A golden opportunity awaits the Twins to help get things back on track
By John Kuziej
A road trip that started promising for the Minnesota Twins turned turned ugly in a hurry.
Following a series victory over the Houston Astros, the Twins traveled to New York and got an instant reminder of where they currently belong in the power rankings of MLB. That sucker punch from the Yankees left the Twins dazed and confused as they closed the road trip against the Pittsburgh Pirates, getting shutout in back-to-back games.
However, there are some things Twins fans should look forward to. The Twins broke the dam in the road trip's final game, scoring 11 runs, seven in extra innings, as they beat the Pirates 11-5.
BREAKING: We've scored
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) June 9, 2024
In addition, the Twins have been one of the streakiest teams this season and could be in line for another winning streak.
What an absolutely baffling way to have a 33-31 record.
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) June 8, 2024
7-13 first 20 games
17-3 next 20 games
7 losses in a row
9-3 next 12 games
5 losses in a row#MNTwins are about as average as a team can possibly be overall, yet they've basically never had an average stretch of games.
The Twins now get a 10-game homestand against some struggling teams as they look to get back on track.
First up, the Colorado Rockies
The Rockies cam into their series in Minnesota owning a record of 23-42, the third worst in the majors before the Twins added to that on Monday night. More importantly for the Twins, the Rockies have a negative 102-run differential, perfect for a team struggling offensively.
Another positive for Twins fans is that Chris Paddack was the starter to open the homestand and didn’t disappoint. Paddack had been solid at home this season, with a 3-1 record and a 3.26 ERA in seven starts, much better than his five starts on the road, where he is 1-2 with an 8.20 ERA.
He added to that with a six strikeout performance on Monday in a 5-0 win to get the good vibes flowing once again.
Next up, the Oakland A’s
After the struggling Rockies, the Twins will face another struggling squad in the Oakland A’s, with a record of 26-41 and a negative run differential of 75. The Twins get a four-game set against the A’s, who are 3-7 in their last 10 and 11-21 on the road this season.
The Twins also have some top-level promotions during this series, which should help fill the seats at Target Field. This series should offer the Twins a chance for another series win as they enter the final series of the homestand.
Finally, the Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays will come into Target Field with a better record than the previous teams, but they are still under .500 with a current record of 31-34 and another negative run differential of 62.
The Rays will also be coming off a series against one of MLB's best, the Atlanta Braves, and the Twins should be riding high in confidence after seven games against some of the league's weakest opponents.
What to expect from the homestand
As mentioned, the Twins have been up and down this season, but this homestand should have them back on the upswing. Minnesota has one of the worst team batting averages in the league, at just .230, and a team ERA of 4.25, which is in the bottom third of the league.
They also fell eight and a half back of the AL Central-leading Cleveland Guardians, but this homestand should give them an opportunity to make up some ground and get back in the division race.
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