Twins takeaways: Opener doesn't work this time, but it's not going away
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins used an opener Sunday, a strategy they could employ more often as they attempt to rejuvenate a previously top-five pitching staff engaged in a free fall.
The team's first attempt didn't go according to plan. Reliever Danny Coulombe surrendered a first-inning run Sunday afternoon and bulk pitcher David Festa followed with eight earned runs allowed and 12 hits in a 9-8 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers at Target Field, the Twins' ninth loss in 10 games.
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But Twins manager Rocco Baldelli and his coaches believe the strategy can potentially help turn around a club sitting at three games under .500 fewer than three weeks after the Twins were seven games over. After a 17-game stretch in which they've been outscored by 53 runs, the Twins recognize changes are necessary to aid a pitching staff that has surrendered 128 runs (118 earned) in 147 innings since losing Pablo López to an injury on June 3 and Zebby Matthews shortly thereafter.
They'd love it if several of their top relievers operated as openers and pitched scoreless innings early before handing the ball off to a bulk pitcher with a lead in place.
'We've got to do a better job of slowing the other team down,' Baldelli said. 'That's what we have to do and I'm going to try to make some adjustments. Our pitchers are going to make some adjustments. Our defense can do a better job, too. Our defense is a part of this, as well. But we have to continue to amend what we're doing for the better, make adjustments and figure this thing out.'
Through Sunday, the Twins pitching staff ranks 20th in the majors out of 30 teams with a 4.17 ERA. The team's starting rotation is ranked 17th with a 4.06 ERA.
As of June 3, the day López exited with a Grade 2 teres major strain in his right shoulder that is expected to result in an absence of 8-12 weeks, the Twins ranked sixth in overall ERA (3.32) and fifth in starting pitching ERA (3.43).
Matthews reported his shoulder strain a few days later, and Twins pitchers have since consistently put their team behind. Sunday was the seventh time in 17 games in which Twins pitchers have allowed nine runs, a 4-13 stretch that has tested the starting depth.
The @Brewers score 35 runs across a 3-game sweep of the Twins! 💪 pic.twitter.com/OQVSaH73sc
— MLB (@MLB) June 22, 2025
A constant in the Twins' struggles is falling behind early. After winning 18 of their first 26 games at home, the Twins have lost seven of the last nine games at Target Field, including getting outscored 69-32 over the last six contests, five of which are losses.
One issue is that the replacement pitchers haven't fared well.
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Festa has a 6.39 ERA in 31 innings and Simeon Woods Richardson has a 5.06 ERA in 53 1/3 innings. Throw in the recent slump suffered by Bailey Ober, who has an 8.31 ERA over his past three starts and has failed to complete five innings in four of his last seven outings, and the Twins are dealing with inconsistency from the rotation the majority of the time.
Though the Twins are hopeful Ober discovered a solution in his last few bullpen sessions and Wednesday in Cincinnati, they're trying to adjust for the inexperience of Festa and Woods Richardson, who are talented but still learning.
On Sunday, the Twins hoped Coulombe could take care of the first inning and pass the baton to Festa in the second. Coulombe recorded two outs and then surrendered a run on two hits. Festa followed by yielding a Rhys Hoskins homer in the second inning, the first of a dozen hits he'd allow in 4 2/3 innings along with three walks.
'I need to do a better job of getting the next guy out, or if it's two in a row, getting the third guy out,' Festa said. 'I failed to do that regardless of how hard or wherever the balls were. That's what is frustrating me.'
Though it didn't work Sunday, this is unlikely to be the only time the Twins use an opener. Baldelli suggested the Twins have put much thought into the strategy and like the concept for many reasons.
'We're reacting a little bit because we have to,' Baldelli said. 'It's been a little while now we've been struggling to stop the other teams from scoring. And we're going to introduce something new and try to switch things up. … It's something that we're comfortable with. It's something that I think can help us get to the middle of the game. It's something that can help us and probably something that we're going to see more of.'
Here are other Twins takeaways after another dismal series.
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• Ryan Jeffers described the team's play as embarrassing on Saturday and unbecoming of a major-league team. Baldelli said Sunday he's not upset by his catcher's blunt assessment of the team's slump.
Still, Baldelli, Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa agree the team is not in panic mode, either. Even with their horrid play, the Twins are only 2 1/2 games out of a wild-card spot.
If they can figure out how to get the team's pitchers back on track, the Twins recognize there's plenty of time to turn it around.
'It's more about getting through this tough stretch and trying to win some games,' Correa said. 'A lot of things gotta change in terms of the way we're going about the game. … You've got to recognize that things aren't going great and you've got to adjust and address them. Right now, we haven't been doing many things great consistently, but we have the talent to be able to turn it around.'
• Willi Castro was a late scratch Sunday with a sore right wrist, one that could prevent him from playing in the next two or three games. Castro felt the soreness when he woke up Sunday morning, but noted it's not the first time he's experienced the issue.
Castro underwent an X-ray, which showed no fracture. The utility man previously experienced wrist soreness a season ago.
'I've had that pain before, but (Sunday) was the day that it got worse,' Castro said. 'But I've played with that pain before, last year, this year. It's nothing. The good thing is it's nothing fractured or anything like that. They told me it's probably (going to) swell. Probably 2-3 days I'll be fine to go back in and play. … The good thing is nothing is broken. Just try to heal it.'
Castro's absence led to Jonah Bride batting in a key spot and striking out with the tying and go-ahead runs aboard in the eighth inning.
(Photo of David Festa: Brad Rempel / Imagn Images)
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