The Minnesota Twins lost to the Milwaukee Brewers 8-3 on June 21, 2025, as pitching struggles continue without Pablo Lopez, despite a Matt Wallner home run.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a tough Saturday at Target Field for the Minnesota Twins, who couldn't keep pace with the Milwaukee Brewers, falling 8-3. The loss sinks the club further below .500 and puts a spotlight on a pitching staff trying to weather the storm without its ace, a theme that defined a day of mixed results for the organization.
The loss dropped Minnesota to 37-39 on the season, a stark reminder of the uphill battle they face to get back into contention.
Despite a two-run blast from Matt Wallner, his second home run in as many games, the Twins' offense couldn't muster enough support. Starter Simeon Woods Richardson struggled to find his footing against a potent Brewers lineup, and the bullpen was unable to stop the bleeding. While Byron Buxton remains a threat in the middle of the order, the team-wide offensive consistency just wasn't there, leading to a frustrating 8-3 final score.
The absence of ace Pablo Lopez, still recovering from a shoulder injury, looms large over the rotation. Saturday's game underscored how thin the margins are for the pitching staff. On a positive note, the bullpen has found a new high-leverage weapon in Louis Varland, who has transitioned seamlessly into a late-inning role alongside Griffin Jax. This reinvention has been crucial, but the team needs its starters to go deeper to avoid taxing these key arms.
The brightest news of the day came from the farm system, as right-hander Zebby Matthews officially graduated to a permanent spot in the big-league rotation. His emergence is a testament to the organization's pitching depth, which is being tested with injuries hampering top prospects like Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez. While those future stars mend, the system continues to churn out talent, with players like Dasan Hill and Kaelen Culpepper showing promise and ensuring that reinforcements are always on the horizon.
While the loss to Milwaukee stings, the bigger picture for the Twins is one of resilience. The club is navigating a challenging stretch, balancing on-field struggles with promising developments like Wallner's power surge and the arrival of Zebby Matthews. As they look to bounce back and climb towards .500, their renowned organizational depth will be more critical than ever. The challenge now is to translate that depth into consistent wins at the major league level.
