The Twins fell to the Astros 5-2 on June 13, 2025, as a strong Chris Paddack outing was wasted. Yordan Alvarez's homer doomed Minnesota's quiet bats. Recap.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It's a story that's becoming painfully familiar for Twins Territory. Another strong performance from a starting pitcher, another night where the bats go quiet. The Twins dropped the series finale to the Houston Astros 5-2 on Friday, and despite a gutsy outing from Chris Paddack, the team found itself on the wrong side of the scoreline, sinking two games below .500 and extending a frustrating slump.
The Twins have now lost six of their last eight games and fall to 34-36 on the season.
Chris Paddack looked sharp for most of the night, fanning eight Astros over six innings. But a three-run fifth inning, punctuated by a two-run blast from the ever-dangerous Yordan Alvarez, was all Houston needed. The 'Sheriff' was solid, but that one crooked number was too much for the Minnesota offense to overcome. The bats were limited to just five hits all night. Carlos Correa provided the only real spark, lacing a two-run double in the seventh inning to account for all of the Twins' scoring. Outside of that, it was a night of missed opportunities and quiet at-bats, a theme that has plagued this team during its recent slide.
The front office is clearly trying to find a solution to the team's recent woes, starting with the bullpen. Before Friday's game, the team made a move, optioning lefty Joey Wentz to Triple-A St. Paul after a particularly rough outing against Texas where he allowed four runs. In his place, the Twins recalled right-hander Jorge Alcalá. Fans will be hoping Alcalá can bring some stability. He's earned the call-up, posting a tidy 2.45 ERA in 18 appearances for the Saints, and will be looked upon to handle middle-relief duties as the team searches for reliable arms.
While the big-league club struggles, the farm system continues to be a source of both hope and concern. The good news? Zebby Matthews has officially graduated from 'prospect' to 'reliable big-league starter,' a huge win for the organization's pitching depth. The bad news is that the injury bug has bitten some of the system's brightest stars, with top prospects Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez, and Luke Keaschall all currently on the shelf. Their health will be crucial for the team's long-term future. On a brighter note, a new wave of infield talent, including Dasan Hill, Kaelen Culpepper, and Kyle DeBarge, is making noise and showing significant progress in the upper minors.
As the losses mount, the pressure intensifies. Falling to 34-36 is a tough pill to swallow, and the team needs to find a way to stop the bleeding, fast. With the offense sputtering, the question becomes: where will the spark come from? Whether it's the veterans like Correa and Buxton finding their groove, or a fresh face like Alcalá providing a lift, something needs to change. The Twins have to get the bats going to support their starters, or this slide could define their season.
