How the 2026 Twins Turned Things Upside Down (And Why the Cubs Should Be Careful)

What Happened in 2025 vs. 2026

Imagine two summers where the Minnesota Twins had a similar win-loss record (around half their games won, half lost — we call this ".500"). But the reason they looked the same on paper was totally different.

• In July 2025: The Twins met the Cubs. Minnesota was hanging around .500 because:

  • Their starting pitchers (the guys who begin the game on the mound) were great — especially Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez.
  • They had the best bullpen in baseball. (The bullpen is the group of relief pitchers who come in after the starter tires out.)
  • But their offense (the batters) was too weak to really compete with top teams.
• In 2026: Same roughly .500 record early on, but everything changed:
  • Pablo Lopez is done for the whole season (injured).
  • The entire bullpen is gone! A year ago, they traded away 2026 All-Star relievers Jhoan Duran, Louie Varland, and five others.
  • Now, the Twins have one of the best lineups in baseball (their batters are awesome).

Important Point: The Twins went from "great pitching, weak batting" to "weak pitching, great batting" in just one year!

A New Vibe and a Playoff Push

The biggest difference this time is the direction and energy of the team.

• Derek Shelton (former Pittsburgh Pirates manager) took over and brought fresh excitement.
• The old manager, Rocco Baldelli, was there a long time but the team didn’t always have that spark.
• Shelton helped young batters stay calm during rough early-season stretches.

Since June 12:

1. The Twins went 17 wins, 10 losses (4th best in MLB).
2. They won 8 of their last 9 series (a series is a few games vs. one team).
3. Their only series loss was to the super-strong Dodgers.

• The Cubs have the best record in baseball in that same time, but we won’t focus on that.
• Minnesota is back in the playoff race!
• They also have a new controlling owner from the same Pohlad family who says he will spend money to fix big problems.

Where the Twins Are Weak: The Bullpen

Remember those traded relievers? That left a huge hole.

• Rookie Andrew Morris has been one of the best relievers in baseball over the last two months (since becoming a full-time reliever).
• Yoendrys Gomez (picked up from the Rays in May) has been very good after changing his pitches with the Twins.
• Outside those two, no one is reliable.

Important Point: If the Twins lead after the 7th inning, they’re usually fine. But the middle innings (after starters Joe Ryan, Taj Bradley, and Bailey Ober leave) are where opponents like the Cubs can score a lot.

The Twins’ Batting: Deep and Dangerous

The lineup is led by star Byron Buxton (nickname "Buck"), though he may miss this series because he got hurt (went on the IL — Injured List) right before the All-Star break.

• No single mega-star besides Buck, but almost everyone helps.
• Early numbers were bad (slow starts), but since June 1:
  • 11 players have a wRC+ of at least 100 (this means they hit better than average).
  • 8 are at 120+ (well above average).
  • 4 are at 150+ (Buxton, Trevor Larnach, Victor Caratini, Josh Bell).
• When Buck and catcher Ryan Jeffers are healthy, this lineup is scary good.

The Twins’ Big Flaw: Left-Handed Pitchers

For literally ten years, the Twins have struggled against lefties (pitchers who throw with their left hand).

• Besides Buxton and Jeffers, their best hitters are:
  • Platoon lefties (Trevor Larnach, Kody Clemens) — they mostly bat vs. right-handed pitchers.
  • Switch hitters (Bell, Caratini, Brooks Lee) who are worse when batting right-handed.
• Manager Shelton swaps in pinch hitters (a sub batter) when lefty relievers appear.
• Opposing managers have used this to remove Larnach and Clemens mid-game.
• Carrying 3 catchers now may reduce that trick soon.
• Expect lots of Caleb Thielbar — a lefty specialist, ex-Twin, and Minnesota native (the writer is happy about that!).

Summary

The 2026 Twins look similar in record to 2025 but are a totally new team: weak bullpen, strong batting, new energetic manager, and a willing-to-spend owner. They are hot since mid-June and dangerous when healthy. Their bullpen after the starters and their trouble vs. lefties are clear weak spots the Cubs can attack.

FAQ

Q1: What is a bullpen?
A: It’s the group of relief pitchers who come in after the starting pitcher leaves the game.

Q2: Why are the Twins’ relievers so bad now?
A: They traded away almost their whole good bullpen (including All-Stars) in 2025 to get other assets.

Q3: Who is Byron Buxton?
A: He’s the Twins’ top batter ("Buck"), but he might miss the Cubs series due to injury.

Q4: What does "wRC+ of 150+" mean simply?
A: It’s a score where 100 is average; 150+ means a batter is way above average at producing runs.

Q5: Why do lefty pitchers trouble the Twins?
A: Most of their good batters are lefty-only or worse from the right side, so lefty pitchers slow them down.