The Twins are still alive, but the math is getting ugly. An 8-17 August has knocked their postseason chances into long-shot territory, even with Minnesota sitting just four games back of a playoff spot. Around them, the Guardians, Blue Jays and Orioles are moving the right way, while the Twins and Mariners are slipping out of the race.
That’s why the focus has shifted fast. The rest of this season should be about finding out what the Twins have for 2027, because this roster still needs help on both sides of the ball.
Walker Jenkins and Kaelen Culpepper need to be in the lineup close to every day from here on out. Gabriel Gonzalez should get every possible plate appearance against lefties.
And once rosters expand tomorrow, Emmanuel Rodriguez and Alan Roden likely need to start cutting into the playing time of Trevor Larnach and Josh Bell.
The front office has been burned before by uncertainty around young players, and that kind of guesswork is a luxury the Twins can’t really afford with 2027 in view. The lineup needs answers. The pitching staff does, too.
That makes the next wave of arms worth watching closely. Joe Ryan, Pablo Lopez, Dean Kremer and Bailey Ober are all set to hit free agency after 2027.
Connor Prielipp and Zebby Matthews have each flashed brilliance this season. Mick Abel and Kendry Rojas are due back from injury with nothing left to prove in AAA.
Then there’s another group that could arrive at different points next season: Riley Quick, Ryan Gallagher and Adrian Bohorquez. Jeremy Zoll and Co. have plenty to sort through - who stays, who gets dealt, who might fit in the bullpen, and who, in Ober’s case, maybe shouldn’t even get a contract tender.
With Byron Buxton hurt and likely not returning in time to matter this season, the path is pretty clear: play the kids and learn what you’ve got. Rodriguez especially needs the reps, and there’s real appeal in getting a look at what a potential outfield of Rodriguez, Jenkins and Keaschall could look like heading into next year.
The rough August took some shine off what had been a promising building season, but there’s still plenty here to track. Culpepper and Jenkins are already making it fun, and that matters even if the standings are starting to say something else.
For Game 138, the Twins are lined up with Taj Bradley on the mound against Jackson Jobe. Minnesota’s order has Luke Keaschall leading off in right field, followed by Brooks Lee, Kody Clemens, Ryan Jeffers, Josh Bell, Trevor Larnach, Royce Lewis, Kaelen Culpepper and Walker Jenkins. The opponent counters with Gleyber Torres, Colt Keith, Kevin McGonigle, Dillon Dingler, Brett Callahan, Zach McKinstry, Spencer Torkelson, Max Clark and Hao-Yu Lee.
In Other News...
Twins Move On From Kyler Fedko In Painful Roster Twist
September roster moves brought a tough break for Kyler Fedko, whose name had been one of the more interesting ones to watch as the Twins navigated the final stretch of roster expansion. Minnesota designated the outfielder for assignment while officially adding infielder Ben Ross to the 40-man roster, and the club also recalled right-hander Garrett Acton from Triple-A as part of its September call-ups.
Fedkos situation is complicated by the severe knee injury that altered his path, and the injury waiver rules now push him toward release. From there, the door is not necessarily closed, since he could potentially re-sign with Minnesota or land elsewhere, but for now the Twins have had to make the kind of roster decision that cuts deeper than most. [Read more 🡒]
Twins September Call-Ups Raise A Bigger Question About This Playoff Push
The Twins are using Septembers roster expansion to add a little more depth where the stretch run tends to get thin. Right-hander Garrett Acton, recently activated from the injured list after arriving from the Miami Marlins, gives the bullpen another arm, while utilityman Ben Ross arrives with the kind of minor league track record that can help a contender squeeze value out of matchups, especially against left-handed pitching.
For a club still hanging around the postseason race, the moves fit the moment: protect the pitching staff, widen the bench and give the lineup a few more ways to tilt an inning. What makes the call-ups more interesting is what they suggest about how the Twins want to navigate the final weeks, with bullpen depth and platoon flexibility taking on a little extra weight as the games get bigger. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Triple-A Lineup Is Suddenly Chasing An Even Bigger Record
The power surge in St. Paul has turned the Twins Triple-A affiliate into one of the loudest lineups in the minors. The Saints already had enough thump to make a statement, but their latest pair of long balls pushed them past the International League single-season home run record, with Kalai Rosario providing the tie and Cody Morissette delivering the one that moved them into new territory.
What makes the chase even more interesting from a Minnesota perspective is that this has become more than a one-player feat. The Saints now have 12 players with at least 10 home runs, a spread-out attack that has kept the lineup dangerous all season and left them within reach of the all-time minor league single-season home run mark held by El Paso. For a Twins organization that values depth and internal options, this kind of production is hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]