Fansided

These teams can still save their season if they get hot in June

By Joshua Sadlock

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 9: Joe Mauer #7 of the Minnesota Twins reacts to striking out against the Houston Astros during the sixth inning of the game on April 9, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Astros defeated the Twins 2-0. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 9: Joe Mauer #7 of the Minnesota Twins reacts to striking out against the Houston Astros during the sixth inning of the game on April 9, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Astros defeated the Twins 2-0. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN- MAY 21: Byron Buxton #25 of the Minnesota Twins looks on against the Detroit Tigers on May 21, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Tigers 4-2. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Byron Buxton
MINNEAPOLIS, MN- MAY 21: Byron Buxton #25 of the Minnesota Twins looks on against the Detroit Tigers on May 21, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Tigers 4-2. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Byron Buxton /

2. Minnesota Twins

After making a surprise run to the AL Wild Card Game last season, the Minnesota Twins entered 2018 with relatively high expectations. A strong offseason and a place in the weakest division in baseball had the Twins looking like an easy pick to contend for a return trip to the playoffs. Instead, the moves that were viewed as smart, low-cost signings for a small-market team have produced very little and the Twins are just 22-27 and have spent time behind the rebuilding Detroit Tigers in the standings.

The Twins were a scrappy team last year that managed to finish fourth in the AL in runs and OPS without featuring a lineup full of stars. Beyond Miguel Sano, Brian Dozier and an aging Joe Mauer, few regulars could be picked out of a police lineup by casual baseball fans. The emergence of Byron Buxton in the second half helped push Minnesota over the top.

None of the things that went right for the Twins in 2017 have carried over into the first two months of 2018. Sano’s season started late while he worked through personal and injury issues. The third baseman has 43 strikeouts in his first 24 games. Buxton has looked even worse than his low points of 2016 and 2017, hitting just .159/.187/.205. Mauer is dealing with another neck injury and concussion. Expected to provide cheap power, Logan Morrison is hitting below .200 with a .653 OPS and five homers in 45 games. Everyone’s numbers are way down.

There is still very little reason to write the Twins off this year, entirely due to the weakness of their schedule. They have not gotten into the meat of their divisional schedule yet, and have plenty of opportunities lined up to feast on Kansas City, Chicago and Detroit. As for Buxton and Sano, your guess is as good as mine, but both are too talented to struggle this much for an entire year.

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