Twins are on a Heater

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Photo: Jordan Johnson - USA TODAY Sports

It’s amazing how quickly life can come at you. Just last week, we were all worried (yes you were, stop lying) the Minnesota Twins were going to ruin our summers again. But those days of concern feel far, far away this morning. That’s because those same Twins have now won 6-straight games and are on the verge of their second-straight sweep over a division opponent.

I’m writing this blog just three hours before the Twins play the final game of their series vs Detroit. Naturally, Rocco & Co. are benching Byron Buxton on getaway day. But win or lose this afternoon, the heater lives on.

You cannot deny how hot this team is. The offense is recovering from their early season swoon. They’re .219 season batting average is only good for 22nd in the MLB. But the Minnesota Twins are hitting .260 during this 6-game winning streak and have posted FIVE or more runs in each of the last FOUR games.

TWINS (PER GM)AVGHHRRBIOBPSLGOPSSO
FIRST 12 GMS.1986.21.03.1.291.338.6289.2
LAST 6 GMS.2608.31.34.2.348.427.8768.7
Baseball-Reference

There’s no sign of the bats slowing down as long as the best player in baseball, Byron Buxton, is in the lineup and Carlos Correa heats up in May and June, like he has throughout his career. Even Max Kepler has caught fire. The unproven part of this team, its pitching staff, has been its brightest spot through 18 games.

Joe Ryan Dominant

Twins pitching is holding up surprisingly well. They’re no longer riding at the top of the MLB in any statistic, but they’re still top-10 in ERA, OBA, WHIP, ERA+ and RA/G. If they can holdup at an above average clip for the first half of the season, pressure will be on ownership and the front office to deliver a playoff starter at the trade deadline.

Joe Ryan looked like a superstar again on Wednesday evening vs Detroit. He tossed 7 one-hit innings, allowing ZERO runs and striking out NINE. His season ERA is down to 1.17 and his ERA+ is up to an absurd 311. Ryan’s 0.696 WHIP and 3.9 H/9 both lead the league. It’s far and away the best start we’ve seen to a Twins pitching career since Francisco Liriano.

Kings of the Central

And don’t look now, but the Minnesota Twins are 10-8 and enter Thursday with a 2.5 game lead on the Chicago White Sox for 1st place in the American League – Central. Alex Kirilloff is on his way back from his wrist injury and the division-favorite White Sox are trying to avoid an early-season free fall.

Don’t blink because everything could be different, this time next week. But life could be worse for Twins fans going into NFL Draft weekend. The summer might not be so bad, after all.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

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