![\"Rocco](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/MLB-Minnesota-Twins-at-Atlanta-Braves-25971982-scaled-e1750694711626.jpg\")
Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCredit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
It was only one month ago that the Minnesota Twins won 13 games in a row<\/a>, a streak that now feels like a very distant memory. Because since that streak ended, this team has been mostly terrible. <\/p>\n The Twins are 6-13<\/a> in June, and as the month goes along they just keep getting worse. Entering their four-game home series against the Seattle Mariners to start this week, Rocco Baldelli & Co are 3-12 in their last 15 games and 1-9 since June 12.<\/p>\n Minnesota Twins pitching staff riding the struggle bus<\/p>\n Minnesota\u2019s biggest problem has been pitching, which had been their biggest strength while winning. But since Pablo Lopez<\/a> (grade 2 teres major strain) and Zebby Matthews<\/a> (grade 2 subcapularis strain) hit the injured list, the Twins can\u2019t keep runs off the board.<\/p>\n Through May<\/a> their 6.1 fWAR was 4th in baseball and the 3.42 ERA was 5th. This month<\/a> they sit dead last in ERA (5.87) and are 24th in fWAR (0.7). Of course losing doesn\u2019t help. And when something isn\u2019t working, human nature tells us to fix it.<\/p>\n On Sunday<\/a>, in their season finale vs Milwaukee, Rocco\u2019s latest attempt to cure the Twins\u2019 recent pitching problems manifested itself in the form of an \u201cOpening Pitcher\u201d. The Brewers had two left-handed batters at the top of their lineup<\/a> so Minnesota replaced righty starter David Festa, with lefty reliever Danny Coulombe.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, Rocco\u2019s ingenious plan didn\u2019t work. Coulombe gave up a run in the first, off a Christian Yelich (lefty) hit. From there, Festa went on to allow<\/a> 8 earned runs on 12 hits in his 4.2 innings pitched and the Minnesota Twins lost 9-8.<\/p>\n MN Twins looking to fix a once-dominant rotation<\/p>\n But if you thought last night\u2019s failed \u201copener\u201d attempt would get Rocco Baldelli off the idea of using one again in the near future, you\u2019d be wrong. According to The Athletic\u2019s Dan Hayes<\/a>, we can expect more opening pitchers going forward, when the manager sees it as being advantageous (in theory). is reporting that more is on the way.<\/p>\n The team\u2019s first attempt didn\u2019t go according to plan\u2026But Twins manager Rocco Baldelli and his coaches believe the strategy can potentially help turn around a club sitting at three games under .500\u2026the Twins recognize changes are necessary to aid a pitching staff that has surrendered 128 runs (118 earned) in 147 innings since [June 3].<\/p>\n They\u2019d love it if several of their top relievers operated as openers and pitched scoreless innings early before handing the ball off to a bulk pitcher with a lead in place.<\/p>\n Dan Hayes \u2013 The Athletic<\/a><\/p>\n Related: Injured Minnesota Twins Take First Steps Toward Return<\/a><\/p>\n The strategy behind an opener is straightforward. Coulombe has allowed<\/a> left-handed hitters just seven hits (in 36 PA) with a single extra-base hit (a double). He also has a 10\/1 K\/BB.<\/p>\n In theory, not only did the swap allow a better first inning pitching matchup for the Twins, but it also allowed Festa to avoid the top of the Brewers\u2019 lineup his first time through. It\u2019s a logical and commendable attempt to fix a pitching staff that is currently broken, with little help remaining at Triple A to come up and help.<\/p>\n Of course, this isn\u2019t the first time Baldelli has employed the opener strategy, since being hired as Minnesota Twins manager, before the 2019 season. In 2022<\/a>, for example, Minnesota used 14 different starters, including Chris Archer, Devin Smeltzer, and Josh Winder all of whom made at least 11 turns through that rotation.<\/p>\n Rocco Baldelli explains why Twins will continue to use openers<\/p>\n The results of using an opener haven\u2019t always been there for Minnesota, but desperate times often call for desperate measures. With four of the Twins\u2019 current starters (all not name Joe Ryan) struggling mightily, Rocco clearly isn\u2019t ready to abandoned the new-school baseball strategy just yet.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got to do a better job of slowing the other team down. That\u2019s what we have to do and I\u2019m going to try to make some adjustments. Our pitchers are going to make some adjustments. Our defense can do a better job, too. Our defense is a part of this, as well. But we have to continue to amend what we\u2019re doing for the better, make adjustments and figure this thing out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re reacting a little bit because we have to. It\u2019s been a little while now we\u2019ve been struggling to stop the other teams from scoring. And we\u2019re going to introduce something new and try to switch things up\u2026It\u2019s something that we\u2019re comfortable with. It\u2019s something that I think can help us get to the middle of the game. It\u2019s something that can help us and probably something that we\u2019re going to see more of.\u201d<\/p>\n Rocco Baldelli \u2013 The Athletic<\/a><\/p>\n Simeon Woods Richardson was demoted<\/a> earlier in the year, in part because he couldn\u2019t go more than four or five innings without being rocked. He has taken three turns<\/a> since returning, allowing 11 runs (nine earned) in just 15 2\/3 innings with a 10\/7 K\/BB.<\/p>\n Festa turned in three great starts earlier this year, while up with the big league club. Unfortunately, he\u2019s been anything but competitive, since his return. In 18 innings<\/a>, across four starts, the 25-year-old out of Seton Hall has allowed 22 runs (20 earned), touting a 17\/10 K\/BB ratio.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMentioned in this article: Danny Coulombe<\/a> David Festa<\/a> Rocco Baldelli<\/a> <\/p>\n![\"David](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/MLB-Milwaukee-Brewers-at-Minnesota-Twins-26510579-788x525.jpg\")
Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images<\/p>\n