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Minnesota Twins: Projecting the Twins’ potential postseason rotation

By Chris Schad

ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 17: Jose Berrios #17 of the Minnesota Twins pitches in the second inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington on August 17, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 17: Jose Berrios #17 of the Minnesota Twins pitches in the second inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington on August 17, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 23: Jose Berrios #17 of the Minnesota Twins walks to the dugout in the sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Target Field on August 23, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Teams are wearing special color schemed uniforms with players choosing nicknames to display for Players’ Weekend. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 23: Jose Berrios #17 of the Minnesota Twins walks to the dugout in the sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Target Field on August 23, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Teams are wearing special color schemed uniforms with players choosing nicknames to display for Players’ Weekend. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /

Starter No. 4: Jose Berrios

Is there a possibility that Jose Berrios turns it around and is higher on this list by October? Of course. Would the Twins throw him out there the way that he’s been pitching in August? Absolutely not.

It’s safe to assume that Berrios’ presence on the roster was one of the reasons why the Twins didn’t make a major trade at the deadline. However, the Twins ace has struggled in the month of August, posting an ERA of 8.44 in four starts.

One of the biggest storylines for the rest of the season will be to figure it out, but by projecting the rotation as we sit here now, the Twins would be reluctant to throw him on the mound in a pressure situation. In fact, if Berrios keeps pitching the way he has, there’s a slim chance that the Twins could decide to use him in case of an emergency in the bullpen.

That being said, Berrios probably has the most talent of anyone on the pitching staff and it would be in the Twins’ best interest if they can get him going again. His fastball lost velocity for a couple of starts, but climbed back up to 94 MPH in his last start against Detroit on Friday night.

Mix in that Berrios has looked like a dominant ace at times this season (think the early part of the year) and there’s still a chance Berrios can be counted on in October.

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