350 foot blast only traveled 336 feet...and the White Sox had a guy there.
Joe Ryan Continues to Deal
Ryan entered the game with a 5-0 record and a 0.82 WHIP with 40 strikeouts in only 34 innings pitched. In these chilly conditions, Ryan managed to continue his pinpoint control and ability to mix up his pitches effectively, to the tune of six strikeouts over the first four innings. It was the first time all season that Ryan navigated the first 12 outs of a game without giving up a run.
Michael Kopech Picked a Bad Time to Start to Deal
Kopech entered the game with 0-3 record and a 1.58 WHIP with 32 strikeouts in only 29 2/3 innings pitched, with a 6.07 ERA. Tonight saw Kopech hold the Twins hitless through five innings, mixing three walks with his six strikeouts. The Twins attempted to slow him down by taking time outs with 0-2 counts. That strategy rarely worked, and pointed out how smoothly Kopech was rolling, and how mystified the Twins batters were feeling.
And He's Off! The Running Game Works...and Doesn't Work
In the top of the third inning, Byron Buxton earned a walk with two out, and stole his first base of the season to put himself into scoring position. While he was ultimately stranded there, it was an encouraging development for a team needing to manufacture runs on the road. 
The fourth inning, however, pointed out the downside of aggressive baserunning, as Trevor Larnach was thrown out attempting to steal on a Jose Miranda strike out. On a night where the ball wasn't traveling well, it was a calculated risk.
Finally! A Hit! And Some Baserunners! And a Run!
Buxton got the hit parade started with one out in the top of the sixth inning with a ground ball up the middle that just cleared under newly returned Tim Anderson's glove. Jorge Polanco came up next, and took a four-pitch walk to put runners at first and second for Correa. Kopech's next four pitches weren't even close to the zone, and now the Twins were in business with the bases loaded for Larnach, who just got under a Kopech fastball for a sacrifice fly to score Buxton to break up the shutout.
It All Adds Up
A key moment in the game occurred without a ball ever entering fair territory. With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Ryan was cruising along having only thrown 70 pitches. Anderson came to the plate, and 12 pitches later he had not only earned a walk, but had cost Ryan perhaps an extra inning of work later in the game. Andrew Benintendi eventually grounded into a 4-6-3 double play, but the damage to the beloved pitch count was done.
Bullpen Time
Gregory Santos was the first man up from the White Sox bullpen as he entered to start the seventh inning, and gave up a close call blast to Joey Gallo but escaped unscathed. Jorge Lopez entered the bottom of the seventh inning, and gave up a lead-off single to Andrew Vaughn and a go-ahead home run to Eloy Jimenez on only eight pitches. Eight. Pitches.
Thank You Alex Colome! And Nick Gordon of Course!
Luckily for Twins fans, the White Sox decided that their best chance at winning this game was to bring newly reinstated and Twins legend Colome into the eight inning. In a retrospectively masterful move, Gordon pinch hit for Michael A. Taylor, and suddenly the game was tied 2-2!
Gordon Giveth, and He Taketh Away
Twins Daily has been trying to figure out Gordon's role on the Twins as the season progresses, and other outfielders and bats come calling from the minors. Gordon showed in the bottom of the eighth how his impact to the roster carries into the field through his utility abilities as well by making an excellent catch in center field to end the inning. How he continues to play out this road trip will go a long way toward how long he stays on the roster.
Let's Hand the Game to... Brock Stewart?
Stewart got the call for the bottom of the ninth, and he walked Andrew Vaughn on six pitches, which led to the Billy Hamilton show entering the game as a pinch runner. Hamilton stole second, and stayed there after a successful White Sox challenge. Miranda made a nice play on a hard ground ball, but Hamilton took third on a groundout to third. The Twins then elected to intentionally walk Luis Robert, and pinch-hitter Adam Haseley flew out to Gordon in shallow center for the second out. Yasmani Grandal also walked, which brought up another pinch-hitter, Hanser Alberto. And yes, I'm stress-typing every one of these details out, please don't hate on me for it.
Could Stewart escape the bases-loaded jam to bring us to extras? Yes! He! Can! Alberto flys out to Kepler, and we never had a doubt that it would all be ok...
Extra Baseball!
Jimmy Lambert came in to pitch the 10th for the White Sox, and he couldn't throw a strike to save his life. Luckily for him, Christian Vasquez and Gordon decided they would swing at anything within three feet of the zone for a strike out on a ball four, and a groundout on a ball three. That left "ghost" runner Gallo at third base with two outs, with Buxton up at the plate. Three pitches and a strikeout later (on a very high pitch), an opportunity was missed and it was up to Caleb Thielbar to strand his inherited runner as well.
The White Sox began the 10th with some small-ball, with Elvis Andrus bunting Alberto over to third base. Anderson came up and laced a 2-2 pitch to a drawn-in Correa, who picked it clean and threw him out. Left-handed Andrew Benintendi was the next man up, and the Twins averted disaster as Thielbar bounced a fastball that Vasquez somehow miraculously kept around the home plate area to keep the winning run from coming in. All this relief quickly dissolved, however, when Benintendi laced a single to left field, ending the game at 3-2.
What’s Next?
The Twins will try to bounce back from this rough outing on Wednesday with RHP Louie Varland (0-0, 4.50 ERA) will be taking the mound for the Twins, while the White Sox will send out Twins-killer RHP Dylan Cease (2-1, 4.15 ERA). Tomorrow’s first pitch is scheduled for 6:10 pm CDT, and the temperatures should bring another low-scoring affair. Postgame Interviews
Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

  FRI SAT SUN MON TUE TOT   Thielbar 25 22 0 0 13 60   J López 20 16 0 0 15 51   Jax 16 15 0 0 9 40   Stewart 0 0 13 0 24 37   Pagan 0 0 23 0 0 23   Winder 0 0 23 0 0 23   Duran 0 15 7 0 0 22   Moran 0 0 0 0 0 0       South Dakotan Twins fan, on a quest to see a Twins series in every MLB stadium by 2025. Follow Steven Trefz on Twitter: @TwinsTrefz  

Box Score
Starting Pitcher: Joe Ryan, 6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K (87 pitches, 60 strikes, 69%)
Home Runs: Nick Gordon (1)
Top 3 WPA: .Joe Ryan (.364), Nick Gordon (.177), Brock Stewart (.135)
Bottom 3 WPA: Jorge Lopez (-.397), Caleb Thielbar (-.365), Jose Miranda (-.155)
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)
 
