There weren’t a lot of Minnesota Twins fans who expected the team to be in contention after the All-Star Break. But as they return to action on Friday for a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs, the Twins are tied for the final Wild Card spot in the American League and have set themselves up for an intriguing second half.
The second half will not have a grace period as it will determine whether they are true contenders in a wide-open playoff picture. But there are several storylines to follow that could determine whether they’ll make a return to the playoffs or fall apart down the stretch.
1. What are the Twins’ plans at the trade deadline?
As the Twins return from the break, this is the biggest question on everyone’s mind. While the Twins are currently tied for a postseason berth, they are doing so with a record of 48-49. Derek Shelton has also done a good job galvanizing the clubhouse, but they still need a solid starting pitcher and potentially a few relievers before Aug. 3 hits.
With that, the stretch out of the All-Star break will go a long way toward determining general manager Jeremy Zoll’s plan of attack. After battling the Cubs, the Twins will travel for a critical four-game series against the Cleveland Guardians before hosting another playoff contender for a three-game series with the Athletics at Target Field.
The Kansas City Royals will come to town for three games after that before a three-game series at the Seattle Mariners, who the Twins are currently tied with for the final Wild Card spot, runs them up to the deadline.
In all, the stretch will contain 10 games against playoff contenders in the American League and three more against a Cubs team that owns the top Wild Card spot in the National League. After waiting until the last minute to pull the trigger on a deadline fire sale last year, the next few weeks will go a long way in determining if Zoll wants to add pieces or get what he can for top trade targets Ryan Jeffers and Joe Ryan.
2. Has Derek Shelton found a defensive alignment that works?
Shelton’s first season in Minnesota came with low expectations, but that gave him an opportunity to move players around to improve their defense. The Twins struggled initially with their Opening Day alignment, but several moves have created chances for everyone to contribute and a lineup that could fuel a second-half surge.
Royce Lewis’s move from third base to first base was one of the biggest moves and the Twins moved Brooks Lee from shortstop to be Lewis’s replacement. Kody Clemens has become the everyday second baseman after Luke Keaschall moved to the outfield and Ryan Kriedler has settled in at shortstop.
Trevor Larnach’s improvement in the outfield and Byron Buxton’s Gold Glove-caliber defense is still there even as he manages a sore hip. With the highest-scoring lineup in the American League, the Twins can slug it out with any contending team on their path to the playoffs. But the new-look defensive alignment could help them steal a game or two to get them across the finish line.
3. Will Kaelen Culpepper or Walker Jenkins get a call to the majors?
Twins fans figured that Culpepper or Jenkins would be ready for their major league debut by now, but neither has happened due to injuries. Both players have performed well at Triple-A St. Paul, however, and have put themselves in a position to join the Twins’ push to the playoffs.
Culpepper has been raking all season at Triple-A St. Paul, hitting .272/.376/.492 with 14 homers, 43 RBI and 15 stolen bases on 17 attempts in 63 games. While he was trending toward a call-up, his momentum has stalled out thanks to a glute injury that has required a pair of trips to the injured list. Kreidler’s emergence hasn’t helped Culpepper’s cause but he could still be called up soon if he continues to hit after his injury.
Jenkins has also played well, hitting .277/.386/.440 with three homers, 13 RBI and seven stolen bases on eight attempts in 38 games. While his playing time has been limited after crashing into a wall in May, he’s started to heat up in recent weeks, hitting .373/.417/.642 with 10 extra-base hits in his last 17 games, perhaps clearing the way for a call-up in the coming weeks.
Both cases are also complicated due to the upcoming MLB lockout. Neither player is currently on the 40-man roster and if they are promoted, they could be at risk of not being eligible to play minor league baseball next season, which could stunt their development. But if an injury strikes, Twins fans will be looking to see if they pull the trigger on either player down the stretch.
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