Twins on a Winning Streak
Milwaukee – There’s really no question about what has fueled the Minnesota Twins during their impressive winning streak. Their pitching staff has been on fire, showcasing a level of performance not seen before in the team’s history.
On Saturday, they managed to secure their third consecutive shutout, taking down the Milwaukee Brewers 7-0. It’s a pretty striking contrast considering they allowed six runs in just three innings during an 8-6 win against Baltimore earlier in the week. Since then, they haven’t given up a single run.
This marks the longest stretch of shutout innings in franchise history, extending to 33 innings—a record since the team’s inception in 1961.
Historically, the Twins had three notable shutout streaks back when they were the Washington Senators, with the most recent occurring in 1913. This new feat includes three straight shutouts, something the team hasn’t accomplished since July 2004.
On Thursday, Chris Paddick threw three hits over seven innings in a 4-0 victory against Baltimore. Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez followed that up, each allowing just two hits in their respective six innings pitched against Milwaukee.
“You really want to maintain that momentum,” Lopez, who improved to 4-2 with a 2.40 ERA after Saturday’s game, noted. “I felt energized and motivated to keep it going today. When I’m on the mound, I just want to harness that energy.”
This current winning streak is now the second-longest in the franchise’s history. The record stands at 15 straight wins, accomplished in the year they last won the World Series in 1991.
Interestingly enough, it’s the second consecutive year that the Twins have hit a winning streak of at least 12 games. They are the first MLB team to achieve this since 2016-17, joining only the Golden State Warriors from major professional sports leagues like the MLB and NBA for such a consistent performance over multiple seasons.
Like last year, the Twins are leveraging this winning streak to bounce back from a slow start. Last season, they bounced back from a rough 7-13 start to achieve a 12-game winning streak but ultimately missed the playoffs after a slump towards the end. Now, they sit at 13-20 but have turned the tide with these wins.
Strong pitching has certainly been the key factor in this turnaround. The starters had a rocky beginning, posting a 6.90 ERA in their first 10 games. However, they now boast a much-improved 2.46 ERA over the last 36 games.
Bailey Over, with a 4-1 record and a 3.72 ERA, commented, “It feels like we’re back on our routine after the early bumps we hit. We’re finding our groove.”
Meanwhile, the bullpen has been stepping up as well, allowing the team to maintain leads effectively since May 6th. Danny Coulombe emphasized the importance of consistency: “If we can hit our spots, great things usually happen.”
This stellar pitching has proved vital, especially as the team weathered significant injuries to key players. Shortstop Carlos Correa and center fielder Byron Buxton are both on the seven-day concussion list after colliding while going for a fly ball. Utility player Willi Castro also missed Saturday’s game after injuring his knee.
Even with some star players sidelined, the Twins have kept their winning momentum intact, proving that strong pitching can carry a team through challenging times.
