Twins Struggle Early as Bobby Witt Jr. Shines for Royals

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Minnesota Twins‘ early-season struggles continued as they prepare for a four-game series against the Kansas City Royals starting Monday. The Twins’ recent match against the Houston Astros ended in disappointment with a 9-7 loss after surrendering a six-run lead.

The Twins took the field on Sunday with hopes of improving their performance after a rocky start to the season, marked by inconsistent pitching. On the other hand, the Royals are benefitting from the outstanding play of shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who boasts the best home batting average in Major League Baseball at .377 since the start of the 2024 season.

Despite a strong start, the Twins’ pitching staff faltered once again. RHP Bailey Ober, who was slated to pitch in the getaway game, struggled to get through four innings, allowing four runs on seven hits. This added significant strain to their already taxed bullpen, which had to cover six innings in relief.

“It’s early in the season, but we need to tighten our rotation and give our bullpen some rest,” said Twins manager Rocco Baldelli after the game. “We can’t rely on them to bail us out every time when our starters don’t go deep into games.”

The Twins made a roster move ahead of Monday’s game, designating reliever Darren McCaughan for assignment to clear space for Scott Blewett, who has been recalled from Triple-A St. Paul. This change reflects their urgency to find fresh arms for their beleaguered bullpen, which has faced additional pressure due to multiple starters struggling to pitch effectively.

The Royals are coming off a strong performance against the Baltimore Orioles, where Witt went 3-for-4, contributing to a 4-1 victory. Witt’s consistent hitting at Kauffman Stadium has made him a crucial asset for Kansas City.

“Bobby [Witt Jr.] has been outstanding. He’s been our anchor and is hitting at an incredible rate,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro commented. “We rely on his leadership, especially in key moments of the game.”

The Twins face a challenging schedule ahead with six of their next ten games against division rivals, including three against the Royals and a homestand with the Detroit Tigers and New York Mets. Starting pitchers for the upcoming series include RHP Simeon Woods Richardson for Monday, followed by RHP Pablo López, RHP Joe Ryan, and RHP Bailey Ober.

The Royals’ current standing is 4-5, having played primarily at home. Their recent success is attributed in part to Witt’s powerful batting performance, while the Twins must regroup if they hope to keep pace in the American League Central.