Baseball Weather
Guaranteed Rate Field felt like 45 degrees at the start of the game, and the baseball acted accordingly. Minnesota missed out on a chance to bust out the "Land of 10,000 Rakes" vest early, as Carlos Correa's 350 foot blast only traveled 336 feet...and the White Sox had a guy there.
Joe Ryan Continues to Deal
Ryan entered the game with a 5-0 record and a 0.82 WHIP with 40 strikeouts in only 34 innings pitched. In these chilly conditions, Ryan managed to continue his pinpoint control and ability to mix up his pitches effectively, to the tune of six strikeouts over the first four innings. It was the first time all season that Ryan navigated the first 12 outs of a game without giving up a run.
Michael Kopech Picked a Bad Time to Start to Deal
Kopech entered the game with 0-3 record and a 1.58 WHIP with 32 strikeouts in only 29 2/3 innings pitched, with a 6.07 ERA. Tonight saw Kopech hold the Twins hitless through five innings, mixing three walks with his six strikeouts. The Twins attempted to slow him down by taking time outs with 0-2 counts. That strategy rarely worked, and pointed out how smoothly Kopech was rolling, and how mystified the Twins batters were feeling.
And He's Off! The Running Game Works...and Doesn't Work
In the top of the third inning, Byron Buxton earned a walk with two out, and stole his first base of the season to put himself into scoring position. While he was ultimately stranded there, it was an encouraging development for a team needing to manufacture runs on the road. 
The fourth inning, however, pointed out the downside of aggressive baserunning, as Trevor Larnach was thrown out attempting to steal on a Jose Miranda strike out. On a night where the ball wasn't traveling well, it was a calculated risk.
Finally! A Hit! And Some Baserunners! And a Run!
Buxton got the hit parade started with one out in the top of the sixth inning with a ground ball up the middle that just cleared under newly returned Tim Anderson's glove. Jorge Polanco came up next, and took a four-pitch walk to put runners at first and second for Correa. Kopech's next four pitches weren't even close to the zone, and now the Twins were in business with the bases loaded for Larnach, who just got under a Kopech fastball for a sacrifice fly to score Buxton to break up the shutout.
It All Adds Up
A key moment in the game occurred without a ball ever entering fair territory. With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Ryan was cruising along having only thrown 70 pitches. Anderson came to the plate, and 12 pitches later he had not only earned a walk, but had cost Ryan perhaps an extra inning of work later in the game. Andrew Benintendi eventually grounded into a 4-6-3 double play, but the damage to the beloved pitch count was done.
Bullpen Time
Gregory Santos was the first man up from the White Sox bullpen as he entered to start the seventh inning, and gave up a close call blast to Joey Gallo but escaped unscathed. Jorge Lopez entered the bottom of the seventh inning, and gave up a lead-off single to Andrew Vaughn and a go-ahead home run to Eloy Jimenez on only eight pitches. Eight. Pitches.
Thank You Alex Colome! And Nick Gordon of Course!
Luckily for Twins fans, the White Sox decided that their best chance at winning this game was to bring newly reinstated and Twins legend Colome into the eight inning. In a retrospectively masterful move, Gordon pinch hit for Michael A. Taylor, and suddenly the game was tied 2-2!
Gordon Giveth, and He Taketh Away
Twins Daily has been trying to figure out Gordon's role on the Twins as the season progresses, and other outfielders and bats come calling from the minors. Gordon showed in the bottom of the eighth how his impact to the roster carries into the field through his utility abilities as well by making an excellent catch in center field to end the inning. How he continues to play out this road trip will go a long way toward how long he stays on the roster.
Let's Hand the Game to... Brock Stewart?
Stewart got the call for the bottom of the ninth, and he walked Andrew Vaughn on six pitches, which led to the Billy Hamilton show entering the game as a pinch runner. Hamilton stole second, and stayed there after a successful White Sox challenge. Miranda made a nice play on a hard ground ball, but Hamilton took third on a groundout to third. The Twins then elected to intentionally walk Luis Robert, and pinch-hitter Adam Haseley flew out to Gordon in shallow center for the second out. Yasmani Grandal also walked, which brought up another pinch-hitter, Hanser Alberto. And yes, I'm stress-typing every one of these details out, please don't hate on me for it.
Could Stewart escape the bases-loaded jam to bring us to extras? Yes! He! Can! Alberto flys out to Kepler, and we never had a doubt that it would all be ok...
Extra Baseball!
Jimmy Lambert came in to pitch the 10th for the White Sox, and he couldn't throw a strike to save his life. Luckily for him, Christian Vasquez and Gordon decided they would swing at anything within three feet of the zone for a strike out on a ball four, and a groundout on a ball three. That left "ghost" runner Gallo at third base with two outs, with Buxton up at the plate. Three pitches and a strikeout later (on a very high pitch), an opportunity was missed and it was up to Caleb Thielbar to strand his inherited runner as well.
The White Sox began the 10th with some small-ball, with Elvis Andrus bunting Alberto over to third base. Anderson came up and laced a 2-2 pitch to a drawn-in Correa, who picked it clean and threw him out. Left-handed Andrew Benintendi was the next man up, and the Twins averted disaster as Thielbar bounced a fastball that Vasquez somehow miraculously kept around the home plate area to keep the winning run from coming in. All this relief quickly dissolved, however, when Benintendi laced a single to left field, ending the game at 3-2.
What’s Next?
The Twins will try to bounce back from this rough outing on Wednesday with RHP Louie Varland (0-0, 4.50 ERA) will be taking the mound for the Twins, while the White Sox will send out Twins-killer RHP Dylan Cease (2-1, 4.15 ERA). Tomorrow’s first pitch is scheduled for 6:10 pm CDT, and the temperatures should bring another low-scoring affair. Postgame Interviews
Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

  FRI SAT SUN MON TUE TOT   Thielbar 25 22 0 0 13 60   J López 20 16 0 0 15 51   Jax 16 15 0 0 9 40   Stewart 0 0 13 0 24 37   Pagan 0 0 23 0 0 23   Winder 0 0 23 0 0 23   Duran 0 15 7 0 0 22   Moran 0 0 0 0 0 0       South Dakotan Twins fan, on a quest to see a Twins series in every MLB stadium by 2025. Follow Steven Trefz on Twitter: @TwinsTrefz  

At the beginning of the 2023 season, the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins sat at about even odds of winning the World Series. What a difference a month makes! The Twins enter this three-game tilt at Guaranteed Rate Field with a 17-12 record, and a commanding nine-game lead over the White Sox after only 29 games.
On Tuesday night, the Twins begin a six-game AL Central road trip with a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox. Chicago is in free-fall mode, having just benched Luis Robert for not hustling on what he claims is a tight hamstring. They had a miracle ninth-inning comeback against the Rays on Sunday, which stopped a 10-game losing streak. Minnesota, meanwhile, has been winning series both home and away, and looks to extend their lead over their long-time rivals.
Fun Fact: The Twins took two of three from the White Sox in mid-April at Target Field, but the scores were as close as they get. 3-4, 4-3, and 3-1. Since then the Sox have gone 3-13, and 8-21 overall in Pedro Grifol's first year as manager.
Weather Factor: Chicago looks to be chilly, with temperatures in the low-40's and slight winds adding to the chill (and probably keeping the baseball in the park) Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Thursday's afternoon game might touch the high-50's if they get lucky.
Pitching Probables
Game 1 - Tuesday, May 2nd - 6:10pm CDT - The first game in the series will feature Twins RHP Joe Ryan (5-0, 2.81 ERA) versus White Sox RHP Michael Kopech (0-3, 7.01 ERA). While Ryan is tied for the MLB lead in wins, Kopech is still looking for his first win on the season. 
On paper, this looks like a great matchup for the Twins to kick off the road trip. The Twins have yet to face Kopech this season, however, and their lineup has a cumulative .180 batting average against him in 74 plate appearances. Ryan has little experience against the current White Sox lineup, but will face a team charged up from an improbable comeback in their most recent game. Will the momentum of a seven-run ninth-inning rally be enough to overcome the inertia of a .675 OPS? Or will Ryan's stuff continue to dominate against this short-handed squad?
Game 2 – Wednesday, May 3rd – 6:10pm CDT - The Twins announced that RHP Louie Varland (0-0, 4.50 ERA) will take the mound opposite White Sox RHP Dylan Cease (2-1, 4.15 ERA). Louie Varland last pitched April 27th for the St. Paul Saints, going 5 1/3 innings and getting the win. He seems to be the logical call up with Tyler Mahle getting shut down for a period of time.
Varland looked sharp at Yankee Stadium in mid-April, and Cease faced the Twins on April 10th at Target Field. He five innings and gave up three hits and three runs over that span. Cease's last outing ended after only four innings, having surrendered seven runs to the Blue Jays.
Game 3 - Thursday, May 4th (be with you) - 1:10pm CDT - The Twins have scheduled RHP Pablo Lopez (2-2, 4.00 ERA) to close out the series. The White Sox will counter with RHP Lucas Giolito (1-2, 4.15 ERA). Lopez earned a no-decision against the White Sox in their first matchup this season, going 7 2/3 innings with 10 strike outs, giving up two runs.
Last time the Twins saw Giolito they handed him a hard-luck loss, and he handed Kyle Farmer a 91.6 mph fastball to the teeth. The action on the field shook-up players, coaches, and fans. Nothing about the pitch seemed intentional, but it will be interesting to see if the moment comes up in any way as the two teams meet again this week. 
Prediction Time!
What’s your prediction for this important road series against the White Sox? Can the Twins offense feast on a pitching staff with an ERA barely under 6.00? Will the momentum of Chicago's walk-off win Sunday to snap the 10-game skid continue all the way into Tuesday? Let's go, Twins Territory, tell us what you think!
  Steve is on a mission to take in a Twins series in every Major League ballpark by 2025.
Follow the journey on Twitter @TwinsTrefz

