With 90 losses now on the ledger, and vacation plans booked, there is no benefit to winning games anymore. In fact, it would be more beneficial for the MN Twins to lose as many games as possible during this weekend’s season finale.

Draft lottery odds taking shape for MN Twins

Major League Baseball instituted the MLB Draft Lottery as part of the new CBA established in 2022. The first lottery took place in 2023, and the Minnesota Twins immediately benefitted, jumping up about 10 spots, from the mid-teens all the way to fifth, where they selected top prospect, Walker Jenkins.

Heading into Friday’s night’s action, the Twins have the third-best odds to land the top overall pick, but they can increase their position by finishing with a worse record than the Pittsburgh Pirates, who have the same 69-90 record. Doing so would give them a 5.6% better chance of landing the No. 1 overall pick in 2026.

The Colorado Rockies, Washington Nationals, and Los Angeles Angels are all ineligible for the top pick, due to rules in place that do not allow teams to get a top-six in consecutive drafts.

Minnesota’s opponent this weekend, the Philadelphia Phillies, hold the second-best record in all of baseball, at 94-65. They need a sweep, plus lots of help (Brewers get swept), to gain the No. 1 overall seed in the National League, but the possibility means they will be trying hard for a win, at least on Friday night.

Is tanking even worth thinking about for the Twins?

Pittsburgh is on the road against the Atlanta Braves, who may be motivated to improve their own MLB Draft Lottery position, but do not have a chance at the postseason. Ultimately, tanking can largely prove fruitless with the MLB Amateur Draft. It’s not like the NFL or NBA, where top talents make an impact immediately.

Last season the Twins picked 16th overall and went with college shortstop Marek Houston. He finished the season with High-A Cedar Rapids. The 2024 pick, at 21st overall, was Kaelen Culpepper. He was just named the Twins Minor League Hitter of the Year.

Kaelen Culpepper (@Twins' 2024 first-rounder) in 20 Double-A @WindSurgeICT contests after this two-run homer:

• .361 AVG
• .984 OPS
• 1+ hit in 17 G pic.twitter.com/CaKMwggys9

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 23, 2025

With that being said, all of the Minnesota Twins’ most exciting prospects in recent memory were indeed top 10 picks, including Royce Lewis, Walker Jenkins and Brooks Lee.

If you go a bit further back, the same can be said about Byron Buxton and Joe Mauer. If there is anything, outside of winning big league games, that can get this fanbase going, it’s top prospects. And at this point, losing doesn’t really hurt anything.

Another day and another win for the Minnesota Twins. This time it was a 5-2 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates, with Randy Dobnak on the mound. This latest W extends their winning streak to six, with an overall record of 10-2 (the best in the majors). It is also the first time in Twins history a team has had this record through 12 games.

Even though the game was a pitcher’s wet dream to begin with, it was far from boring. Primarily due to rookie pitcher Randy Dobnak. Who toyed with the team he grew up rooting for and going to games.

From the cheap seats ➡️ to the mound. Welcome home, @Dobnak_! #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/l83l36FZEl

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) August 5, 2020

Note: If my editor Eric thinks European kickball is boring, I don’t know how he didn’t find this game to be the same. (Eric’s editor’s note: we’re writing about real sports today… idk why Jack has to bring his hobbies into this.)

DOBNAK FOR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Although Minnesota Twins fans saw Dobnak pitch in nine games in 2019, not including the disastrous Game 2 of the ALDS, he is still considered a rookie. Having not reached the minimum 50 innings pitched to lose his rookie status in 2019.

After a hot start to this year, Dobnak has continued to impress. Especially considering he has been a replacement starter after three of the team’s starters went to the injured list. Throwing six complete innings while allowing only three hits and no runs. Although he only struck out one, that doesn’t matter when you hold opposing teams scoreless!

