CLEVELAND -- The Twins did not have the luxury of calling Wednesday night a must-win with 60 games still left and nearly two weeks to go before the Trade Deadline. But it sure felt close enough.
Minnesota came in on a four-game skid and staring at the kind of slump that can drag a season off course right after the All-Star break. Instead, the Twins steadied themselves in a big way, working through an injury to Victor Caratini, a rough outing from Bailey Ober and another early hole to beat the Guardians, 10-6, at Progressive Field.
That kind of response matters now because the calendar is starting to tighten. Taj Bradley is lined up to take the ball Thursday in the road-trip finale, and after that the Twins head into a homestand that looks manageable against the Athletics and Royals.
There’s still room for another push before the Deadline, and Minnesota has already shown twice this season that it can wobble, slip toward the edge of contention and climb back. Wednesday kept that path open.
Brooks Lee delivered the biggest swing of the night, crushing a three-run homer off Slade Cecconi. But the larger takeaway was the same old Twins offense showing up with force.
Trevor Larnach opened the game with a homer. Lee and Josh Bell each drove in runs in the third to erase the early deficit after Minnesota had fallen behind.
Then came the fourth, when the lineup finally broke the game open. Alan Roden reached on an error, Luke Keaschall singled and Alex Jackson followed with another single to put the Twins in front, 4-3. Larnach then sent a ball to the warning track for the second out, and Lee made the inning count, ambushing a first-pitch sinker and launching it 401 feet, straightaway center, for the homer that put Minnesota in control.
In Other News...
Twins May Be Creating A Keaschall Problem They Cant Hide
Luke Keaschalls move from second base into the outfield has become one of the more interesting side projects on the Twins roster. Since June, Minnesota has tried him in right field and then in center during Byron Buxtons injury absence, and now that Buxton is back, Keaschall has settled again on the right side while the club keeps working to turn his athleticism into something usable in the grass.
The challenge is that the Twins are asking him to learn on the fly in a spot where mistakes are hard to hide. They have been shading him deeper in center to make the job easier as he develops, but that also changes the look of the defense and puts a spotlight on every read and route. Buxton can play shallower because of his elite range, and Keaschall is still trying to find the balance between protecting against balls over his head and being in position to attack the ones in front of him. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Could Lose Two Key Regulars If This Slide Gets Worse
A four-game skid has nudged the Twins farther from the American League Wild Card picture, and the timing matters with the Aug. 3 trade deadline closing in. Minnesota is sitting at 49-53, which is the kind of record that starts forcing difficult conversations about whether to push for a run or listen on established regulars while there is still value to be had.
Ryan Jeffers and Trevor Larnach are the names to watch if the slide continues. Jeffers is in the final year of his deal and has drawn attention from clubs looking for catching help, while Larnach remains under team control through 2027 and could become expendable if the Twins decide their outfield depth gives them room to deal from strength. [Read more 🡒]
Joe Ryan Just Became The Twins Trust Test
Joe Ryan has become one of the most interesting names on the Twins board as the trade deadline approaches, and not just because of what he does on the mound. He has pitched well enough to draw attention from contenders, and with team control beyond this season, he is the kind of arm that can bring back real value if Minnesota decides the time is right to move him.
The harder question is what kind of message that would send to a fan base that has already watched attendance sag at Target Field and has little appetite for another summer selloff. The Twins can talk themselves into several paths with Ryan, including holding him, moving him later, or cashing in now, but any deadline decision will land with more weight than a typical roster shuffle. [Read more 🡒]