The Minnesota Twins' starting rotation is pretty banged up with Kyle Gibson and Ervin Santana relegated to the 15-day DL and minor-league wunderkind Jose Berrios displaying plenty of promise, if not results.
Fortunately for skipper Paul Molitor the bullpen is helping to pick up the slack.
The Twins' bullpen is racking up strikeouts at a consistent clip, led by right-hander Trevor May with 23, and currently ranks fourth in the American League with 9.67 strikeouts per nine innings-pitched.
Most strikeouts per nine IP by bullpen
Meanwhile, the Twins are turning things around at the plate.
Second-year slugger Miguel Sano's slow start is no more.
Sano's averaged has surged over the last few weeks, rising from a miserable .143 through the Twins' first 11 games of the season to .333 over their last 14.
Sano has had eight extra-base hits over that span after picking up just one through 11 games, and has now driven in 11 runs on the season.
Sano season breakdown
And while reigning AL Cy Young-winner Dallas Keuchel is likely going to make life difficult for the Twins' offense, first baseman Joe Mauer is particularly adept against lefties.
Mauer ranks fifth in the majors in career on-base percentage against left-handed pitchers at a whopping .362, as he looks to continue his hot start against one of the league's best.
Active left-handed hitters, career OBP vs. LHP
Statistics courtesy of Stats, Inc.
