• Following the Vikings’ win over Houston on Sunday, Patrick raises the prospect of Mike Zimmer’s team making the playoffs and touches on the Twins’ ouster from the postseason.
• Was it more embarrassing than what happened to the 2006 Twins?
• Also how will the pandemic change the Twins’ payroll for next season and can all Minnesota teams survive in an already competitive market?
• We finish with breaking news on the Twins’ Triple-A affiliate.

• Mackey & Judd open the show with a pie chart of a praise after the Vikings’ first win of the season.
• (25:30) Vikings nitpicks after a win.
• (33:48) Things we learned in the NFL in Week 4.
• (45:26) Jimmy Butler goes off in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
• (01:06:03) And the Wild trade Ryan Donato to the Sharks.

The Twins not only thought they were adding another powerful bat to their lineup when they signed free agent Josh Donaldson to a four-year, $92 million contract last January, they also believed they were getting a slick fielding third baseman who would be a major upgrade on Miguel Sano.

Less than a year later, and following a pandemic-shortened season in which Donaldson was rarely healthy, the Twins might be facing the fact that while Donaldson’s bat could be a threat in 2021, expecting the 2015 AL MVP to be their everyday third baseman next summer might not be realistic.

Why would the Twins not want to get their money’s worth when it comes Donaldson? Because limiting his time at third base might be the only way to get a significant return on their investment. That is something that did not happen this season as Donaldson missed 30 games because of a right calf strain suffered in late July. He was activated from the injured list on Sept. 2 and was able to remain on the field until he aggravated the problem last Friday against the Reds.

Donaldson was not on the Twins’ playoff roster as they were swept in two games by the Houston Astros in the first round. If this had marked the first time Donaldson dealt with a calf issue, then the Twins might attribute his issues to bad luck and hope the veteran slugger would be fine in spring training. But Donaldson’s recent history tells a much different story and one that Derek Falvey, the Twins’ president of baseball operations, had to hope he wouldn’t have to confront only a season into what is the biggest contract the Twins have ever given to an outside free agent.

Donaldson, whose contract includes a $16 million club option for 2024 that can be bought out for $8 million, was signed by the Twins coming off a one-season stint in Atlanta in which he slashed .259/.379/.521 with 37 home runs and 94 RBIs in 155 games. Playing on a one-year, $23 million deal in Atlanta, Donaldson earned National League Comeback Player of the Year honors.

Why Donaldson only got a one-year deal in Atlanta is what’s most important. He had started the 2018 season with Toronto before ending it with Cleveland but only played in 52 total games. Inflammation in his right shoulder had cost him playing time but, more concerning, was the fact that a strained left calf caused him to miss June, July and most of August. Yes, that was his left and not his right calf, but now let’s go back to the 2017 season.

Morning Judd: Why Josh Donaldson’s days playing third base might be done.#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/L77N9EIexB

— SKOR North (@SKORNorth) October 1, 2020

Donaldson played in 113 games that year with the Blue Jays but missed 38 because of a right calf strain. Donaldson acknowledged in an Instagram post this summer that he had torn both of his calves a total of seven times in two years.

The Twins revealed little information about the severity of Donaldson’s latest calf injury but the fact he was limited to 28 games in a 60-game season and slashed only .222/.373/.469 with six home runs and 11 RBIs tells you that something is going to have to change in 2021.

Donaldson’s post on social media about his past calf issues was made in late July after he was presented with his NL Comeback Player of the Year award and days before he was injured again. “Special thanks to (Arizona Cardinals wide receiver) Larry Fitzgerald for getting me in touch with Dr. Josh Sandell whom after three days of working with me had me running pain free after tearing both of my calves a total of seven times in two years,” he wrote.

Sandell is a sports medicine and soft tissues specialist who is based in Minnesota and has done work with the Vikings. Donaldson’s decision to sign with the Twins likely was based in part on Sandell’s presence in the Twin Cities, and while Donaldson almost certainly will continue to work with Sandell during the offseason, one has to wonder what the Twins will be planning for him.

One thing we don’t know for certain is exactly when Donaldson was injured this season. All we know is he left a late July game against Cleveland and a late September game against the Reds in the early innings. But putting the pieces of this puzzle together isn’t all that difficult, and it’s not beyond reason to think some of Donaldson’s problems might have originated in the field and not in the batter’s box.

