Game 138: Tigers at Twins

First Pitch (CT): 6:40 PM
TV: Twins.TV
Radio: TIBN/830 WCCO/102.9 The Wolf /Audacy App
Know Yo’ Foe: Bless You Boys

The Twins’ postseason hopes aren’t dead yet, but a disastrous 8-17 August has put them firmly as a long shot. They are only four games out of a playoff spot, but teams like the Guardians, Blue Jays, and Orioles are trending in the right direction while the Twins and Mariners fade out of the picture.

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At this point, the Twins need to pivot to 2027 evaluation mode and if a few bonus wins come, all the better. Walker Jenkins and Kaelen Culpepper should be in the lineup nearly every day from here on out, Gabriel Gonzalez should see every possible PA against lefties, and Emmanuel Rodriguez and Alan Roden likely need to start taking playing time away from Trevor Larnach and Josh Bell when rosters expand tomorrow.

Part of the issue recent Twins teams have run into is simply not knowing whether certain young players are truly ready to take on a bigger role, and they can’t afford that heading into 2027 on a team in need of upgrades in both the lineup and pitching staff.

Speaking of pitching, after 2027, Joe Ryan, Pablo Lopez, Dean Kremer, and Bailey Ober are all free agents. Connor Prielipp and Zebby Matthews have shown flashes of brilliance this season, while Mick Abel and Kendry Rojas will be back from injury with nothing left to prove in AAA, to say nothing of pitching prospects like Riley Quick, Ryan Gallagher, and Adrian Bohorquez who will likely be ready at different points next season. Jeremy Zoll and Co. will need to sort through who of that group is worth keeping, who should be traded, who could thrive in the bullpen, and who (looking at you, Ober) maybe shouldn’t be tendered a contract at all.

Especially with Buxton hurt and likely not coming back in time to make a difference this season, roll with the kids and see what you have for 2027. Rodriguez in particular needs experience and PAs, and I would love to see those come on the Twins so we can glimpse what a potential outfield of Rodriguez, Jenkins, and Keaschall looks like heading into next year.

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The bad August really put a damper on what was shaping up to be a very promising building year. But there’s still a ton to get excited about here and it’s a blast to watch highly-touted prospects like Culpepper and Jenkins make a difference.

Lineups