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Derek Falvey knew that a team employing Carlos Correa and leading the American League Central division couldn’t sit idle when given an opportunity to improve. Sure, Trevor Larnach, Alex Kirilloff, and Kyle Garlick were all missing from the lineup. Byron Buxton was playing as a member of the walking wounded, and Ryan Jeffers may not return. Still though, it was the pitching staff, and has always been the pitching staff, that needed the most help.
Rather than allowing Rocco Baldelli to continue rolling the dice on a near-nightly basis, he needed to supplement the relief corps. Jhoan Duran couldn’t continue to shoulder such a massive load as a rookie, and despite the emergence of Griffin Jax, inexperience was going to reign supreme. Sonny Gray has established himself as the ace of the staff, and while Joe Ryan looks the part, they needed help with a group also including Dylan Bundy and Chris Archer.
Coming to Minnesota as an All-Star, Jorge Lopez has been as advertised. Yes, he scuffled early, but he quickly righted that ship. With a neat entrance to the Target Field mound, the former Baltimore Orioles closer owns a 2.45 ERA across 11 innings and 11 appearances. He’s given up more hits, less strikeouts, and a few more walks, but he’s kept the ball in the yard. Lopez will continue to settle in as time goes on, and he pairs nicely at the back end of the unit.
Asking Michael Fulmer to walk across the diamond from the visiting Detroit Tigers clubhouse was probably as good as it gets for the veteran. No longer playing for nothing, he’s now in a divisional race and pitching innings that actually matter. In 11 appearances for the Twins, Fulmer owns a 3.86 ERA with an 13/3 K/BB. He’s given up twice as many dingers (2) in 11 2/3 innings with Minnesota than he did in 39 1/3 with Detroit, so you can imagine he’ll further put the clamps down on his output.
Arguably the best of the bunch, Tyler Mahle is Minnesota’s second big starter from the Cincinnati Reds. Rejoining former teammate Sonny Gray, Mahle has tallied a 2.51 ERA in three starts. Yes he’s now shelved with a shoulder issue, similar to what he experienced earlier this summer, but the expectation is he’ll be back when immediately able and continue to be a driving force towards a Postseason berth. Mahle’s numbers are a bit skewed after a lackluster debut against the Toronto Blue Jays, but Minnesota won the game and he’s battled nicely.
There’s no denying it was a blow to Minnesota when pitching coach Wes Johnson abruptly left earlier this season. The group as a whole was reeling, but they’ve answered the call since being infused with new veteran talent.
By fWAR, the Twins have had the 9th best pitching staff in Major League Baseball since the trade deadline. Their starters check in 18th while the relievers are 6th. Given the state of the bullpen a month ago, that’s a massive shift. Having to use spot arms like Aaron Sanchez along the way, starting talents such as Josh Winder and Bailey Ober returning could only help to push this envelope further.
Give it to Falvey and Thad Levine. The front office saw what this team needed and did everything they could to give them the pieces. From that point onwards, it became entirely on the players in the clubhouse to answer the call.
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