This seemed to be especially true when it came to Donaldson’s injury in September. The particular play in question in this case occurred in the ninth inning of the Twins’ 5-4, 10-inning victory over Detroit on Sept. 22 at Target Field. The Tigers’ Isaac Paredes hit a ball toward third on which Donaldson made a great defensive play but failed to get Paredes at first. Donaldson appeared to be in a bit of discomfort after making that play, but he stayed in the game and it certainly wasn’t clear that something was wrong.

Donaldson came up in the bottom of the ninth with one out and Byron Buxton on first and hit into a short to second to first double play. It was on this play that it became obvious something wasn’t right as Donaldson looked to be running gingerly down the line, almost in a hopping manner. After the Tigers hit in the top of the 10th, Donaldson was to have been the Twins’ runner at second base to begin the bottom of the inning. Jake Cave ran for him and eventually scored as Minnesota scored two runs to win the game.

Manager Rocco Baldelli said afterward that Donaldson was all right and that Cave ran for him to give the Twins added speed. That certainly couldn’t be dismissed at the time, but the above factors quickly came to mind when Donaldson departed the Twins game a few days later after popping out in the first.

So if Donaldson’s calf issues do trace to an explosive first step he uses in the field — he is a very good third baseman and is able to make the difficult look routine — would the Twins be tempted to limit his time at the hot corner?

That could make sense and play a role in the decision the team must make on whether it retains designated hitter Nelson Cruz this offseason. Cruz, who will turn 41 next July, has been tremendous in his two seasons in Minnesota (.308/.394/.626 with 57 home runs and 141 RBIs in 173 games) but his contract has expired and the Twins have to find a way to keep Donaldson in the lineup.

Donaldson can play first base, but if the Twins are trying to limit the wear and tear on his calf  simply moving him to another position might not help. Donaldson, who was able to play 148 games at third base in 2019 for the Braves, will turn 35 on Dec. 8 and now has dealt with calf problems in three of the past four seasons. He is under contract to the Twins through at least his age 37 season.

The three-time All-Star’s greatest value will come if he can contribute both at the plate and at third base. But he has no value on the injured list, and that’s why the Twins might have to consider making Donaldson their primary designated hitter next season.

• Makey & Judd open with a cliche mount rushmore of the best months of the year; (17:00) Judd’s keys to a Vikings win over the Houston Texans!; (31:50) Wrap with Reusse: (49:24) And Action Movie Rewind: Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior!

vvv

• Judd and Jake air their grievances about the Astros sweep of the Twins. Topics: Bullpen management, pulling starters and of course, the 18-game postseason losing streak.

• Star Tribune sports columnist Chip Scoggins joins Judd to talk about the Twins’ postseason losing streak hitting 18 games. How is it even possible?
• The former Access Vikings duo breaks down what happened to the Twins and Rocco Baldelli’s baffling decisions in the two games against Houston.
• Has Baldelli learned from his playoff experiences? Chip talks about the moves he thinks the Twins will make this offseason.
• Do the Vikings have a chance on Sunday in Houston? Chip has a quick answer.

• Mackey & Judd get into what’s next for the Twins after being bounced from the playoffs and having lost 18-consecutive games in the postseason.
• (20:00) Reckless speculation on what the Twins should do this offseason.
• (41:00) And a Scoop with Doogie!

The list of Twins players set to become free agents this offseason:

Ehire Adrianza, utility player: The 31-year-old made $1.6 million this season and can play all infield positions. He hit .191/.287/.270 in 44 games this season but in 2019 he slashed . 272/.349/.416 with five homers and 22 RBIs in 83 games. Prediction: Twins keep him around.

Alex Avila, catcher: The 33-year-old was brought in to serve as Mitch Garver’s backup, but likely will depart with Ryan Jeffers having proven he’s ready for a role with the big-league club. Avila, signed to a one-year, $4.25 million deal last winter, slashed only .184/.355/.286 with one homer and two RBIs in 23 games. Prediction: Almost no chance he’s back.

Tyler Clippard, righthanded reliever: The veteran proved to be a quality addition to the Twins’ bullpen after signing a one-year, $2.75 million contract. Clippard went 2-1 with a 2.77 ERA in 26 games, including two starts as an opener. The 35-year-old gave up eight earned runs and 19 hits in 26 innings. Prediction: Valuable veteran likely returns.

