With the trade deadline closing in, the Twins aren’t the only club Minnesota fans need to track. At 2 1/2 games out of the final Wild Card spot and 4 1/2 games behind first place in the American League Central, the Twins’ next stretch will go a long way toward shaping their own deadline path. But what happens around them could matter just as much.
Boston is the one to watch first. The Red Sox hold the third American League Wild Card spot, and Minnesota trails them by 2 1/2 games with a 51-53 record.
Boston’s 15-game winning streak finally ended Wednesday night, after a run that tied the franchise record. The Red Sox now open a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park on Friday night, then head into a seven-game road trip that includes four games against the Athletics and three against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Seattle sits right in the middle of that Wild Card traffic jam, two games behind Boston. The Mariners have a demanding schedule before the deadline, starting with a four-game series against the Texas Rangers, then a three-game set with the Dodgers, and finally a three-game series against the Twins at T-Mobile Park.
Texas deserves a close look too, especially if Seattle makes a move in that series. The Rangers are clinging to a half-game lead over the Mariners in the American League West, which means Minnesota fans may end up watching Texas more closely than Seattle if the standings flip this weekend. After facing the Mariners, the Rangers still have three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays and Houston Astros.
In the division race, Chicago is still in reach. The Twins are 4 1/2 games back of the White Sox, so a strong run from Minnesota combined with a slide from Chicago could change the picture fast. The White Sox, though, have a rough road ahead with series against the Astros, New York Yankees and Rays before the deadline.
Cleveland is also part of the conversation. After a series split against the Twins, the Guardians have series against the Rays, Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks before the deadline.
In Other News...
Twins Make A Sudden Infield Decision That Raises Bigger Questions
Orlando Arcias time in the organization has come to an end after the Twins moved on from the veteran infielder at Triple-A St. Paul. Arcia had been part of the big-league picture earlier this season, getting into 19 games before being sent down in mid-June, and his path through the roster reflected how quickly Minnesotas infield depth has shifted over the past few months.
The timing leaves a larger roster question hanging over the clubs bench construction. Arcia had been one of the more experienced options available, with the ability to cover multiple infield spots, and his departure puts even more pressure on the current mix of Brooks Lee, Ryan Kreidler and Kody Clemens to handle the middle of the diamond without a true backup middle infielder waiting in reserve. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Pitchers First St. Paul Outing Brought An Embarrassing New Problem
Woo-Suk Gos return to Triple-A St. Paul was supposed to be a reset, a chance to get his footing again after a rough stretch with the Twins. Instead, the right-handers first outing with the Saints turned into an awkward scene before he even threw a pitch, adding another layer to a frustrating start to his season in Minnesota.
The game quickly shifted from baseball to a rules discussion, with the Saints dugout pulled into the matter as the umpires examined Gos glove. For a pitcher who had just been sent back down after four big-league appearances, the episode only deepened the scrutiny around him and left the Twins with yet another uncomfortable subplot to monitor. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Suddenly Have The Prospect Wave Fans Have Waited For
With the Twins hanging around the AL Central race and still within reach of a wild card spot, the organization suddenly has a different kind of momentum building behind the big league club. Fangraphs latest Top 100 prospect update underlined that depth in a big way, placing seven Minnesota prospects on the list and giving the system the kind of national attention that has been missing for a while. Walker Jenkins and Kaelen Culpepper headline the group, but the bigger takeaway is that this is no longer just a collection of distant lottery tickets.
Several of those names are already moving through the upper levels of the minors, which is what makes this so relevant to the Twins right now. Jenkins is knocking on the door at Triple-A, Culpepper is there too and looks like a potential everyday middle infielder, and the rest of the group gives Minnesota a wave of talent that could start feeding the roster sooner rather than later. The only real question is how soon the front office decides to let that pipeline start shaping the club in St. Paul. [Read more 🡒]