The Minnesota Twins, picked by most analysts to make the playoffs before the season started, have the second worst record in baseball through their first 22 games.
The big picture: After a 7-15 start, fans are debating whether the Twins are unlucky or just plain bad.
On the one hand: The team can't seem to catch a break.
- Injuries and a COVID outbreak have kept some of their best players sidelined for stretches, including Max Kepler, Josh Donaldson, Byron Buxton and Andrelton Simmons.
- The Twins have lost all five of their extra-innings games this season.
- Based on their Pythagorean winning percentage, which is an estimate of a team's winning percentage given their runs scored and runs allowed, the team should have two more wins.
Yes, but: The Twins have also played terribly.
- Their newly acquired closer, Alexander Colomé, has blown three saves and, by a measure called Win Probability Added, cost the team about two losses. That's the most of any reliever in MLB history, according to Aaron Gleeman of the Athletic.
- Several Twins hitters have struggled, most notably Miguel Sano, Jorge Polanco and Mitch Garver, all of whom are batting under .200.
Reasons for hope: Starting pitching has been solid and the Twins have plenty of bullpen arms to keep Colomé away from another close game.
- Plus, Byron Buxton, Josh Donaldson and Nelson Cruz are mashing.
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