Nelson Cruz, Designated hitter: One of the biggest impact free agents the Twins have brought in, Cruz’s agent and the team had discussions about him signing a new deal last winter. That didn’t happen and it will be interesting to see what the Twins now offer, especially if the National League decides to stick with the DH and Cruz’s opportunities to find employment grow. Cruz, who had 41 homers and 108 RBIs in his first season with the Twins, spent much of the shortened season keeping his name in the MVP race. He finished with a slash line of .303/.397/.595 with 16 homers and 33 RBIs in 53 games. His home run total was fifth in the American League. Cruz will turn 41 next July 1 but keeps himself in outstanding shape and plans to continue playing. Prediction: Cruz is valuable at the plate and in the clubhouse. The Twins keep him.

Marwin Gonzalez, utility player: The 31-year-old is completing a two-year, $21 million contract and while he’s listed as a utility player, the reality is he’s an every day player for manager Rocco Baldelli. The only thing is one day Gonzalez might be in right field, the next he will be at second base, the next he will move to third and then go across the diamond to first. If anything, Gonzalez might have been used too much this season as he slashed .211/.286/.320 with five homers and 22 RBIs in 53 games. It will be interesting to see if the Twins make an attempt to keep him. Prediction: Gonzalez also might get more than the Twins are willing to pay this time. He moves on.

Rich Hill, lefthanded starter: The 40-year-old signed a one-year, $3 million contract as he returned from elbow surgery that he had last October. Hill went 2-2 with a 3.03 ERA in eight starts for the Twins but did miss time because of left shoulder fatigue. Signed to help the Twins in the postseason, Hill was not on the playoff roster for the best-of-three first round but was expected to pitch in the American League Division Series. The problem is the Twins never got there. The question for Hill will be whether he wants to continue pitching in 2021? Prediction: If he does keep pitching, it likely will be elsewhere.

Trevor May, righthanded reliever: Is May’s time in Minnesota finished? He came to the Twins in a 2012 trade, along with starter Vance Worley, in a deal that sent outfielder Ben Revere to Philadelphia. May arrived in Minnesota in 2014 as a starter but has turned into a reliable member of the bullpen. The 31-year-old, who appeared in 24 games this season, is going to be looking for a substantial payday. It remains to be seen if he can cash in, but if he does it might not be with the Twins. Prediction: May departs for another team’s bullpen.

Jake Odorizzi, righthanded starter: This is an interesting situation given Odorizzi’s season. The veteran starter accepted the Twins’ one-year, $17.8 million qualifying offer last offseason thinking he would build on his success of 2019 (15-7, 3.51 ERA in 30 starts) and then become a free agent this winter with no draft-pick compensation attached to him. Only the pandemic shortened the 2020 season and Odorizzi spent three stints on the injured list and made only four starts. Odorizzi might have to sign a short-term deal that’s less lucrative to eventually get the contract he thought he would be in line for a year ago at this time. Prediction: The Twins keep him on a short-term deal.

Sergio Romo, righthanded reliever: The 37-year-old got plenty of work out of the Twins’ bullpen this season, going 1-2 with a 4.05 ERA with five saves in 24 appearances. Baldelli clearly liked Romo, despite the fact his on-the-field displays and enthusiasm irritated a few opponents. It’s not a certainty that Romo won’t be back. He has a $5 million team option on his contract for 2021, but the Twins can buy him out for $250,000. Prediction: Romo lands elsewhere.

The Twins’ 2020 season was anything but usual. The team reported to spring training last February in Fort Myers, Fla., looking to defend its AL Central title but players were sent home as mid-March neared because of the coronavirus pandemic. The regular season did not start until July 24 and lasted only 60 games.

Manager Rocco Baldelli’s club succeeded in repeating as division champs, but the circumstances were most unusual on and off the field. Ballparks with no fans allowed in them, seven-inning doubleheaders, placing a runner on second base to start extra innings and players having to stay in their hotel room on the road (at least they were supposed to) were just some of the oddities of COVID ball. About the only thing that ended up being business as usual came in the expanded playoffs as the Twins were swept in two games by the Houston Astros. A 3-1 loss on Wednesday ended the season.