I wrote in the pre-season about how the Twins 2022 road record doomed their playoff hopes, despite carrying a division lead for much of the season. The 2023 Twins squad faced a daunting opening travel schedule, with the opening week of the season taking them 1,900 miles to Kansas City and Miami without an off-day in between. Just six days later they hit the road again, journeying 1,500 miles to New York and Boston with the off-day being Boston Marathon/Patriot Day, which led to the team spending the flex time in New York instead of at the second series site.
The road schedule couldn’t have started any better. The Twins drew substantial fan support at Kansas City, and they swept the Royals with great pitching and timely hitting. Any jet lag that might have journeyed to Miami with the team got blasted away by a few bombas and even some SKOL chants from the traveling Twins faithful, and the Twins were 4-0 to start the season. Since that hot start, the Twins have struggled in opposing stadiums, going 3-6 the rest of the month.
So what went right, what went wrong, and how do these trends play into a month of May where Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles x2, and Houston await the Twins baseball caravan?
What Went Right
Starting Pitching – Without a doubt, the key to April’s winning road record started with the starters. Especially in the Kansas City series, the Twins’ ability to pitch shutouts in the first two games, and then hold the Royals to only one run until the game was well in hand served to deliver the sweep. The remaining wins on the road saw the opposing team score one, two, three, and four runs respectively. Two of the losses involved starters holding the opponent to two runs or less.
Big Innings Early – Each road series saw the Twins win a game where they dropped a three-spot or larger in an early inning. If the road team is going to have any advantage, its when you can get on the board early and often. Sometimes it came through homeruns, sometimes it was small ball. Inevitably, it resulted in a victory.
Reversing the Curse – The first inning at Yankee Stadium will go down in history as one of the best innings in Twins history. Edouard Julien led off with his first MLB hit, and got the chance to hit his first MLB home run before the inning ended. What happened in between was pure magic. Two walks, a single, a sacrifice fly, three doubles, and two other home runs later the Twins were up 9-0, and the game against the perennial nemesis was over before it began.
What Went Wrong 
Manufacturing Base runners – In four of the Twins road losses, they managed a measly eight, five, four, and three base runners in total. One could conclude that Gerrit Cole, Sandy Alcantara, Jesus Luzardo, and Domingo German’s rosin are to blame for the Twins poor offensive showings in those contests.
When I watched those four games live and in person at the stadium, a different story emerged. The three-outcome approach (Strikeout, Home Run, Walk) was in full effect against dominant starters. These games followed offensive outbursts dominated by extra-base hits and homers, but when the Twins needed to manufacture a run no one changed their approach at the plate. The fact stood out especially against Luis Arraez and DJ LeMahieu’s performance in those games. Granted the long-ball also beat the Twins in those games, but when you see professional and adaptable hitting in a close game, it stands out. Who for the Twins will step up to fill this void in the lineup?
Get-Away Days – Every time the last game of a road series rolled around, I was ready to be done. My van was packed, the trip after the game to the next destination was planned, and I had to almost remind myself that there was still a game to be played that day. Unfortunately, I wasn’t alone in this feeling. The Twins went 1-3 in “get-away” day games in April, the last game of each series. They actually finished around .500 in 2022 on these dates, so I’m guessing more series and months will average things out.
I do feel its important to note that in each of the road series so far, the game and the team felt “flat,” and the lineups that were put on the field didn’t imply that they put their best foot forward. The human urge to lose focus on the road is real, so one might argue that the last game of a series should be the time to put the most effort into lineup construction.
Random Implosions – The bullpen gave up a four-spot in the eighth inning to make a 1-1 tie into a late- inning laugher against Miami. Tyler Mahle’s arm began its slow descent onto the injured list in New York. Christian Vazquez forgot how to catch late in the game at his old home, Fenway Park, and the Twins lost in an extra innings that should have never happened. Kenta Maeda took a rocket off of his shin, and Emilio Pagan served up six runs immediately after being lights out all season up until that point.
Road games carry less of a margin for error than home games, and when the Twins provided the errors, the negative results followed. Each of the players mentioned have also been responsible for wins this season, so its not even about them individually. Instead, April’s away games remind us that no implosion will go unpunished on the road.
Where Does the Road Go From Here?
The Twins begin May with two “must-win” road series within the division. The White Sox are one sweep away from imploding for the season, and the Guardians could leapfrog the Twins for first place with a sweep of their own. Los Angeles brings three games apiece against the Dodgers and Angels, and Houston always serves as a difficult venue for Twins to find success.
If the Twins can attack any ace pitching that they find along the way with some adaptive approaches, keep their eyes focused on the task at hand on get-away days, and keep what they can control efficient and clean on the defensive end, a 10-6 record on the road in May isn’t out of the question. Based on 2022’s results, a 5-11 record is just as likely.
Are the Twins’ days of being roadkill over? May will have a lot to say about that.

I wrote in the pre-season about how the Twins 2022 road record doomed their playoff hopes, despite carrying a division lead for much of the season. The 2023 Twins squad faced a daunting opening travel schedule, with the opening week of the season taking them 1,900 miles to Kansas City and Miami without an off-day in between. Just six days later they hit the road again, journeying 1,500 miles to New York and Boston with the off-day being Boston Marathon/Patriot Day, which led to the team spending the flex time in New York instead of at the second series site.
The road schedule couldn’t have started any better. The Twins drew substantial fan support at Kansas City, and they swept the Royals with great pitching and timely hitting. Any jet lag that might have journeyed to Miami with the team got blasted away by a few bombas and even some SKOL chants from the traveling Twins faithful, and the Twins were 4-0 to start the season. Since that hot start, the Twins have struggled in opposing stadiums, going 3-6 the rest of the month.
So what went right, what went wrong, and how do these trends play into a month of May where Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles x2, and Houston await the Twins baseball caravan?
What Went Right
Starting Pitching – Without a doubt, the key to April’s winning road record started with the starters. Especially in the Kansas City series, the Twins’ ability to pitch shutouts in the first two games, and then hold the Royals to only one run until the game was well in hand served to deliver the sweep. The remaining wins on the road saw the opposing team score one, two, three, and four runs respectively. Two of the losses involved starters holding the opponent to two runs or less.
Big Innings Early – Each road series saw the Twins win a game where they dropped a three-spot or larger in an early inning. If the road team is going to have any advantage, its when you can get on the board early and often. Sometimes it came through homeruns, sometimes it was small ball. Inevitably, it resulted in a victory.
Reversing the Curse – The first inning at Yankee Stadium will go down in history as one of the best innings in Twins history. Edouard Julien led off with his first MLB hit, and got the chance to hit his first MLB home run before the inning ended. What happened in between was pure magic. Two walks, a single, a sacrifice fly, three doubles, and two other home runs later the Twins were up 9-0, and the game against the perennial nemesis was over before it began.
What Went Wrong 
Manufacturing Base runners – In four of the Twins road losses, they managed a measly eight, five, four, and three base runners in total. One could conclude that Gerrit Cole, Sandy Alcantara, Jesus Luzardo, and Domingo German’s rosin are to blame for the Twins poor offensive showings in those contests.
When I watched those four games live and in person at the stadium, a different story emerged. The three-outcome approach (Strikeout, Home Run, Walk) was in full effect against dominant starters. These games followed offensive outbursts dominated by extra-base hits and homers, but when the Twins needed to manufacture a run no one changed their approach at the plate. The fact stood out especially against Luis Arraez and DJ LeMahieu’s performance in those games. Granted the long-ball also beat the Twins in those games, but when you see professional and adaptable hitting in a close game, it stands out. Who for the Twins will step up to fill this void in the lineup?
Get-Away Days – Every time the last game of a road series rolled around, I was ready to be done. My van was packed, the trip after the game to the next destination was planned, and I had to almost remind myself that there was still a game to be played that day. Unfortunately, I wasn’t alone in this feeling. The Twins went 1-3 in “get-away” day games in April, the last game of each series. They actually finished around .500 in 2022 on these dates, so I’m guessing more series and months will average things out.
I do feel its important to note that in each of the road series so far, the game and the team felt “flat,” and the lineups that were put on the field didn’t imply that they put their best foot forward. The human urge to lose focus on the road is real, so one might argue that the last game of a series should be the time to put the most effort into lineup construction.
Random Implosions – The bullpen gave up a four-spot in the eighth inning to make a 1-1 tie into a late- inning laugher against Miami. Tyler Mahle’s arm began its slow descent onto the injured list in New York. Christian Vazquez forgot how to catch late in the game at his old home, Fenway Park, and the Twins lost in an extra innings that should have never happened. Kenta Maeda took a rocket off of his shin, and Emilio Pagan served up six runs immediately after being lights out all season up until that point.
Road games carry less of a margin for error than home games, and when the Twins provided the errors, the negative results followed. Each of the players mentioned have also been responsible for wins this season, so its not even about them individually. Instead, April’s away games remind us that no implosion will go unpunished on the road.
Where Does the Road Go From Here?
The Twins begin May with two “must-win” road series within the division. The White Sox are one sweep away from imploding for the season, and the Guardians could leapfrog the Twins for first place with a sweep of their own. Los Angeles brings three games apiece against the Dodgers and Angels, and Houston always serves as a difficult venue for Twins to find success.
If the Twins can attack any ace pitching that they find along the way with some adaptive approaches, keep their eyes focused on the task at hand on get-away days, and keep what they can control efficient and clean on the defensive end, a 10-6 record on the road in May isn’t out of the question. Based on 2022’s results, a 5-11 record is just as likely.
Are the Twins’ days of being roadkill over? May will have a lot to say about that.

