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.