That put the Twins’ postseason losing streak at 18 games, not just an MLB record but a record for the NFL, NHL and NBA as well. Derek Falvey, the Twins president of baseball operations, general manager Thad Levine and Baldelli have established they know how to achieve regular-season success. The postseason is another story.

There are plenty of decisions to be made in the coming months. Here are five important issues that will be facing the Twins’ brass this winter.

BRING BACK CRUZ?

Designated hitter Nelson Cruz will turn 41 on July 1, 2021, but he has hit 57 home runs and driven in 141 runs in two seasons as the Twins’ designated hitter and has made it clear he wants to continue to play. There was dialogue between Cruz’s camp and the Twins last winter about a contract extension but it has not resulted in a deal.

Cruz battled a knee or hamstring issue late in the season, but his two doubles in the playoffs drove in the only two runs the Twins scored over two games. Cruz keeps himself in fantastic shape and his pregame nap routine is one reason he has been able to access The Fountain of Youth. The question isn’t whether the Twins will want Cruz back, it’s what will they be willing to pay him? Cruz might have more options, too, if the National League keeps the designated hitter after adopting it this season for the pandemic-shortened schedule.

Cruz has provided the Twins with tremendous leadership in the clubhouse and power at the plate, but the reality is Minnesota is likely to look to cut payroll (as will many teams) because of revenues that were lost in 2020 because of COVID-19. There might be a team willing to offer Cruz more money and more years than the Twins, especially if there is concern that Cruz’s age is going to catch up with him sooner rather than later.

WHAT TO DO WITH SANO?

A year ago, Miguel Sano hit .247/.346/.576 with 34 home runs and 79 RBIs in 105 games and appeared to turn a corner as far as beginning to fulfill his potential at the plate. He also struck out 159 times in 380 at-bats. That success earned him a three-year, $30 million contract last January that contains a team option in 2023.

Moved to first base this season after the Twins signed free agent third baseman Josh Donaldson, Sano had a disappointing 2020. He slashed .204/.278/.478 with 13 homers and 25 RBIs in 53 games and led the majors with 90 strikeouts in 186 at-bats. Sano had a miserable month of September, slashing .148/.179/.383 with six homers and 10 RBIs in 21 games, striking out 39 times in 81 at-bats.

He also was a non-factor in the playoffs for a second consecutive year and is now 2-for-19 with one homer and one RBI and nine strikeouts in five postseason games. Sano did test positive for COVID-19 upon arriving for the Twins’ summer camp, but it’s not certain what type of impact that had on him.

Sano, 27, has completed six big-league seasons and appears to be going backward. The Twins spent countless hours and great effort on making sure Sano got himself into decent shape and began to show some level of consistency at the plate. Cruz was considered to be a key part of this process. But what Baldelli and Co., saw in this shortened season had to worry them as Sano often lacked any approach at the plate other than trying to pull the ball as far as he possibly could.

There is no question that when Sano connects, he can hit the ball a mile. But it’s the connecting part that has to concern the Twins. His strikeout totals have become alarming. If Falvey isn’t convinced this story will have a happy ending, it will be interesting to see if he shops Sano.

ROSARIO ON THE WAY OUT?

Eddie Rosario again will be eligible for arbitration this winter, but it will be interesting to see if the Twins decide to move on from their longtime left fielder. Such a decision could make sense on several levels, including the team’s likely desire to cut payroll.

Rosario is coming off a season in which he slashed .257/.316/.476 with 13 home runs and 42 RBIs in 57 games. The 29-year-old, who is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2021 season, certainly brings value at the plate and has a good arm in the outfield. But he also has been known to make perplexing plays in the field and on the bases.

Baldelli doesn’t call out Rosario for his miscues but you have to wonder if he has tired of them? The Twins have the advantage of having a few major league ready outfield prospects, such as Brent Rooker and Alex Kirilloff, who could step into the left field spot if Rosario is dealt.

The lasting image of Rosario for 2020 will be of him getting booted from Game 2 of the Twins’ playoff loss to Houston by plate umpire Manny Gonzalez in the sixth inning for arguing a called second strike after he struck out swinging.

The question is how much could the Twins get for Rosario, or would they be better off trying to trade right fielder Max Kepler, who has four years remaining on a team-friendly contract? This depends on what the Twins might be looking for in a trade and also how tired they have become of Rosario’s ways.

