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Minnesota Twins: 5 bold predictions for the second half of the 2019 season

By Chris Schad

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 11: Nelson Cruz #23, C.J. Cron #24 and Eddie Rosario #20 of the Minnesota Twins celebrate a three-run home run by Cron against the Detroit Tigers during the fifth inning of game two of a doubleheader on May 11, 2019 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Tigers 8-3. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 11: Nelson Cruz #23, C.J. Cron #24 and Eddie Rosario #20 of the Minnesota Twins celebrate a three-run home run by Cron against the Detroit Tigers during the fifth inning of game two of a doubleheader on May 11, 2019 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Tigers 8-3. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – JUNE 26: Jake Odorizzi #12 of the Minnesota Twins pitches in the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Target Field on June 26, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – JUNE 26: Jake Odorizzi #12 of the Minnesota Twins pitches in the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Target Field on June 26, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /

The Twins starting rotation will take a step back

While the pop at the plate has been the biggest surprise for the Twins this season, so has the success of their starting rotation. While Jose Berrios has been in All-Star form all season long, Jake Odorizzi also earned his first All-Star appearance while Michael Pineda, Martin Perez and Kyle Gibson have all been serviceable.

But while a lot of the focus has been on the bullpen in recent weeks, the starting rotation has begun to take a step back as well. With the starting five not going as deeply into games, the bullpen has been exposed and the Twins haven’t played as well as they did in April. This makes the starting rotation more of a factor as we go down the stretch.

This could all just be a bit of pessimism creeping in, but Perez hasn’t been the pitcher he was at the beginning of the year and although Pineda has pitched well since returning from knee tendinitis, he hasn’t pitched a full season since 2016, which makes one wonder if he’ll break down in the second half. Then, there’s Gibson, who could be Good Kyle and Bad Kyle in the same start.

If pitching coach Wes Johnson can continue getting the most out of his staff, then the step back won’t be a big one. If he can’t, the starting rotation could become a major issue as the Twins close out the AL Central.

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