Brooks Lee dumps water on Alan Roden after hitting a walk-off single against the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday. Photo: Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images
The Twins have climbed back to nearly .500 and would be right in the mix for a playoff spot if the season ended today.
Between the lines: They can thank themselves for performing better than expected, but moreover, the baseball gods for their good luck.
Catch up quick:Byron Buxton and Joe Ryan are again having great seasons, plus the Twins have gotten surprisingly strong production from first baseman Kody Clemens, outfielder Trevor Larnach and starting pitcher Taj Bradley.
They lead the American League in runs scored and their starting pitchers ranked 15th of 30 teams before yesterday's games.
Yes, but: The Twins have also been blessed with MLB's best batting average with runners in scoring position — a mark significantly higher than their normal batting average.
Plus: As beat writer Aaron Gleeman has noted on his podcast, no other team's opponents have committed more fielding errors. For some reason, whoever is playing the Twins forgets how to catch and throw.
Reality check: The bullpen has been every bit of a disaster as many feared, ranking 28th in baseball.
💭 Nick's thought bubble: If the Pohlads, who have cut payroll the last two offseasons, had spent another $10 million to $15 million for a couple of good relievers, this team could have had several more wins.
What we're watching: The trade deadline is Aug. 3 and the Twins' hot streak means they may have turned from sellers to buyers.
