The Minnesota Twins will try to salvage the final game of a disappointing four-game home series against the Seattle Mariners on Thursday, hoping to snap a three-game skid that has exposed critical flaws in their lineup and bullpen execution. Entering the contest with a 39–40 overall record, the Twins are clinging to the edge of playoff contention but continue to be plagued by inconsistency at the plate and an inability to convert scoring opportunities into runs. The absence of Byron Buxton, combined with the underperformance of key bats like Carlos Correa and Matt Wallner, has left the Twins’ offense stagnant during the series, with a troubling lack of extra-base hits and little success against Seattle’s starting rotation. Rookie Brooks Lee has shown some flashes, and Willi Castro has done his best to ignite the offense from the leadoff spot, but the collective lack of production—especially with runners in scoring position—has been a defining issue for Minnesota over the past week. On the mound, Pablo López and Joe Ryan were each tagged with losses in the series, struggling with command and failing to get run support. The bullpen, once a strength for manager Rocco Baldelli, has faltered in high-leverage situations, with Griffin Jax and Caleb Thielbar unable to contain the Mariners’ rallies.

The Twins’ pitching staff has posted a combined ERA over 5.00 across the first three games, a number that underscores the growing urgency for the club to make midseason adjustments. Defensively, the Twins have remained mostly sound, with catcher Ryan Jeffers continuing to handle the staff well and outfielders like Max Kepler and Manuel Margot providing reliable glove work. However, defensive steadiness has not been enough to mask the team’s broader issues—namely, an offense that ranks in the bottom third of the league in batting average and on-base percentage. Minnesota’s home-field advantage, which has been solid in stretches this year, has not been a factor against the Mariners, who have out-executed and outmaneuvered them in all phases. The team’s lack of aggressiveness on the basepaths and difficulty generating rallies puts enormous pressure on its starters, and unless the lineup finds a way to spark early offense, Thursday’s finale could resemble the previous three games. With Bailey Ober expected to start, the Twins will lean on his ability to work through the Mariners’ dangerous top of the order and hope for better command than he showed in his last outing. More broadly, the Twins need a morale-boosting performance—not just to avoid a sweep, but to keep pace in a competitive AL Central division. A loss would drop them further below .500 and intensify questions about roster depth, trade deadline strategy, and overall postseason viability. For Minnesota, Thursday’s game offers a crucial opportunity to reset, reestablish fundamentals, and begin clawing back into the playoff race before the season starts slipping away.