The Trade Deadline is gone, and the Twins are down to the stretch run. With 41 games left in 2026, every night starts to matter a little more - because unlike a year ago, these games will decide whether postseason baseball comes back to Target Field.
As the season heads into its final quarter, a few storylines stand out in Minnesota’s push for its first playoff berth since 2023.
Joe Ryan’s health sits at the top of the list. Byron Buxton’s return to the active roster looks close, if not already right around the corner, but Ryan’s situation is far less clear.
He’s working his way back from a left glute strain and, as of Tuesday, was throwing off flat ground. He still doesn’t have a timeline for getting onto a mound, and he said he’s taking things day by day instead of setting a target date.
On Monday night, general manager Jeremy Zoll said the Twins are hoping to begin building Ryan up soon enough that his ramp-up won’t drag on too long. In a season’s final quarter, that uncertainty looms large.
Then there’s Kaelen Culpepper, who has already made a quick impression in his first taste of the majors. He homered in his debut Friday and then reached base three times Saturday.
The early return has been encouraging, but the reality is still the reality: hitting in the big leagues is hard. Culpepper was playing well at Triple-A St.
Paul, but he wasn’t absolutely overwhelming the level, so there’s no guarantee he walks in and starts mashing without some adjustment. What he does bring is energy, confidence and tools that jump off the page.
If he can handle shortstop and give the lineup some length, that matters a lot right now.
Royce Lewis has been doing his part to lift the offense. Even while the Twins have sputtered since the All-Star break, Lewis has caught fire, posting a .365/.394/.619 line over his last 16 games.
The outs have been loud, too. Nobody needed proof that Lewis can hit at a high level, but this kind of run had been missing for a while.
If he’s truly found something, it changes the feel of the lineup in a hurry.
The bigger offensive question is whether the bats can get going against right-handed pitching. It may feel like lefties have been the problem, but the numbers say the Twins have had a tougher time versus right-handers.
Several right-handed hitters have started to show life, with Lewis leading the way, Luke Keaschall showing encouraging signs, Ryan Jeffers continuing to produce, and the previously slumping Austin Martin perhaps turning a corner. The left-handed side has been quieter, with Kody Clemens and Trevor Larnach among those whose numbers have dropped since the break.
Minnesota entered Tuesday night with a .643 OPS against righties in the second half, fifth-worst in the Majors. That has to improve.
The calendar may be just as important as any individual player. From Aug. 28 through Sept. 9, the Twins face only the two clubs currently ahead of them in the American League Central.
That stretch includes three home games each against the White Sox and Tigers, followed by three on the road against both teams. There will still be 2 1/2 weeks left after that, but by the time the Twins are heading back from Detroit, the picture should be much clearer.
And then there’s the part Minnesota can’t control: the rest of the standings. It’s been a while since Twins fans had real reason to scoreboard watch, but now the invitation is there.
The White Sox, Guardians, Rangers and Tigers all matter, and maybe a few others too. If the Twins are serious about this race, they’ll need help from around the league as much as they need it from inside their own clubhouse.
In Other News...
Former Twin Edouard Julien Just Hit Another Painful Career Low
Edouard Juliens path since leaving Minnesota has only gotten rockier. After the Twins dealt him to Colorado in the offseason, the former Twin struggled through the 2024 and 2025 seasons and never found the kind of footing that once made him look like a potential infield answer.
Colorado has now moved on, designating Julien for assignment as his difficult stretch reached another low point. Even so, the underlying numbers suggest there may still be a team willing to take a chance on a rebound, which is the only real reason his next stop remains worth watching from the Twins side. [Read more 🡒]
Byron Buxtons Return Puts Two Twins Roster Spots In Jeopardy
Byron Buxton is close to returning from the injured list, and the timing could put the Twins in a familiar roster squeeze just ahead of the Field of Dreams Game. Derek Shelton said Buxton could be activated as soon as Thursday, which would force Minnesota to clear a spot on the active roster for one of its most important players.
The decision could land on the fringes of the roster, where the Twins have been juggling depth behind the scenes. Outfielder Alan Roden and catcher Alex Jackson are the two names in play, and the move matters because Minnesota has to balance short-term flexibility with keeping the roster intact as Buxtons return nears. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Nearly Made A Deadline Gamble Fans Need To See
The Twins were evidently willing to get aggressive at the deadline, and the target they explored was a meaningful one. Toronto wound up landing right-hander Jos Soriano from the Angels in a prospect-heavy deal, but Minnesota was right in the mix before the talks broke down. Soriano is the kind of established starter who can deepen a rotation immediately, and he remains under team control through 2028, which only adds to the appeal.
What makes the near miss stand out is the level of talent Minnesota was prepared to put on the table. The discussion centered on top shortstop prospect Kaelen Culpepper, who just made his MLB debut, before the talks grew more complicated. The Blue Jays ultimately pushed for more, asking for another pitching prospect in Riley Quick as part of the package, and the trade never came together, leaving the Twins to keep their best young infielder while Soriano heads to Toronto. [Read more 🡒]