I wrote in the pre-season about how the Twins 2022 road record doomed their playoff hopes, despite carrying a division lead for much of the season. The 2023 Twins squad faced a daunting opening travel schedule, with the opening week of the season taking them 1,900 miles to Kansas City and Miami without an off-day in between. Just six days later they hit the road again, journeying 1,500 miles to New York and Boston with the off-day being Boston Marathon/Patriot Day, which led to the team spending the flex time in New York instead of at the second series site.
The road schedule couldn’t have started any better. The Twins drew substantial fan support at Kansas City, and they swept the Royals with great pitching and timely hitting. Any jet lag that might have journeyed to Miami with the team got blasted away by a few bombas and even some SKOL chants from the traveling Twins faithful, and the Twins were 4-0 to start the season. Since that hot start, the Twins have struggled in opposing stadiums, going 3-6 the rest of the month.
So what went right, what went wrong, and how do these trends play into a month of May where Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles x2, and Houston await the Twins baseball caravan?
What Went Right
Starting Pitching – Without a doubt, the key to April’s winning road record started with the starters. Especially in the Kansas City series, the Twins’ ability to pitch shutouts in the first two games, and then hold the Royals to only one run until the game was well in hand served to deliver the sweep. The remaining wins on the road saw the opposing team score one, two, three, and four runs respectively. Two of the losses involved starters holding the opponent to two runs or less.
Big Innings Early – Each road series saw the Twins win a game where they dropped a three-spot or larger in an early inning. If the road team is going to have any advantage, its when you can get on the board early and often. Sometimes it came through homeruns, sometimes it was small ball. Inevitably, it resulted in a victory.
Reversing the Curse – The first inning at Yankee Stadium will go down in history as one of the best innings in Twins history. Edouard Julien led off with his first MLB hit, and got the chance to hit his first MLB home run before the inning ended. What happened in between was pure magic. Two walks, a single, a sacrifice fly, three doubles, and two other home runs later the Twins were up 9-0, and the game against the perennial nemesis was over before it began.
What Went Wrong 
Manufacturing Base runners – In four of the Twins road losses, they managed a measly eight, five, four, and three base runners in total. One could conclude that Gerrit Cole, Sandy Alcantara, Jesus Luzardo, and Domingo German’s rosin are to blame for the Twins poor offensive showings in those contests.
When I watched those four games live and in person at the stadium, a different story emerged. The three-outcome approach (Strikeout, Home Run, Walk) was in full effect against dominant starters. These games followed offensive outbursts dominated by extra-base hits and homers, but when the Twins needed to manufacture a run no one changed their approach at the plate. The fact stood out especially against Luis Arraez and DJ LeMahieu’s performance in those games. Granted the long-ball also beat the Twins in those games, but when you see professional and adaptable hitting in a close game, it stands out. Who for the Twins will step up to fill this void in the lineup?
Get-Away Days – Every time the last game of a road series rolled around, I was ready to be done. My van was packed, the trip after the game to the next destination was planned, and I had to almost remind myself that there was still a game to be played that day. Unfortunately, I wasn’t alone in this feeling. The Twins went 1-3 in “get-away” day games in April, the last game of each series. They actually finished around .500 in 2022 on these dates, so I’m guessing more series and months will average things out.
I do feel its important to note that in each of the road series so far, the game and the team felt “flat,” and the lineups that were put on the field didn’t imply that they put their best foot forward. The human urge to lose focus on the road is real, so one might argue that the last game of a series should be the time to put the most effort into lineup construction.
Random Implosions – The bullpen gave up a four-spot in the eighth inning to make a 1-1 tie into a late- inning laugher against Miami. Tyler Mahle’s arm began its slow descent onto the injured list in New York. Christian Vazquez forgot how to catch late in the game at his old home, Fenway Park, and the Twins lost in an extra innings that should have never happened. Kenta Maeda took a rocket off of his shin, and Emilio Pagan served up six runs immediately after being lights out all season up until that point.
Road games carry less of a margin for error than home games, and when the Twins provided the errors, the negative results followed. Each of the players mentioned have also been responsible for wins this season, so its not even about them individually. Instead, April’s away games remind us that no implosion will go unpunished on the road.
Where Does the Road Go From Here?
The Twins begin May with two “must-win” road series within the division. The White Sox are one sweep away from imploding for the season, and the Guardians could leapfrog the Twins for first place with a sweep of their own. Los Angeles brings three games apiece against the Dodgers and Angels, and Houston always serves as a difficult venue for Twins to find success.
If the Twins can attack any ace pitching that they find along the way with some adaptive approaches, keep their eyes focused on the task at hand on get-away days, and keep what they can control efficient and clean on the defensive end, a 10-6 record on the road in May isn’t out of the question. Based on 2022’s results, a 5-11 record is just as likely.
Are the Twins’ days of being roadkill over? May will have a lot to say about that.

At the beginning of the 2023 season, the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins sat at about even odds of winning the World Series. What a difference a month makes! The Twins enter this three-game tilt at Guaranteed Rate Field with a 17-12 record, and a commanding nine-game lead over the White Sox after only 29 games.
On Tuesday night, the Twins begin a six-game AL Central road trip with a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox. Chicago is in free-fall mode, having just benched Luis Robert for not hustling on what he claims is a tight hamstring. They had a miracle ninth-inning comeback against the Rays on Sunday, which stopped a 10-game losing streak. Minnesota, meanwhile, has been winning series both home and away, and looks to extend their lead over their long-time rivals.
Fun Fact: The Twins took two of three from the White Sox in mid-April at Target Field, but the scores were as close as they get. 3-4, 4-3, and 3-1. Since then the Sox have gone 3-13, and 8-21 overall in Pedro Grifol's first year as manager.
Weather Factor: Chicago looks to be chilly, with temperatures in the low-40's and slight winds adding to the chill (and probably keeping the baseball in the park) Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Thursday's afternoon game might touch the high-50's if they get lucky.
Pitching Probables
Game 1 - Tuesday, May 2nd - 6:10pm CDT - The first game in the series will feature Twins RHP Joe Ryan (5-0, 2.81 ERA) versus White Sox RHP Michael Kopech (0-3, 7.01 ERA). While Ryan is tied for the MLB lead in wins, Kopech is still looking for his first win on the season. 
On paper, this looks like a great matchup for the Twins to kick off the road trip. The Twins have yet to face Kopech this season, however, and their lineup has a cumulative .180 batting average against him in 74 plate appearances. Ryan has little experience against the current White Sox lineup, but will face a team charged up from an improbable comeback in their most recent game. Will the momentum of a seven-run ninth-inning rally be enough to overcome the inertia of a .675 OPS? Or will Ryan's stuff continue to dominate against this short-handed squad?
Game 2 – Wednesday, May 3rd – 6:10pm CDT - The Twins announced that RHP Louie Varland (0-0, 4.50 ERA) will take the mound opposite White Sox RHP Dylan Cease (2-1, 4.15 ERA). Louie Varland last pitched April 27th for the St. Paul Saints, going 5 1/3 innings and getting the win. He seems to be the logical call up with Tyler Mahle getting shut down for a period of time.
Varland looked sharp at Yankee Stadium in mid-April, and Cease faced the Twins on April 10th at Target Field. He five innings and gave up three hits and three runs over that span. Cease's last outing ended after only four innings, having surrendered seven runs to the Blue Jays.
Game 3 - Thursday, May 4th (be with you) - 1:10pm CDT - The Twins have scheduled RHP Pablo Lopez (2-2, 4.00 ERA) to close out the series. The White Sox will counter with RHP Lucas Giolito (1-2, 4.15 ERA). Lopez earned a no-decision against the White Sox in their first matchup this season, going 7 2/3 innings with 10 strike outs, giving up two runs.
Last time the Twins saw Giolito they handed him a hard-luck loss, and he handed Kyle Farmer a 91.6 mph fastball to the teeth. The action on the field shook-up players, coaches, and fans. Nothing about the pitch seemed intentional, but it will be interesting to see if the moment comes up in any way as the two teams meet again this week. 
Prediction Time!
What’s your prediction for this important road series against the White Sox? Can the Twins offense feast on a pitching staff with an ERA barely under 6.00? Will the momentum of Chicago's walk-off win Sunday to snap the 10-game skid continue all the way into Tuesday? Let's go, Twins Territory, tell us what you think!
  Steve is on a mission to take in a Twins series in every Major League ballpark by 2025.
Follow the journey on Twitter @TwinsTrefz