Hometown cookin’ for @Dobnak_.#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/e9grJD32DQ

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) August 6, 2020

He now sits with a 2-1 record (although you can’t blame him too much for the loss to the White Sox), eight strikeouts, and a ridiculous 0.87 WHIP and 0.60 ERA. It may be early, but maybe Rookie of the Year is selling him short. Time to rev up the Cy Young hype campaign!

OFFENSIVE CONFUSION

When your pitching staff doesn’t render a single run until the bottom of the ninth, it takes a lot of pressure off of the offense. Which was perfect for tonight as the Minnesota Twins offense generated only a single run on four hits through the first eight innings. It wasn’t until the ninth that the offense started rolling with four runs capitalized by a Max Kepler three-run Bomba.

? KEP BOMB ?#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/7AX8gFk7pF

— FOX Sports North (@fsnorth) August 6, 2020

While that may be concerning to some fans, manager Rocco Baldelli isn’t too concerned. Speaking to the lack of firepower, as of late, in his pregame press conference. Baldelli mentioned that this team is more well-rounded than 2019 and that while the Bomba Squad was a team effort, they haven’t thought too much about it. As long as the team is winning games, Baldelli is happy. The same should be said of fans.

DON’T TREAD ON THE OFFENSE

As for the offense, fans shouldn’t worry too much…yet. Yes, it isn’t what they have come to know and love. But with the best record in the majors and a pitching staff that is putting the offense in position to win games may just be the M.O. for this year’s club.

Yet it still should be in the minds of everyone. With Sano having seen minimal playing time, Arraez seeing his batting average dip, and Donaldson not living up to the fan’s $92 million hype, there are some fair criticisms.

But when looking at Arraez’s advanced metrics, he still has a top-10 strikeout rate and is making better contact this year. The issue is that his launch angle is more than four degrees higher and he is getting under more balls. Leading to more fly outs and teams shifting their defense towards his tendencies.

Luis Arraez vs. Trevor Williams
Pitch type: 85 mph Changeup
Result: Double ↖️ (72 mph ?, 26°)

Single | Double | Triple | Home Run
17.7% | 76.0% | 0.3% | 0.0%

0.940 xBA – 1.706 xSLG – 1.112 xWOBA

— MLB Big Boomers & Boinks (@mlb_big_boomers) August 6, 2020

As for Donaldson, Baldelli says he has loved his at-bats and Donaldson has felt good about his plate appearances. He mostly contributed the slow start, as seen elsewhere in the league, to the quick ramp-up and just getting under the ball. Both easy tweaks.

INJURY UPDATE

While injuries have come early and often for the Minnesota Twins, nothing has seemed to be too serious. Baldelli spoke on this matter as well pregame. Highlighting that Jake Odorizzi, Rich Hill, and Josh Donaldson all made the trip to Pittsburgh. They wouldn’t have done so if their injuries were serious.

Baldelli anticipates Odorizzi to start in the upcoming series against the Kansas City Royals, but also won’t put a timeline to return on anyone. Pitching coach, and pitching guru/god, Wes Johnson stated Hill should begin throwing bullpen sessions in the coming days.

Baldelli says Odorizzi, Hill, Donaldson all with team. Expects Odo to pitch in KC, but won’t set timeline for any of them. Not super worried, otherwise wouldn’t have them on trip. #mntwins

— Jack Kewitsch – Tier 3 (@JackKewitsch) August 5, 2020

Wes Johnson says Odorizzi will pitch a bullpen session today. Rich Hill not expected to pitch today, but likely in the next day or two. #mntwins

— Jack Kewitsch – Tier 3 (@JackKewitsch) August 5, 2020

TIME TO SWEEP THE BUCCOS, AGAIN

Tomorrow’s 12:35 pm game gives the Twins a chance to sweep the Pirates in back-to-back series. With Kenta Maeda (2-0, 1.64 ERA) scheduled to face-off against JT Brubaker (0-0, 0.00 ERA), the Twins should get the job done before heading into a stretch of 16 games solely against the Royals and Milwaukee Brewers.

Jack Kewitsch | Minnesota Sports Fan