​The Minnesota Twins continued to struggle on Saturday, dropping their fourth game in five as they were swept 8-5 by the Colorado Rockies at Target Field. The defeat underscored the team’s biggest issue: the bullpen. After starter Mike Paredes delivered 5.1 solid innings, allowing three runs, the relievers unraveled. Kody Funderburk gave up a three-run homer to Hunter Goodman on a full count after failing to finish him off, sending the Twins to 39-45 in the AL Central. The slump in relief has become a pervasive problem, with a 7.34 ERA in June and little relief in sight. Sheltons noted that someone needs to step up—one, two, or three guys pitching well in a row—to restore stability, as the bullpen’s inconsistency continues to cost them games.
The collapse followed a near-miss the night before, when the bullpen nearly squandered a seven-run lead in a walk-off win. Beyond a few trusted arms like Yoendrys Gómez and Andrew Morris, most relievers have underperformed, and the club has shuffled through multiple arms such as Justin Topa, Luis García, and Justin Lawrence without finding a solution. This turmoil is especially painful because the offense has been competitive, with Byron Buxton delivering 25 homers and the lineup providing enough offense to keep games within reach. Shelton emphasized the need for consistency in late-game scenarios, arguing that the offense will continue to produce if given a chance.
Injuries and depth further complicate matters. Anthony Banda left Saturday’s game early after being hit by a comebacker in the ninth inning, signaling another bullpen setback at a time when reinforcements like Cole Sands and Kendry Rojas remain weeks away. With limited off-the-bench options, Shelton can only hope for improved performances from the current relievers and for recent struggles to reverse, so the offense can finally see more chances to swing with a lead rather than chase late-inning deficits.