Minnesota Twins staying close despite horrific injury woes

Tyler Mahle’s return to the mound encapsulated the Minnesota Twins 2022 campaign.

Mahle had missed approximately three weeks after landing on the Injured List after shoulder inflammation limited his last outing to just 2.1 innings. His return was even shorter as he lasted just two innings, his velocity decreasing to 87 to 88 MPH on his fastball in the second frame.

Minnesota Twins battling despite injury woes

This is just par for the course for the Twins this year. They currently have nine pitchers on the IL, including two pitchers that were expected to be key parts of their rotation. Sonny Gray left his outing on Friday after just four innings with an injury of his own. That list could get even longer.

It also does not include the list of position players on the IL. As pointed out by Aaron Gleeman from The Athletic, the Twins essentially have a starting lineup on the shelf as well. The likes of Byron Buxton, Royce Lewis, Miguel Sano, and Alex Kirilloff, amongst others, are sitting on the sidelines when the Twins could use them most.

And yet, the Twins continue to battle. They are just one game back in the AL Central, well within striking distance of the Guardians. With eight games left against Cleveland, they certainly have a chance to overcome that deficit.

That is really what it comes down to – staying close until those series happen. The Twins, for all of their injuries and questions about their bullpen, are still right in the mix for the division. They are giving themselves the chance they needed.

The Minnesota Twins have been battered by injuries this season. And yet, they are still staying close, giving themselves a chance down the stretch.