I wrote in the pre-season about how the Twins 2022 road record doomed their playoff hopes, despite carrying a division lead for much of the season. The 2023 Twins squad faced a daunting opening travel schedule, with the opening week of the season taking them 1,900 miles to Kansas City and Miami without an off-day in between. Just six days later they hit the road again, journeying 1,500 miles to New York and Boston with the off-day being Boston Marathon/Patriot Day, which led to the team spending the flex time in New York instead of at the second series site.
The road schedule couldn’t have started any better. The Twins drew substantial fan support at Kansas City, and they swept the Royals with great pitching and timely hitting. Any jet lag that might have journeyed to Miami with the team got blasted away by a few bombas and even some SKOL chants from the traveling Twins faithful, and the Twins were 4-0 to start the season. Since that hot start, the Twins have struggled in opposing stadiums, going 3-6 the rest of the month.
So what went right, what went wrong, and how do these trends play into a month of May where Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles x2, and Houston await the Twins baseball caravan?
What Went Right
Starting Pitching – Without a doubt, the key to April’s winning road record started with the starters. Especially in the Kansas City series, the Twins’ ability to pitch shutouts in the first two games, and then hold the Royals to only one run until the game was well in hand served to deliver the sweep. The remaining wins on the road saw the opposing team score one, two, three, and four runs respectively. Two of the losses involved starters holding the opponent to two runs or less.
Big Innings Early – Each road series saw the Twins win a game where they dropped a three-spot or larger in an early inning. If the road team is going to have any advantage, its when you can get on the board early and often. Sometimes it came through homeruns, sometimes it was small ball. Inevitably, it resulted in a victory.
Reversing the Curse – The first inning at Yankee Stadium will go down in history as one of the best innings in Twins history. Edouard Julien led off with his first MLB hit, and got the chance to hit his first MLB home run before the inning ended. What happened in between was pure magic. Two walks, a single, a sacrifice fly, three doubles, and two other home runs later the Twins were up 9-0, and the game against the perennial nemesis was over before it began.
What Went Wrong 
Manufacturing Base runners – In four of the Twins road losses, they managed a measly eight, five, four, and three base runners in total. One could conclude that Gerrit Cole, Sandy Alcantara, Jesus Luzardo, and Domingo German’s rosin are to blame for the Twins poor offensive showings in those contests.
When I watched those four games live and in person at the stadium, a different story emerged. The three-outcome approach (Strikeout, Home Run, Walk) was in full effect against dominant starters. These games followed offensive outbursts dominated by extra-base hits and homers, but when the Twins needed to manufacture a run no one changed their approach at the plate. The fact stood out especially against Luis Arraez and DJ LeMahieu’s performance in those games. Granted the long-ball also beat the Twins in those games, but when you see professional and adaptable hitting in a close game, it stands out. Who for the Twins will step up to fill this void in the lineup?
Get-Away Days – Every time the last game of a road series rolled around, I was ready to be done. My van was packed, the trip after the game to the next destination was planned, and I had to almost remind myself that there was still a game to be played that day. Unfortunately, I wasn’t alone in this feeling. The Twins went 1-3 in “get-away” day games in April, the last game of each series. They actually finished around .500 in 2022 on these dates, so I’m guessing more series and months will average things out.
I do feel its important to note that in each of the road series so far, the game and the team felt “flat,” and the lineups that were put on the field didn’t imply that they put their best foot forward. The human urge to lose focus on the road is real, so one might argue that the last game of a series should be the time to put the most effort into lineup construction.
Random Implosions – The bullpen gave up a four-spot in the eighth inning to make a 1-1 tie into a late- inning laugher against Miami. Tyler Mahle’s arm began its slow descent onto the injured list in New York. Christian Vazquez forgot how to catch late in the game at his old home, Fenway Park, and the Twins lost in an extra innings that should have never happened. Kenta Maeda took a rocket off of his shin, and Emilio Pagan served up six runs immediately after being lights out all season up until that point.
Road games carry less of a margin for error than home games, and when the Twins provided the errors, the negative results followed. Each of the players mentioned have also been responsible for wins this season, so its not even about them individually. Instead, April’s away games remind us that no implosion will go unpunished on the road.
Where Does the Road Go From Here?
The Twins begin May with two “must-win” road series within the division. The White Sox are one sweep away from imploding for the season, and the Guardians could leapfrog the Twins for first place with a sweep of their own. Los Angeles brings three games apiece against the Dodgers and Angels, and Houston always serves as a difficult venue for Twins to find success.
If the Twins can attack any ace pitching that they find along the way with some adaptive approaches, keep their eyes focused on the task at hand on get-away days, and keep what they can control efficient and clean on the defensive end, a 10-6 record on the road in May isn’t out of the question. Based on 2022’s results, a 5-11 record is just as likely.
Are the Twins’ days of being roadkill over? May will have a lot to say about that.

I wrote in the pre-season about how the Twins 2022 road record doomed their playoff hopes, despite carrying a division lead for much of the season. The 2023 Twins squad faced a daunting opening travel schedule, with the opening week of the season taking them 1,900 miles to Kansas City and Miami without an off-day in between. Just six days later they hit the road again, journeying 1,500 miles to New York and Boston with the off-day being Boston Marathon/Patriot Day, which led to the team spending the flex time in New York instead of at the second series site.
The road schedule couldn’t have started any better. The Twins drew substantial fan support at Kansas City, and they swept the Royals with great pitching and timely hitting. Any jet lag that might have journeyed to Miami with the team got blasted away by a few bombas and even some SKOL chants from the traveling Twins faithful, and the Twins were 4-0 to start the season. Since that hot start, the Twins have struggled in opposing stadiums, going 3-6 the rest of the month.
So what went right, what went wrong, and how do these trends play into a month of May where Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles x2, and Houston await the Twins baseball caravan?
What Went Right
Starting Pitching – Without a doubt, the key to April’s winning road record started with the starters. Especially in the Kansas City series, the Twins’ ability to pitch shutouts in the first two games, and then hold the Royals to only one run until the game was well in hand served to deliver the sweep. The remaining wins on the road saw the opposing team score one, two, three, and four runs respectively. Two of the losses involved starters holding the opponent to two runs or less.
Big Innings Early – Each road series saw the Twins win a game where they dropped a three-spot or larger in an early inning. If the road team is going to have any advantage, its when you can get on the board early and often. Sometimes it came through homeruns, sometimes it was small ball. Inevitably, it resulted in a victory.
Reversing the Curse – The first inning at Yankee Stadium will go down in history as one of the best innings in Twins history. Edouard Julien led off with his first MLB hit, and got the chance to hit his first MLB home run before the inning ended. What happened in between was pure magic. Two walks, a single, a sacrifice fly, three doubles, and two other home runs later the Twins were up 9-0, and the game against the perennial nemesis was over before it began.
What Went Wrong 
Manufacturing Base runners – In four of the Twins road losses, they managed a measly eight, five, four, and three base runners in total. One could conclude that Gerrit Cole, Sandy Alcantara, Jesus Luzardo, and Domingo German’s rosin are to blame for the Twins poor offensive showings in those contests.
When I watched those four games live and in person at the stadium, a different story emerged. The three-outcome approach (Strikeout, Home Run, Walk) was in full effect against dominant starters. These games followed offensive outbursts dominated by extra-base hits and homers, but when the Twins needed to manufacture a run no one changed their approach at the plate. The fact stood out especially against Luis Arraez and DJ LeMahieu’s performance in those games. Granted the long-ball also beat the Twins in those games, but when you see professional and adaptable hitting in a close game, it stands out. Who for the Twins will step up to fill this void in the lineup?
Get-Away Days – Every time the last game of a road series rolled around, I was ready to be done. My van was packed, the trip after the game to the next destination was planned, and I had to almost remind myself that there was still a game to be played that day. Unfortunately, I wasn’t alone in this feeling. The Twins went 1-3 in “get-away” day games in April, the last game of each series. They actually finished around .500 in 2022 on these dates, so I’m guessing more series and months will average things out.
I do feel its important to note that in each of the road series so far, the game and the team felt “flat,” and the lineups that were put on the field didn’t imply that they put their best foot forward. The human urge to lose focus on the road is real, so one might argue that the last game of a series should be the time to put the most effort into lineup construction.
Random Implosions – The bullpen gave up a four-spot in the eighth inning to make a 1-1 tie into a late- inning laugher against Miami. Tyler Mahle’s arm began its slow descent onto the injured list in New York. Christian Vazquez forgot how to catch late in the game at his old home, Fenway Park, and the Twins lost in an extra innings that should have never happened. Kenta Maeda took a rocket off of his shin, and Emilio Pagan served up six runs immediately after being lights out all season up until that point.
Road games carry less of a margin for error than home games, and when the Twins provided the errors, the negative results followed. Each of the players mentioned have also been responsible for wins this season, so its not even about them individually. Instead, April’s away games remind us that no implosion will go unpunished on the road.
Where Does the Road Go From Here?
The Twins begin May with two “must-win” road series within the division. The White Sox are one sweep away from imploding for the season, and the Guardians could leapfrog the Twins for first place with a sweep of their own. Los Angeles brings three games apiece against the Dodgers and Angels, and Houston always serves as a difficult venue for Twins to find success.
If the Twins can attack any ace pitching that they find along the way with some adaptive approaches, keep their eyes focused on the task at hand on get-away days, and keep what they can control efficient and clean on the defensive end, a 10-6 record on the road in May isn’t out of the question. Based on 2022’s results, a 5-11 record is just as likely.
Are the Twins’ days of being roadkill over? May will have a lot to say about that.

