May 2, 2022; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli (5) walks to the dugout before the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports The Minnesota Twins appeared to be on a journey to the center of the earth to begin the season. They cratered to a 7-13 start, threatening to end the season before it began. It felt like 2022 when injuries mounted and cost them a playoff spot. It also had shades of 2021, when Alex Colomé blew three saves, and Minnesota won two games between April 10 and 27.
Minnesota had a false start after its first playoff win since 2002. Fans weren’t thrilled when they reduced payroll. The Twins said they would explore options outside Bally Sports to distribute their games. However, they ended up re-signing with them and then losing Xfinity customers in a dispute between Comcast and Bally’s parent company, Diamond Sports.
Unfortunately, that happened on May 1, in the middle of Minnesota’s sausage-inspired 12-game win streak. But have no fear if you haven’t seen this team play since their 6-5 win over the Chicago White Sox on April 30, they’re still humming along. Twenty games into the season, Vegas gave the Twins nearly even odds with the Cleveland Guardians, Kansas City Royals, and Detroit Tigers to win the division.
One 12-game winning streak later, and the Twins are overwhelming favorites to win the division and make the playoffs. However, it looks like they bump into a familiar foe once they get there. The New York Yankees are vying with the Baltimore Orioles for first place in the AL East and have a better record than any team in the Central or West. They look like legitimate contenders.
Minnesota had won six straight series for the first time since 2010 before the Yankees took the first two games in their most recent series. Chris Paddack gave up a career-worst 12 hits on Tuesday, and Willi Castro misplayed multiple balls in the outfield. “It was very unlike us,” Rocco Baldelli said after the 5-1 loss. “It was very unlike the brand and type of baseball we’ve been playing.”
Pablo López worked through a 6.1-inning, 96-pitch start where he gave up three runs and ten hits in Minnesota’s 4-0 loss on Wednesday. The Twins only produced four hits, and Castro had issues defensively again. Aaron Judge went 4-for-4 with a homer, and the Yankees ended Minnesota’s series win streak at six.
“This is two days in a row, and I haven’t said this for a while, but…when we hit the ball hard, nothing. Literally nothing,” said Baldelli. “We barreled some balls up, especially early, and we ended up with no runs.”
Last year, Minnesota took the season series from the Yankees for the first time in 22 years, and pundits believed it showed their October upside. That proved true to some extent. The Twins haven’t played the Yankees in the postseason since 2019. However, the Houston Astros beat Minnesota in four games four years after sweeping them out of playoffs in 2020.
Minnesota might have had a breakthrough last year. It’s only May, and there is a lot of season left. But as much as things have changed, they appear to have stayed the same. The Twins fought to climb from the bottom of the standings to the top of the AL Central, only to see the Yankees on top again.
