After a successful April that saw the Twins go 23-8 to open the season, they hope to continue that success in May. Can they hold the division lead and can the offense keep rolling despite a key injury? Come find out!We have made it through two months of the Twins 2020 season. The Twins continued on their hot start in May with a 19-win month to try to stay at the top of the division. This month had a few injuries and roster moves than the first month so let's see how everything went for the Twins.

 

Today’s post will feature how the Twins did in May.

 

Roster moves throughout the month:

• 5/15: Cody Stashak called up. Cody Gearrin sent down.
• 5/17: Zack Littell called up. Devin Smeltzer sent down.
• 5/24: Max Kepler injured (torn calf, 1-2 months). Jimmy Kerrigan called up.

AL Central at the end of May:

• Twins: 42-18
• Indians: 38-22 (4.0 GB)
• White Sox: 29-31 (13.0 GB)
• Royals: 27-33 (15.0 GB)
• Tigers: 20-39 (21.5 GB)

Lineup with end of May statistics:

• Buxton: .233/.293/.348 (.640), 1 HR, 15 RBI, 0.7 WAR
• Polanco: .326/.399/.552 (.952), 9 HR, 22 RBI, 2.4 WAR
• Arraez: .332/.397/.478 (.875), 8 HR, 23 RBI, 2.0 WAR
• Cruz: .295/.377/.530 (.907), 14 HR, 39 RBI, 1.6 WAR
• Donaldson: .236/.336/.432 (.768), 9 HR, 23 RBI, 1.5 WAR
• Garver: .259/.314/.523 (.837), 14 HR, 31 RBI, 2.1 WAR
• Rosario: .299/.322/.567 (.889), 13 HR, 33 RBI, 1.5 WAR
• Sano: .277/.357/.630 (.987), 17 HR, 42 RBI, 2.2 WAR
• Gonzalez: .268/.343/.417 (.760), 5 HR, 13 RBI 1.3 WAR
• Kepler (injured): .327/.415/.574 (.989), 9 HR, 23 RBI, 2.0 WAR

Bench Summary:

 

The four players on the bench to finish the month were Alex Avila, Ehire Adrianza, Willians Astudillo, and Jimmy Kerrigan to replace Kepler. Kerrigan is just 1-for-7 for far, but Avila, Adrianza, and La Tortuga are all hitting above .255 and doing their jobs well.

 

May rotation with end of the month statistics:

• Jose Berrios: 6-3, 3.49 ERA, 8.84 K/9, 3.59 BB/9, 0.8 WAR
• Kenta Maeda: 5-1, 3.03 ERA, 8.11 K/9, 1.45 BB/9, 1.8 WAR
• Jake Odorizzi: 4-3, 5.19 ERA, 7.71 K/9, 3.56 BB/9, 0.0 WAR
• Rich Hill: 5-3, 3.09 ERA, 9.90 K/9, 2.96 BB/9, 1.3 WAR
• Randy Dobnak: 5-2, 3.41 ERA, 6.52 K/9, 3.26 BB/9, 0.8 WAR

Bullpen Summary:

 

The bullpen at the end of May consisted of Taylor Rogers, Tyler Duffey, Tyler Clippard, Trevor May, Sergio Romo, and new additions Stashak, Littell, and Bailey was moved there from the rotation. Everyone is performing well, except for Clippard and his 9.82 ERA, so far this season. Littell was called up in the middle of May and has not allowed a run in 13 ⅔ innings. Rogers has 19 saves.

 

May summary for the Twins:

 

The Twins had their second straight excellent month, going 19-10 after a 23-8 April. Pretty much every team in the AL Central saw the same slight dip as the Twins maintained their lead in the division. At the end of May, the Twins have the best win% in baseball. The team also ranks 1st in AVG, home runs, and SLG%.

 

Byron Buxton and Josh Donaldson have not put it together so far and the Twins will need those two to step it up if they want to make noise this year. Luckily Sano and Rosario have picked it up and are helping lead this team. The Kepler injury hurts, and Kerrigan wasn’t who I expected to be called up. Expect Max back in early July.

 

On the pitching side, Berrios and Maeda have led the rotation but Berrios has a scary 4.38 FIP and isn’t striking many out. Maeda on the other hand is having an excellent season that should continue. Odorizzi had an awful first month but was able to start bringing his stats back down in May. Smeltzer was replaced by Dobnak and that is looking like a great move. Rich Hill came off the IL this month and is performing already.

 

Around MLB: Division leaders

• ALC: Twins (23-8)
• ALW: Astros (34-26)
• ALE: Red Sox (39-22)
• ALWC: Indians (22-11), Yankees (37-23)
• NLC: Cubs (38-22)
• NLW: Dodgers (39-19)
• NLE: Nationals (34-24)
• NLWC: Brewers (36-23), Marlins (34-26)

League leaders:

• AVG AL/NL: Trout (.404), Avisail Garcia (.347)
• OBP AL/NL: Trout (.488), Goldschmidt (.445)
• SLG AL/NL: Trout (.865), Schwarber (.728)
• HR AL/NL: J.D. Martinez (21), Schwarber (22)
• ERA AL/NL: H. Bailey (1.62 lol), Kershaw (1.55)
• SO AL/NL: Cole (112), Scherzer (110)

All Star voting has begun. Here is the AL/NL leader along with where Twins rank in the AL:

• SP: Cole, Kershaw
• CP: Givens, Iglesias (Rogers 2nd)
• C: Sanchez, Suzuki (Garver 2nd)
• 1B: Olson, Goldschmidt (Sano 4th)
• 2B: LeMahieu, Albies (Arraez 3rd)
• 3B: Ramirez, E. Escobar (Donaldson 9th)
• SS: Bogaerts, Segura (Polanco 5th)
• LF: Martinez, Schwarber (Rosario 4th)
• CF: Trout, Acuna Jr. (Buxton 9th)
• RF: Reyes, Betts (Cruz 2nd, Kepler 4th)

Any questions about what’s going on in the league so far? Leave a comment and I’ll be sure to answer whether it's about a certain player, team, or anything else! What are your thoughts on this series I am putting together?

 

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I sure hope Donaldson doesn't have a slow start (assuming there is a start).

Nice job on this by the way.

A. That sucks for Kepler and B. How in the hell is a torn calf only a 1-2 month recovery?!

It looks like you're having fun. I used to play aPBA and really enjoyed it even though it was far from realistic.

Wait... Max Kepler went on the DL for a long period of time and they called up Jimmy Kerrigan instead of Rooker or Kirilloff of Larnach?

 

And Zack Littell and Cody Stashak weren't up??

Um, we won the Maeda trade.

Wait... Max Kepler went on the DL for a long period of time and they called up Jimmy Kerrigan instead of Rooker or Kirilloff of Larnach?

 

And Zack Littell and Cody Stashak weren't up??

 

Gotta admit, I've got no clue who Jimmy Kerrigan is

Rich Hill 5-3 while rehabbing at the MLB level?!? Dude is a monster, just wait until he is fully recovered from surgery!

Surprising to see Arrez with 8 HR already

Pee test for Arraez. 8 Bombas?

 

Rich Hill 5-3 while rehabbing at the MLB level?!? Dude is a monster, just wait until he is fully recovered from surgery!

 

.....and in only one month! 8 decisions. Must have pitched every 3rd or 4th day.