I wrote in the pre-season about how the Twins 2022 road record doomed their playoff hopes, despite carrying a division lead for much of the season. The 2023 Twins squad faced a daunting opening travel schedule, with the opening week of the season taking them 1,900 miles to Kansas City and Miami without an off-day in between. Just six days later they hit the road again, journeying 1,500 miles to New York and Boston with the off-day being Boston Marathon/Patriot Day, which led to the team spending the flex time in New York instead of at the second series site.
The road schedule couldn’t have started any better. The Twins drew substantial fan support at Kansas City, and they swept the Royals with great pitching and timely hitting. Any jet lag that might have journeyed to Miami with the team got blasted away by a few bombas and even some SKOL chants from the traveling Twins faithful, and the Twins were 4-0 to start the season. Since that hot start, the Twins have struggled in opposing stadiums, going 3-6 the rest of the month.
So what went right, what went wrong, and how do these trends play into a month of May where Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles x2, and Houston await the Twins baseball caravan?
What Went Right
Starting Pitching – Without a doubt, the key to April’s winning road record started with the starters. Especially in the Kansas City series, the Twins’ ability to pitch shutouts in the first two games, and then hold the Royals to only one run until the game was well in hand served to deliver the sweep. The remaining wins on the road saw the opposing team score one, two, three, and four runs respectively. Two of the losses involved starters holding the opponent to two runs or less.
Big Innings Early – Each road series saw the Twins win a game where they dropped a three-spot or larger in an early inning. If the road team is going to have any advantage, its when you can get on the board early and often. Sometimes it came through homeruns, sometimes it was small ball. Inevitably, it resulted in a victory.
Reversing the Curse – The first inning at Yankee Stadium will go down in history as one of the best innings in Twins history. Edouard Julien led off with his first MLB hit, and got the chance to hit his first MLB home run before the inning ended. What happened in between was pure magic. Two walks, a single, a sacrifice fly, three doubles, and two other home runs later the Twins were up 9-0, and the game against the perennial nemesis was over before it began.
What Went Wrong 
Manufacturing Base runners – In four of the Twins road losses, they managed a measly eight, five, four, and three base runners in total. One could conclude that Gerrit Cole, Sandy Alcantara, Jesus Luzardo, and Domingo German’s rosin are to blame for the Twins poor offensive showings in those contests.
When I watched those four games live and in person at the stadium, a different story emerged. The three-outcome approach (Strikeout, Home Run, Walk) was in full effect against dominant starters. These games followed offensive outbursts dominated by extra-base hits and homers, but when the Twins needed to manufacture a run no one changed their approach at the plate. The fact stood out especially against Luis Arraez and DJ LeMahieu’s performance in those games. Granted the long-ball also beat the Twins in those games, but when you see professional and adaptable hitting in a close game, it stands out. Who for the Twins will step up to fill this void in the lineup?
Get-Away Days – Every time the last game of a road series rolled around, I was ready to be done. My van was packed, the trip after the game to the next destination was planned, and I had to almost remind myself that there was still a game to be played that day. Unfortunately, I wasn’t alone in this feeling. The Twins went 1-3 in “get-away” day games in April, the last game of each series. They actually finished around .500 in 2022 on these dates, so I’m guessing more series and months will average things out.
I do feel its important to note that in each of the road series so far, the game and the team felt “flat,” and the lineups that were put on the field didn’t imply that they put their best foot forward. The human urge to lose focus on the road is real, so one might argue that the last game of a series should be the time to put the most effort into lineup construction.
Random Implosions – The bullpen gave up a four-spot in the eighth inning to make a 1-1 tie into a late- inning laugher against Miami. Tyler Mahle’s arm began its slow descent onto the injured list in New York. Christian Vazquez forgot how to catch late in the game at his old home, Fenway Park, and the Twins lost in an extra innings that should have never happened. Kenta Maeda took a rocket off of his shin, and Emilio Pagan served up six runs immediately after being lights out all season up until that point.
Road games carry less of a margin for error than home games, and when the Twins provided the errors, the negative results followed. Each of the players mentioned have also been responsible for wins this season, so its not even about them individually. Instead, April’s away games remind us that no implosion will go unpunished on the road.
Where Does the Road Go From Here?
The Twins begin May with two “must-win” road series within the division. The White Sox are one sweep away from imploding for the season, and the Guardians could leapfrog the Twins for first place with a sweep of their own. Los Angeles brings three games apiece against the Dodgers and Angels, and Houston always serves as a difficult venue for Twins to find success.
If the Twins can attack any ace pitching that they find along the way with some adaptive approaches, keep their eyes focused on the task at hand on get-away days, and keep what they can control efficient and clean on the defensive end, a 10-6 record on the road in May isn’t out of the question. Based on 2022’s results, a 5-11 record is just as likely.
Are the Twins’ days of being roadkill over? May will have a lot to say about that.

