Expect More Minnesota Twins “Openers”

It was only one month ago that the Minnesota Twins won 13 games in a row, a streak that now feels like a very distant memory. Because since that streak ended, this team has been mostly terrible.

The Twins are 6-13 in June, and as the month goes along they just keep getting worse. Entering their four-game home series against the Seattle Mariners to start this week, Rocco Baldelli & Co are 3-12 in their last 15 games and 1-9 since June 12.

Minnesota Twins pitching staff riding the struggle bus

Minnesota’s biggest problem has been pitching, which had been their biggest strength while winning. But since Pablo Lopez (grade 2 teres major strain) and Zebby Matthews (grade 2 subcapularis strain) hit the injured list, the Twins can’t keep runs off the board.

Through May their 6.1 fWAR was 4th in baseball and the 3.42 ERA was 5th. This month they sit dead last in ERA (5.87) and are 24th in fWAR (0.7). Of course losing doesn’t help. And when something isn’t working, human nature tells us to fix it.

On Sunday, in their season finale vs Milwaukee, Rocco’s latest attempt to cure the Twins’ recent pitching problems manifested itself in the form of an “Opening Pitcher”. The Brewers had two left-handed batters at the top of their lineup so Minnesota replaced righty starter David Festa, with lefty reliever Danny Coulombe.

Unfortunately, Rocco’s ingenious plan didn’t work. Coulombe gave up a run in the first, off a Christian Yelich (lefty) hit. From there, Festa went on to allow 8 earned runs on 12 hits in his 4.2 innings pitched and the Minnesota Twins lost 9-8.

MN Twins looking to fix a once-dominant rotation

But if you thought last night’s failed “opener” attempt would get Rocco Baldelli off the idea of using one again in the near future, you’d be wrong. According to The Athletic’s Dan Hayes, we can expect more opening pitchers going forward, when the manager sees it as being advantageous (in theory). is reporting that more is on the way.

The team’s first attempt didn’t go according to plan…But Twins manager Rocco Baldelli and his coaches believe the strategy can potentially help turn around a club sitting at three games under .500…the Twins recognize changes are necessary to aid a pitching staff that has surrendered 128 runs (118 earned) in 147 innings since [June 3].

They’d love it if several of their top relievers operated as openers and pitched scoreless innings early before handing the ball off to a bulk pitcher with a lead in place.

Dan Hayes – The Athletic

Related: Injured Minnesota Twins Take First Steps Toward Return

The strategy behind an opener is straightforward. Coulombe has allowed left-handed hitters just seven hits (in 36 PA) with a single extra-base hit (a double). He also has a 10/1 K/BB.

In theory, not only did the swap allow a better first inning pitching matchup for the Twins, but it also allowed Festa to avoid the top of the Brewers’ lineup his first time through. It’s a logical and commendable attempt to fix a pitching staff that is currently broken, with little help remaining at Triple A to come up and help.

Of course, this isn’t the first time Baldelli has employed the opener strategy, since being hired as Minnesota Twins manager, before the 2019 season. In 2022, for example, Minnesota used 14 different starters, including Chris Archer, Devin Smeltzer, and Josh Winder all of whom made at least 11 turns through that rotation.

Rocco Baldelli explains why Twins will continue to use openers

The results of using an opener haven’t always been there for Minnesota, but desperate times often call for desperate measures. With four of the Twins’ current starters (all not name Joe Ryan) struggling mightily, Rocco clearly isn’t ready to abandoned the new-school baseball strategy just yet.

“We’ve got to do a better job of slowing the other team down. That’s what we have to do and I’m going to try to make some adjustments. Our pitchers are going to make some adjustments. Our defense can do a better job, too. Our defense is a part of this, as well. But we have to continue to amend what we’re doing for the better, make adjustments and figure this thing out.”

“We’re reacting a little bit because we have to. It’s been a little while now we’ve been struggling to stop the other teams from scoring. And we’re going to introduce something new and try to switch things up…It’s something that we’re comfortable with. It’s something that I think can help us get to the middle of the game. It’s something that can help us and probably something that we’re going to see more of.”

Rocco Baldelli – The Athletic

Simeon Woods Richardson was demoted earlier in the year, in part because he couldn’t go more than four or five innings without being rocked. He has taken three turns since returning, allowing 11 runs (nine earned) in just 15 2/3 innings with a 10/7 K/BB.

Festa turned in three great starts earlier this year, while up with the big league club. Unfortunately, he’s been anything but competitive, since his return. In 18 innings, across four starts, the 25-year-old out of Seton Hall has allowed 22 runs (20 earned), touting a 17/10 K/BB ratio.