Minnesota Twins: The cavalry is here to push this team into the playoffs

Heavy reinforcements are finally on the way for the Minnesota Twins.

The Minnesota Twins didn’t make any deadline deals over the weekend and that just might end up being the right decision despite the organization riding a current six-game losing streak, going 3-7 over their last ten games, and falling to third place in the American League Central, 2.5 games behind the division-leading Chicago White Sox.

Yes, the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox.

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On Tuesday night, against those White Sox, the Minnesota Twins welcomed back starting pitcher Michael Pineda to the rotation. Pineda, who missed all of 2018 due to Tommy John surgery, was one of the more consistent pitchers in the Twins rotation last year before being suspended for a banned substance.

Tuesday night’s start is his first since September 6th of last year (went 11-5 with a 4.01 ERA in 2019). Pineda won’t get very many opportunities to find his grove again before the end of the regular season, but the Minnesota Twins need pitching help and what better option than someone who has had a high degree of success in Minnesota and someone who is well-respected in the clubhouse.

Fellow starters Jake Odorizzi, Rich Hill, and Homer Bailey have all been bitten by the injury bug this year and Jose Berrios has struggled to a 4.75 ERA and astronomical 4.5 BB/9 IP through his first seven starts this year.

Based on the reported asking prices of the top rotation arms available at the deadline, like Lance Lynn, and what some contending teams paid for pitching help, the Minnesota Twins made the right decision to stand pat and hope Michael Pineda settles in quickly to help get them through the rest of the regular season and into the eight-team American League playoff field.

After a stint on the IL, Byron Buxton is also back for the Minnesota Twins.

The Minnesota Twins are also welcoming back center fielder Byron Buxton this week. Buxton hasn’t played since August 19th and despite putting up less than stellar offensive numbers, there’s no denying his defensive value.

Buxton was just 1-22 before going on the Injured List, putting together an overall batting average of .221 with a .225 on-base percentage and 72 wRC+, but he did manage to pump out five home runs during his first 21 games played.

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Defensive miscues and a bit of uninspiring play have characterized the recent performance for the Minnesota Twins, so the injection of Buxton’s elite outfield sprint speed and Gold Glove-caliber defense will provide a major boost on the field.

If he can settle in at the plate, it’s even a bigger bonus for what can be one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball. However, the million-dollar question is, can he stay healthy?

The return of Josh Donaldson will certainly help restore this lineup to it’s previously feared state.

Donaldson hasn’t appeared in a game since July 31st with a calf strain. The former MVP is coming off a season in which he hit 33 doubles and 37 home runs with a .379 OBP for the Atlanta Braves before signing a four-year/$92 million deal with the Twins.

If healthy, the Bringer of Rain could end up being the biggest addition to any lineup in baseball this week.

While it’s exciting to see Pineda, Buxton, and Donaldson all return to the lineup, the regular season is very quickly wrapping up. Pineda will have to ease his way back into the rotation, Odorizzi will have to do the same when he finally returns later on, and you certainly don’t want to see Donaldson stretch out any base hits with his extensive calf injury history.

But the White Sox are hot, the Indians are a solid baseball team, and there isn’t much time left for Minnesota to secure a playoff spot. If just the presence of this group can infuse enough energy into the lineup over the next few weeks and they’re 100% by the end of September, the Minnesota Twins World Series watch will be back on and worth your full attention.