At the beginning of the 2023 season, the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins sat at about even odds of winning the World Series. What a difference a month makes! The Twins enter this three-game tilt at Guaranteed Rate Field with a 17-12 record, and a commanding nine-game lead over the White Sox after only 29 games.
On Tuesday night, the Twins begin a six-game AL Central road trip with a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox. Chicago is in free-fall mode, having just benched Luis Robert for not hustling on what he claims is a tight hamstring. They had a miracle ninth-inning comeback against the Rays on Sunday, which stopped a 10-game losing streak. Minnesota, meanwhile, has been winning series both home and away, and looks to extend their lead over their long-time rivals.
Fun Fact: The Twins took two of three from the White Sox in mid-April at Target Field, but the scores were as close as they get. 3-4, 4-3, and 3-1. Since then the Sox have gone 3-13, and 8-21 overall in Pedro Grifol's first year as manager.
Weather Factor: Chicago looks to be chilly, with temperatures in the low-40's and slight winds adding to the chill (and probably keeping the baseball in the park) Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Thursday's afternoon game might touch the high-50's if they get lucky.
Pitching Probables
Game 1 - Tuesday, May 2nd - 6:10pm CDT - The first game in the series will feature Twins RHP Joe Ryan (5-0, 2.81 ERA) versus White Sox RHP Michael Kopech (0-3, 7.01 ERA). While Ryan is tied for the MLB lead in wins, Kopech is still looking for his first win on the season. 
On paper, this looks like a great matchup for the Twins to kick off the road trip. The Twins have yet to face Kopech this season, however, and their lineup has a cumulative .180 batting average against him in 74 plate appearances. Ryan has little experience against the current White Sox lineup, but will face a team charged up from an improbable comeback in their most recent game. Will the momentum of a seven-run ninth-inning rally be enough to overcome the inertia of a .675 OPS? Or will Ryan's stuff continue to dominate against this short-handed squad?
Game 2 – Wednesday, May 3rd – 6:10pm CDT - The Twins announced that RHP Louie Varland (0-0, 4.50 ERA) will take the mound opposite White Sox RHP Dylan Cease (2-1, 4.15 ERA). Louie Varland last pitched April 27th for the St. Paul Saints, going 5 1/3 innings and getting the win. He seems to be the logical call up with Tyler Mahle getting shut down for a period of time.
Varland looked sharp at Yankee Stadium in mid-April, and Cease faced the Twins on April 10th at Target Field. He five innings and gave up three hits and three runs over that span. Cease's last outing ended after only four innings, having surrendered seven runs to the Blue Jays.
Game 3 - Thursday, May 4th (be with you) - 1:10pm CDT - The Twins have scheduled RHP Pablo Lopez (2-2, 4.00 ERA) to close out the series. The White Sox will counter with RHP Lucas Giolito (1-2, 4.15 ERA). Lopez earned a no-decision against the White Sox in their first matchup this season, going 7 2/3 innings with 10 strike outs, giving up two runs.
Last time the Twins saw Giolito they handed him a hard-luck loss, and he handed Kyle Farmer a 91.6 mph fastball to the teeth. The action on the field shook-up players, coaches, and fans. Nothing about the pitch seemed intentional, but it will be interesting to see if the moment comes up in any way as the two teams meet again this week. 
Prediction Time!
What’s your prediction for this important road series against the White Sox? Can the Twins offense feast on a pitching staff with an ERA barely under 6.00? Will the momentum of Chicago's walk-off win Sunday to snap the 10-game skid continue all the way into Tuesday? Let's go, Twins Territory, tell us what you think!
  Steve is on a mission to take in a Twins series in every Major League ballpark by 2025.
Follow the journey on Twitter @TwinsTrefz

I wrote in the pre-season about how the Twins 2022 road record doomed their playoff hopes, despite carrying a division lead for much of the season. The 2023 Twins squad faced a daunting opening travel schedule, with the opening week of the season taking them 1,900 miles to Kansas City and Miami without an off-day in between. Just six days later they hit the road again, journeying 1,500 miles to New York and Boston with the off-day being Boston Marathon/Patriot Day, which led to the team spending the flex time in New York instead of at the second series site.
The road schedule couldn’t have started any better. The Twins drew substantial fan support at Kansas City, and they swept the Royals with great pitching and timely hitting. Any jet lag that might have journeyed to Miami with the team got blasted away by a few bombas and even some SKOL chants from the traveling Twins faithful, and the Twins were 4-0 to start the season. Since that hot start, the Twins have struggled in opposing stadiums, going 3-6 the rest of the month.
So what went right, what went wrong, and how do these trends play into a month of May where Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles x2, and Houston await the Twins baseball caravan?
What Went Right
Starting Pitching – Without a doubt, the key to April’s winning road record started with the starters. Especially in the Kansas City series, the Twins’ ability to pitch shutouts in the first two games, and then hold the Royals to only one run until the game was well in hand served to deliver the sweep. The remaining wins on the road saw the opposing team score one, two, three, and four runs respectively. Two of the losses involved starters holding the opponent to two runs or less.
Big Innings Early – Each road series saw the Twins win a game where they dropped a three-spot or larger in an early inning. If the road team is going to have any advantage, its when you can get on the board early and often. Sometimes it came through homeruns, sometimes it was small ball. Inevitably, it resulted in a victory.
Reversing the Curse – The first inning at Yankee Stadium will go down in history as one of the best innings in Twins history. Edouard Julien led off with his first MLB hit, and got the chance to hit his first MLB home run before the inning ended. What happened in between was pure magic. Two walks, a single, a sacrifice fly, three doubles, and two other home runs later the Twins were up 9-0, and the game against the perennial nemesis was over before it began.
What Went Wrong 
Manufacturing Base runners – In four of the Twins road losses, they managed a measly eight, five, four, and three base runners in total. One could conclude that Gerrit Cole, Sandy Alcantara, Jesus Luzardo, and Domingo German’s rosin are to blame for the Twins poor offensive showings in those contests.
When I watched those four games live and in person at the stadium, a different story emerged. The three-outcome approach (Strikeout, Home Run, Walk) was in full effect against dominant starters. These games followed offensive outbursts dominated by extra-base hits and homers, but when the Twins needed to manufacture a run no one changed their approach at the plate. The fact stood out especially against Luis Arraez and DJ LeMahieu’s performance in those games. Granted the long-ball also beat the Twins in those games, but when you see professional and adaptable hitting in a close game, it stands out. Who for the Twins will step up to fill this void in the lineup?
Get-Away Days – Every time the last game of a road series rolled around, I was ready to be done. My van was packed, the trip after the game to the next destination was planned, and I had to almost remind myself that there was still a game to be played that day. Unfortunately, I wasn’t alone in this feeling. The Twins went 1-3 in “get-away” day games in April, the last game of each series. They actually finished around .500 in 2022 on these dates, so I’m guessing more series and months will average things out.
I do feel its important to note that in each of the road series so far, the game and the team felt “flat,” and the lineups that were put on the field didn’t imply that they put their best foot forward. The human urge to lose focus on the road is real, so one might argue that the last game of a series should be the time to put the most effort into lineup construction.
Random Implosions – The bullpen gave up a four-spot in the eighth inning to make a 1-1 tie into a late- inning laugher against Miami. Tyler Mahle’s arm began its slow descent onto the injured list in New York. Christian Vazquez forgot how to catch late in the game at his old home, Fenway Park, and the Twins lost in an extra innings that should have never happened. Kenta Maeda took a rocket off of his shin, and Emilio Pagan served up six runs immediately after being lights out all season up until that point.
Road games carry less of a margin for error than home games, and when the Twins provided the errors, the negative results followed. Each of the players mentioned have also been responsible for wins this season, so its not even about them individually. Instead, April’s away games remind us that no implosion will go unpunished on the road.
Where Does the Road Go From Here?
The Twins begin May with two “must-win” road series within the division. The White Sox are one sweep away from imploding for the season, and the Guardians could leapfrog the Twins for first place with a sweep of their own. Los Angeles brings three games apiece against the Dodgers and Angels, and Houston always serves as a difficult venue for Twins to find success.
If the Twins can attack any ace pitching that they find along the way with some adaptive approaches, keep their eyes focused on the task at hand on get-away days, and keep what they can control efficient and clean on the defensive end, a 10-6 record on the road in May isn’t out of the question. Based on 2022’s results, a 5-11 record is just as likely.
Are the Twins’ days of being roadkill over? May will have a lot to say about that.

