Pitching has been the theme of the Minnesota Twins' 2025 season, as the success of the Twins' starting rotation and bullpen has them as a surprise contender in the American League Wild Card picture. If the Twins are going to remain in contention, beyond the fact that they have to stay healthy, it will also be due to the continued success of the team's pitching staff.
Having said that, while the Twins' pitching staff has been excellent, it is lost when you look at the success of the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals this season.
MLB stat guru Thomas Nestico ranked each division by each team's leading pitcher fWAR, and that certainly puts the Twins' pitching success this season into perspective.
Twins can't solely lean on their pitching staff for the reason they stay in contention in AL Playoff race
WAR Leaders by Division — Pitcher pic.twitter.com/Owblnsg7Ww
— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) June 2, 2025
Making life difficult for the Twins is that they play in the same division where there are two legitimate contenders to win the American League Cy Young Award this season.
With the Tigers, Tarik Skubal is well on his way to posting a 6 fWAR this season. Through his first 12 starts this season, Skubal sits with a 3.0 fWAR while posting a 2.26 ERA. Skubal has been excellent this season and sits at the top of the rotation for the best team in Major League Baseball this season.
Meanwhile, Kris Bubic has been just as dominant with the Kansas City Royals. Through his first 12 starts this season, Bubic sits with an ERA of 1.43, with opposing batters hitting under .200 against him this season.
Taking the seasons of Skubal and Bubic into account, it makes sense why Pablo López is the third-ranked starting pitcher in the AL Central based on fWAR. Through his first 10 starts this season, López has posted an ERA of 2.75.
The Twins' pitching staff certainly has thrived this season, but in context, it would seem that can't be the exclusive reason why they remain in contention this season. Especially when the Tigers and Royals have truly dominant pitchers in their rotation.