2025 was shaping up to be one of the worst vibes seasons in Minnesota Twins history. Maybe the worst. The lowest point of the season is up for debate, but the team started 0-4, was 4-11 on April 12, 7-15 on April 20, and 13-20 on May 2. All four days were bleak. Pablo López got injured early in the year. A burst of energy from Luke Keaschall got derailed by injury after seven games.

And all that happened under the cloud of a fanbase that desperately wants ownership to sell, with no buyer in sight.

The Twins climbed out of that awful pit with an 11-game winning streak, until May 15, when the We Can’t Have Nice Things season struck again. Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa collided with and concussed each other, leaving arguably their two most important players sidelined indefinitely. Once again, the vibes were effed, and the Twins seemed destined to have their momentum tank as they went to Milwaukee for a Border Battle weekend.

But that’s what you have Joe Ryan and López for, I guess.

Zebby Matthews finally ended Minnesota’s streak at 13, but before then, the Twins made a statement in securing the win with back-to-back shutouts in Milwaukee. Ryan dazzled in six innings, striking out nine and allowing just two hits and a walk. López was as Pabloesque as ever, with six innings and six Ks of his own, surrendering a pair of hits and walks.

While Ryan and López are the twin titans leading the way, the team shows that you don’t need good vibes when you can pitch as well as Minnesota does. The Twins entered Monday third in the majors in ERA, with their rotation sixth among all teams (3.42) and their bullpen third (2.89). No team bests them in both categories.

The Twins were desperate for a “stopper” early in the season, and there’s been no stopping the rotation lately. Bailey Ober has been gold since his traditional First Outing Blasting, with a 2.36 ERA since April. Meanwhile, Chris Paddack is finally getting his groove back after Tommy John surgery, with a 2.08 ERA since his first two starts. López has held his opponents to two or fewer runs in six of his eight outings.

But we have to talk about Ryan’s brilliance. Ryan is no stranger to going on a tear in the first half, but 2025’s start has been notable, even for him. Simply put, he’s pitching like Brad Radke on steroids. His walk rate of 1.04 per nine innings matches Radke’s most insane control years. Tarik Skubal is the only starting pitcher who allows fewer free passes.

That’s absurd on its own, but Ryan is bringing so much more to the table. He’s striking out a career-high 31.5% of his batters faced, the fifth-highest percentage among 77 qualified starters. Ryan’s 16th in both swinging strike percentage (13.2%) and in allowing soft contact (18.4% of his batted balls). His 0.78 WHIP is second only to Nathan Eovaldi.

When everything’s rolling like that, what do you do when you’re the opposing team, other than wait for a young player like Matthews or David Festa or Simeon Woods Richardson to come in and have a tough day?

Because, remember, they sure aren’t going to be able to count on many meltdowns from the bullpen. Jhoan Durán and Danny Coulombe have combined for 38 innings with 46 strikeouts (10.4/9), 11 walks (2.6/9), and a minuscule 0.47 ERA. Minnesota’s got the highest average velocity of any bullpen in the majors, thanks to Durán (100.4 average mph on his fastball, second among 184 qualifying relievers), Louie Varland (98.4, 13th), Griffin Jax, and Jorge Alcalá (97.1 each, tied for 25th).

There are almost no vulnerabilities in that pitching staff, and it’s kept Minnesota afloat throughout low attendance numbers, being left for dead in the standings, and injuries to Buxton, Correa, Keaschall, and Matt Wallner. Now the Twins are at the top of the Wild Card standings, even as they sit below the middle of the pack in batting average (.242, 17th in baseball), runs scored (194, 18th), and OPS (.696, 19th).

Take your vibes and shove them. The Twins have the one force in the universe more powerful than vibes: pitching. The ability to limit damage early and hold leads late goes further in baseball than any other attribute, and Minnesota has both in a way no one else in the majors can claim. As the Twins enter an all-important homestand hosting the Cleveland Guardians and Kansas City Royals, they can feel confident that no matter what is working against them, what’s on the mound is even more formidable.