The Minnesota Twins come into Tuesday’s game against the surging Chicago Cubs with a 43–47 record and plenty of urgency as they try to stay in the American League Central race, where they trail the division-leading Guardians and face mounting pressure to find consistency before the All-Star break. This season has been marked by streaky offensive stretches, injuries, and bullpen letdowns, but there have been bright spots—most notably center fielder Byron Buxton, who is having one of his healthiest and most productive seasons in recent memory with a .270 batting average, 20 home runs, and 53 RBIs. Buxton remains the offensive engine and defensive anchor in center field, but he hasn’t received consistent help from the rest of the lineup, as the Twins are collectively hitting just .239 as a team and have struggled with runners in scoring position. Alex Kirilloff and Jose Miranda have chipped in with occasional power, while Edouard Julien and Carlos Correa have battled through injuries and slumps, limiting the lineup’s overall firepower. On the mound, the Twins will turn to David Festa, who owns a 2–3 record with a 5.48 ERA, and while he has flashed potential with his strikeout numbers, he has yet to show the ability to work deep into games or consistently suppress damage against top-tier offenses like the Cubs’. The Twins’ bullpen has been a liability in 2025, regularly surrendering late leads and posting one of the higher collective ERAs in the league, putting extra pressure on the starters and offense to provide larger margins.

Closer Jhoan Durán, once a dominant force, has been inconsistent, and the middle-relief corps lacks the dependability needed in tight games. Defensively, Minnesota has been average, with occasional miscues in the infield and some struggles controlling the run game, which could be problematic against a Cubs team that likes to put pressure on defenses with smart base running and situational hitting. That said, the Twins have been surprisingly strong against the spread this season, going 37–23 and covering in many games they’ve lost outright, which speaks to their tendency to keep games close despite poor win-loss numbers. At home, they’ve had moments of dominance, particularly when the offense finds its rhythm early and forces opposing pitchers to labor through innings, and they’ll need that kind of start on Tuesday to keep up with Chicago’s balanced attack. The key for Minnesota will be getting a quality start from Festa and finding ways to disrupt Cade Horton’s rhythm early, as the Cubs’ bullpen has been stingy when playing with a lead. The Twins will also need Buxton to continue his hot streak and ideally get support from hitters like Max Kepler or Willi Castro to generate multiple scoring innings. As the season nears its midpoint, this matchup is pivotal for a Twins team desperate to stay relevant and avoid falling into sell-mode before the trade deadline. A win over one of the National League’s best would go a long way toward regaining momentum and boosting a fanbase still waiting for this talented roster to live up to its potential.