I wrote in the pre-season about how the Twins 2022 road record doomed their playoff hopes, despite carrying a division lead for much of the season. The 2023 Twins squad faced a daunting opening travel schedule, with the opening week of the season taking them 1,900 miles to Kansas City and Miami without an off-day in between. Just six days later they hit the road again, journeying 1,500 miles to New York and Boston with the off-day being Boston Marathon/Patriot Day, which led to the team spending the flex time in New York instead of at the second series site.
The road schedule couldn’t have started any better. The Twins drew substantial fan support at Kansas City, and they swept the Royals with great pitching and timely hitting. Any jet lag that might have journeyed to Miami with the team got blasted away by a few bombas and even some SKOL chants from the traveling Twins faithful, and the Twins were 4-0 to start the season. Since that hot start, the Twins have struggled in opposing stadiums, going 3-6 the rest of the month.
So what went right, what went wrong, and how do these trends play into a month of May where Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles x2, and Houston await the Twins baseball caravan?
What Went Right
Starting Pitching – Without a doubt, the key to April’s winning road record started with the starters. Especially in the Kansas City series, the Twins’ ability to pitch shutouts in the first two games, and then hold the Royals to only one run until the game was well in hand served to deliver the sweep. The remaining wins on the road saw the opposing team score one, two, three, and four runs respectively. Two of the losses involved starters holding the opponent to two runs or less.
Big Innings Early – Each road series saw the Twins win a game where they dropped a three-spot or larger in an early inning. If the road team is going to have any advantage, its when you can get on the board early and often. Sometimes it came through homeruns, sometimes it was small ball. Inevitably, it resulted in a victory.
Reversing the Curse – The first inning at Yankee Stadium will go down in history as one of the best innings in Twins history. Edouard Julien led off with his first MLB hit, and got the chance to hit his first MLB home run before the inning ended. What happened in between was pure magic. Two walks, a single, a sacrifice fly, three doubles, and two other home runs later the Twins were up 9-0, and the game against the perennial nemesis was over before it began.
What Went Wrong 
Manufacturing Base runners – In four of the Twins road losses, they managed a measly eight, five, four, and three base runners in total. One could conclude that Gerrit Cole, Sandy Alcantara, Jesus Luzardo, and Domingo German’s rosin are to blame for the Twins poor offensive showings in those contests.
When I watched those four games live and in person at the stadium, a different story emerged. The three-outcome approach (Strikeout, Home Run, Walk) was in full effect against dominant starters. These games followed offensive outbursts dominated by extra-base hits and homers, but when the Twins needed to manufacture a run no one changed their approach at the plate. The fact stood out especially against Luis Arraez and DJ LeMahieu’s performance in those games. Granted the long-ball also beat the Twins in those games, but when you see professional and adaptable hitting in a close game, it stands out. Who for the Twins will step up to fill this void in the lineup?
Get-Away Days – Every time the last game of a road series rolled around, I was ready to be done. My van was packed, the trip after the game to the next destination was planned, and I had to almost remind myself that there was still a game to be played that day. Unfortunately, I wasn’t alone in this feeling. The Twins went 1-3 in “get-away” day games in April, the last game of each series. They actually finished around .500 in 2022 on these dates, so I’m guessing more series and months will average things out.
I do feel its important to note that in each of the road series so far, the game and the team felt “flat,” and the lineups that were put on the field didn’t imply that they put their best foot forward. The human urge to lose focus on the road is real, so one might argue that the last game of a series should be the time to put the most effort into lineup construction.
Random Implosions – The bullpen gave up a four-spot in the eighth inning to make a 1-1 tie into a late- inning laugher against Miami. Tyler Mahle’s arm began its slow descent onto the injured list in New York. Christian Vazquez forgot how to catch late in the game at his old home, Fenway Park, and the Twins lost in an extra innings that should have never happened. Kenta Maeda took a rocket off of his shin, and Emilio Pagan served up six runs immediately after being lights out all season up until that point.
Road games carry less of a margin for error than home games, and when the Twins provided the errors, the negative results followed. Each of the players mentioned have also been responsible for wins this season, so its not even about them individually. Instead, April’s away games remind us that no implosion will go unpunished on the road.
Where Does the Road Go From Here?
The Twins begin May with two “must-win” road series within the division. The White Sox are one sweep away from imploding for the season, and the Guardians could leapfrog the Twins for first place with a sweep of their own. Los Angeles brings three games apiece against the Dodgers and Angels, and Houston always serves as a difficult venue for Twins to find success.
If the Twins can attack any ace pitching that they find along the way with some adaptive approaches, keep their eyes focused on the task at hand on get-away days, and keep what they can control efficient and clean on the defensive end, a 10-6 record on the road in May isn’t out of the question. Based on 2022’s results, a 5-11 record is just as likely.
Are the Twins’ days of being roadkill over? May will have a lot to say about that.

I wrote in the pre-season about how the Twins 2022 road record doomed their playoff hopes, despite carrying a division lead for much of the season. The 2023 Twins squad faced a daunting opening travel schedule, with the opening week of the season taking them 1,900 miles to Kansas City and Miami without an off-day in between. Just six days later they hit the road again, journeying 1,500 miles to New York and Boston with the off-day being Boston Marathon/Patriot Day, which led to the team spending the flex time in New York instead of at the second series site.
The road schedule couldn’t have started any better. The Twins drew substantial fan support at Kansas City, and they swept the Royals with great pitching and timely hitting. Any jet lag that might have journeyed to Miami with the team got blasted away by a few bombas and even some SKOL chants from the traveling Twins faithful, and the Twins were 4-0 to start the season. Since that hot start, the Twins have struggled in opposing stadiums, going 3-6 the rest of the month.
So what went right, what went wrong, and how do these trends play into a month of May where Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles x2, and Houston await the Twins baseball caravan?
What Went Right
Starting Pitching – Without a doubt, the key to April’s winning road record started with the starters. Especially in the Kansas City series, the Twins’ ability to pitch shutouts in the first two games, and then hold the Royals to only one run until the game was well in hand served to deliver the sweep. The remaining wins on the road saw the opposing team score one, two, three, and four runs respectively. Two of the losses involved starters holding the opponent to two runs or less.
Big Innings Early – Each road series saw the Twins win a game where they dropped a three-spot or larger in an early inning. If the road team is going to have any advantage, its when you can get on the board early and often. Sometimes it came through homeruns, sometimes it was small ball. Inevitably, it resulted in a victory.
Reversing the Curse – The first inning at Yankee Stadium will go down in history as one of the best innings in Twins history. Edouard Julien led off with his first MLB hit, and got the chance to hit his first MLB home run before the inning ended. What happened in between was pure magic. Two walks, a single, a sacrifice fly, three doubles, and two other home runs later the Twins were up 9-0, and the game against the perennial nemesis was over before it began.
What Went Wrong 
Manufacturing Base runners – In four of the Twins road losses, they managed a measly eight, five, four, and three base runners in total. One could conclude that Gerrit Cole, Sandy Alcantara, Jesus Luzardo, and Domingo German’s rosin are to blame for the Twins poor offensive showings in those contests.
When I watched those four games live and in person at the stadium, a different story emerged. The three-outcome approach (Strikeout, Home Run, Walk) was in full effect against dominant starters. These games followed offensive outbursts dominated by extra-base hits and homers, but when the Twins needed to manufacture a run no one changed their approach at the plate. The fact stood out especially against Luis Arraez and DJ LeMahieu’s performance in those games. Granted the long-ball also beat the Twins in those games, but when you see professional and adaptable hitting in a close game, it stands out. Who for the Twins will step up to fill this void in the lineup?
Get-Away Days – Every time the last game of a road series rolled around, I was ready to be done. My van was packed, the trip after the game to the next destination was planned, and I had to almost remind myself that there was still a game to be played that day. Unfortunately, I wasn’t alone in this feeling. The Twins went 1-3 in “get-away” day games in April, the last game of each series. They actually finished around .500 in 2022 on these dates, so I’m guessing more series and months will average things out.
I do feel its important to note that in each of the road series so far, the game and the team felt “flat,” and the lineups that were put on the field didn’t imply that they put their best foot forward. The human urge to lose focus on the road is real, so one might argue that the last game of a series should be the time to put the most effort into lineup construction.
Random Implosions – The bullpen gave up a four-spot in the eighth inning to make a 1-1 tie into a late- inning laugher against Miami. Tyler Mahle’s arm began its slow descent onto the injured list in New York. Christian Vazquez forgot how to catch late in the game at his old home, Fenway Park, and the Twins lost in an extra innings that should have never happened. Kenta Maeda took a rocket off of his shin, and Emilio Pagan served up six runs immediately after being lights out all season up until that point.
Road games carry less of a margin for error than home games, and when the Twins provided the errors, the negative results followed. Each of the players mentioned have also been responsible for wins this season, so its not even about them individually. Instead, April’s away games remind us that no implosion will go unpunished on the road.
Where Does the Road Go From Here?
The Twins begin May with two “must-win” road series within the division. The White Sox are one sweep away from imploding for the season, and the Guardians could leapfrog the Twins for first place with a sweep of their own. Los Angeles brings three games apiece against the Dodgers and Angels, and Houston always serves as a difficult venue for Twins to find success.
If the Twins can attack any ace pitching that they find along the way with some adaptive approaches, keep their eyes focused on the task at hand on get-away days, and keep what they can control efficient and clean on the defensive end, a 10-6 record on the road in May isn’t out of the question. Based on 2022’s results, a 5-11 record is just as likely.
Are the Twins’ days of being roadkill over? May will have a lot to say about that.