CLEVELAND -- Following their hottest streak of the year, the Twins limped a little bit to the end of April, taking their second straight loss in a 4-2 defeat to the Guardians on Wednesday at Progressive Field. They finished the season’s first full month at 13-18 for the season, still in a better position than the doldrums that struck them in mid-April but not where they want to be.
Here are four takeaways as the calendar turns to May:
The offense isn’t quite there yet
It has had fits and starts and at times looked good. Plenty of hitters are taking better at-bats recently, and Minnesota has had two double-digit outbursts in the past week.
Overall, though, it’s not where they want to be. The Twins are tied for 18th in the Majors in runs, 24th in slugging and tied for 25th in home runs. Some of that, maybe a lot of that, has to do with who’s not available (more on that later).
Still, if the Twins want to make a serious run at the postseason, they need more big hits. Luis L. Ortiz stifled the Minnesota offense on Wednesday, allowing three hits and two walks over 6 1/3 innings.
“We didn’t get much going offensively,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “We can keep pushing the game forward. We had been swinging the bats really good coming in here, we swung the bats good the first day. … We had a few opportunities. We had some opportunities to bring some guys home, and when those moments come up, you’ve got to find a way to do it.”
The rotation is rolling
Pablo López became the latest Minnesota starter to turn in a gem on Wednesday, though it came unraveled thanks to some close ball-strike calls and a couple of bad throws in the seventh inning.
“Pablo kept us in the game the whole time,” catcher Ryan Jeffers said, “and we didn't help him out as an offense much.”
López’s effective 6 1/3 innings brought the Minnesota starters’ ERA down to 3.58, sixth-best in the Majors, and that’s after the group had a very rocky start to the year. Bailey Ober has been excellent since his illness-affected debut, and Joe Ryan has been outstanding in most of his starts. Chris Paddack has found his groove after two rough ones, and Simeon Woods Richardson has been steadily solid.
The starting five was expected to be the strength of this team, and as May begins, that very much looks to be the case.
Byron Buxton is healthy
Buxton stole his seventh base of the season on Wednesday night, No. 100 for his career, after beating out an infield hit. He’s made a string of dazzling plays in the outfield. He’s hit six homers and legged out two triples.
It’s not all been perfect. He’s striking out a ton and walking very little. But overall, he looks as good physically as he has in years, and it’s been a key aspect of the Twins’ climb from their mid-April doldrums.
“The way he’s moving has been the best he’s -- the best his body has been working and as explosive as he’s been, probably the best since 2019 or 2020,” Baldelli said. “Our team is just different. The way we score runs and manufacture things and make things happen is just different when he’s able to run like that and move like that.”
Health is, nevertheless, still an issue
Part of the offensive struggles, when they’ve happened, has been good pitching. Part of it has been an inability to capitalize on opportunities. But part of it is unquestionably health. The Twins are without a few members of their expected Opening Day lineup, as well as another player who quickly forced his way into regular playing time.
The good news is that Willi Castro and Royce Lewis should be back soon, and they will boost both the offense and the defense. Lewis should step right in as the regular third baseman. Castro will play some second but also give Baldelli the chance to rest players like Carlos Correa, Harrison Bader and Trevor Larnach more often.
The bad news is that it’s unlikely that either Wallner or No. 3 Twins prospect Luke Keaschall will make it into Major League games in May. Wallner’s combination of power and patience is dearly missed, and Keaschall’s on-base ability and speed made an instant difference when he joined the lineup. It’s not that the Twins can’t succeed while they’re out, but the degree of difficulty will remain high.