Twins Look Ugly Against Boston on the Field While Selling Pieces off of It

The Minnesota Twins cannot get out of their own way. Since the All-Star Break, the Twins are sixth in on-base percentage at .341 and 10th in batting average at .250. Yet over that stretch, they are 4-8 and have lost four straight series. A familiar problem has reemerged; the pitching is simply not up to par.

Minnesota gave up 25 runs over a three-game series they lost to Boston 2-1. Including 21 runs in the final two encounters. The lack of starting pitching depth after trading Chris Paddack was on full display, with no starter completing five innings. Paddack’s replacement, Pierson Ohl, made his big league debut in Tuesday's 8-5 loss. While a 12.00 ERA wasn’t what anyone wanted after his debut, four strikeouts in three innings of work is a positive for Ohl to take forward. 

Zebby Matthews has been on a rollercoaster since returning from the injured list. A tough return against the Rockies followed by the best start of his career against the Nationals when he went six scoreless innings. He was bombarded for five runs and eight hits on Wednesday. Yet it was usually reliable Griffin Jax who took the worst beating. Three hits, three runs allowed in the ninth inning, and he never recorded an out to finish off a 13-1 beatdown. 

Pitching has stumbled out of the All-Star Break as a whole. Owning a 6.17 team ERA in that time. Starters have only finished the sixth inning three times in 12 games, and the bullpen hasn’t held up after repeatedly being asked to pitch five or more innings. The problem doesn’t have a clear answer; in fact, it may worsen in the dog days of August for Minnesota, with the aforementioned trade of Paddack and closer Jhoan Durán also being dealt to the Phillies on Wednesday.

One positive is the seemingly imminent return of Bailey Ober. Over two rehab starts on the St. Paul Saints, Ober pitched nine innings, only surrendering one run. Yet, with starters David Festa and Pablo López still not expected back for multiple weeks, the Twins' pitching will be incredibly thin, especially if another arm is traded. Twins who have circulated the rumor mill like Griffin Jax still have time to find a new home. While it appears the Twins have set an astronomical price on Joe Ryan, never say never until 5:01 p.m. CST on Thursday. With two trades for prospects already complete, the Twins front office seems content with the fact that the pitching may have to get worse before it can get better.