For a brief stretch, the Twins had the kind of weekend that can fool you into thinking everything is lining up. They swept Atlanta, spent 24 hours sitting in a playoff position, and then got flattened in San Diego. The Friars turned the tables with a sweep of their own, and just like that the glow was gone.
The good news for Minnesota is that the rest of the chase pack didn’t exactly make a statement last week either. The Twins are only down a half-game from where they were in the race for the third wild card, so the damage wasn’t nearly as severe as the San Diego trip felt in the moment.
Now the schedule softens up. Minnesota heads to Sacramento to face the league-worst Athletics before the White Sox come to town, looking to strengthen their grip on the AL Central.
There’s still plenty going on around the Twins beyond the standings. The Feed is up for fans to jump into discussion, Daily Questions is launching as a new way to debate the club, and game threads and recaps are back for anyone who wants to sweat through the season with other fans in real time.
There’s also a little nostalgia and a little hope mixed into the latest batch of Twins coverage. Zach Koenig revisits one bright spot from 2016 in Brian Dozier, while Aidan O’Brien digs into why Emmanuel Rodriguez should have Twins fans excited when, not if, he gets called up this season.
Elsewhere in Twins Territory, Bobby Nightengale at the Star Tribune examines how the Twins might follow the Padres’ example in rebuilding trust with their fanbase. Dan Hayes at The Athletic breaks down why the Twins were eager to trade for Dean Kremer and why that deal is already looking worthwhile.
John Shipley at the Pioneer Press checks in with former Twin Randy Dobnak, who is having success with the Royals this season. Matthew Trueblood at Twins Daily takes a look at Trevor Larnach’s slump.
Across baseball, the playoff picture is starting to firm up with about a month left in the regular season. In the American League, the Rays, White Sox, Yankees, and Red Sox appear set in the top four spots unless something wild happens.
The Astros and Rangers keep trading places in the AL West, while the Guardians currently own the third wild card. Behind them, the Blue Jays, Twins, Orioles, Mariners, and even the Tigers are all still in the mix, along with whoever finishes outside the AL West race.
The National League looks a little cleaner. Milwaukee, Los Angeles, and Atlanta are still comfortably in front in their divisions, with Chicago, Philadelphia, and San Diego filling out the next three spots. The Diamondbacks and Marlins appear to be the only other clubs truly in striking distance, though the Cardinals could still make things interesting.
With award season creeping closer, Bradford Doolittle at ESPN is looking at the current frontrunners for the major honors. And in Seattle, the 2025 No. 3 overall pick, Kade Anderson, made his debut on Saturday, with Ryan Blake at Fangraphs evaluating both the start and the long-term outlook.
In Other News...
Twins Top Catching Prospect Is Already Forcing A Bigger Conversation
The Twins have not had to wait long to see why Vahn Lackey came with such a big reputation when they took the Georgia Tech catcher in the first round of the 2026 MLB Draft and signed him for $9.475 million. He opened his pro career at Low-A Fort Myers, but after just 15 games he had already done enough to earn a move up to High-A Cedar Rapids, a quick rise that says plenty about how the organization views his bat and overall package.
Lackey has also given the Twins a first look at the kind of offensive upside that made him such an intriguing draft pick, including his first professional home run. For a club that has been searching for clarity behind the plate, his early progress has turned a future-facing pick into a much more immediate topic, especially with catcher development rarely moving in a straight line. [Read more 🡒]
Joe Ryan's Recovery Just Became A Bigger Twins Concern
The Twins head into a series against the Athletics trying to steady themselves after dropping three straight to the Padres on the road, and the mood around the pitching staff has been complicated by Joe Ryans latest step in his recovery. Ryan has been on the injured list since August 7 with a mild glute strain, and while he has already completed a 35-pitch bullpen session, Minnesota is still treating his return as something to monitor rather than target on the calendar.
For a club looking for any kind of stability as it turns to a more manageable opponent, Ryans status carries extra weight. The Twins need innings, and they need clarity, but the team is still evaluating how he responds before it can say more about when he might be back in the mix. In a stretch where every game matters, even a routine bullpen day can feel like a much bigger development than it would in a quieter week. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Cant Keep Ignoring Byron Buxtons Growing Problem
Byron Buxtons season has taken a familiar and uncomfortable turn for the Twins, with his production sliding after the All-Star break while the right hip issue that sent him to the injured list lingers in the background. For a player whose value is built on impact at the top end of the roster, the drop-off has been hard to miss, and it has shown up in the kind of numbers Minnesota can no longer brush aside.
The broader concern is bigger than one cold stretch. Buxton has not tried a stolen base since the break, his recent offensive line has been light, and his overall on-field value has turned negative at a time when the Twins need him most. Minnesota now has to decide whether keeping him in the lineup is helping preserve a core piece, or simply asking an injured player to keep grinding through a problem that is clearly affecting everything he does. [Read more 🡒]