DEALING WITH DONALDSON’S CALF

The Twins felt they had strengthened their infield and added more power last winter when they signed Donaldson to a four-year, $92 million contract. Donaldson, who will turn 35 on Dec. 8, was coming off a solid season with Atlanta in which he hit 37 home runs with 94 RBIs in 155 games.

The contract seemed a bit long for a guy nearing his mid-30s — it was the most money the franchise had ever paid to an outside free agent — but the Twins felt it was a chance worth taking. These days they must be holding their breath.

One thing Donaldson brought with him to Minnesota was a history of calf injuries and that became almost an immediate issue when the Twins began play. Donaldson hit the injured list in late July after suffering a strained right calf and missed 30 games. He aggravated the problem late last week and wasn’t on the team’s playoff roster.

Calf problems kept Donaldson out for a substantial amount of time in 2017 and 2018, and he posted on social media this summer that he had torn both of his calves a total of seven times in two years. Donaldson finished this season slashing .222/.373/.469 with six homers and 11 RBIs in 28 games.

The Twins are clearly going to have to work on a plan to keep Donaldson in the lineup as much as possible in 2021, if they are going to get their money’s worth from this contract. That might not be easy given Donaldson’s age and issue with this particular injury.

If Cruz doesn’t return, one answer might be to use him more frequently in the DH role. It wouldn’t be ideal, but it’s better than having him on the IL for extended periods.

TRY TO RE-SIGN ODORIZZI?

This is an interesting one as the Twins consider what to do with a rotation that figures to have Kenta Maeda, Jose Berrios and Michael Pineda at the top. Righthander Jake Odorizzi had an opportunity to become a free agent last winter, but decided to accept the Twins’ qualifying offer of one-year, $17.8 million so he could hit the open market this coming offseason and not have draft-pick compensation attached to him.

Odorizzi had gone 15-7 with a 3.51 ERA in 30 starts and figured he would build off of that in 2020. But then the pandemic hit, the season was shortened and, when it did start, Odorizzi battled injury issues that put him on the IL three separate times and limited him to four starts in which he posted a 6.59 ERA. The 30-year-old was on the Twins’ playoff roster but never got into a game.

So what’s his value going to be on the open market? Given that many teams likely won’t be spending at the usual levels, Odorizzi might have to accept a short-term, smaller-money contract and then hit free agency again in the coming years. This could put the Twins in a position to keep him for the short term.

He’s a pitcher who is certainly dedicated to his craft and, when healthy, is a valuable member of the rotation. The Twins are familiar with him and he with them, so don’t be surprised if they decide to make an attempt to retain his services on a short-term contract.

MINNEAPOLIS — Since Jose Berrios made his major league debut with the Twins in 2016, many had waited for the day the talented righthander took the ball in a game of massive importance and pitched like an ace who welcomed the pressure of the moment.

That day finally arrived on Wednesday afternoon at Target Field.

Berrios, who got off to a rocky start in this pandemic-shortened season before beginning to emerge, did everything the Twins (and their fans) asked of him in an elimination game against the Houston Astros. He got George Springer to fly to center to open the first inning and retired the next 10 batters he faced. Berrios was at 29 pitches through three innings.

Berrios, who too often has seemed burdened by the expectations placed on him, was pitching free and easy. The fourth got a bit rocky when he issued two two-out walks before Kyle Tucker beat Twins’ the shift by hitting a run-scoring single through where shortstop Jorge Polanco normally would be positioned. Berrios rebounded to get Yuli Gurriel to ground to third with runners on first and third to end the inning. He then gave up a single to Carlos Correa to open the fifth before getting the next three hitters.

The Twins tied the score 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth as Berrios had given up the one run, two hits, two walks and four strikeouts through five innings. His pitch count was at only 75. It was during the bottom half of the fifth that ESPN’s cameras caught manager Rocco Baldelli having a conversation with Berrios in the Twins’ dugout that made it obvious the pitcher’s day was done.

Berrios crushed he's being removed pic.twitter.com/Qawiv59CBM

— CJ Fogler (@cjzer0) September 30, 2020

Berrios looked frustrated, perplexed and disappointed. He could not be blamed if he also was furious. Baldelli’s reasoning for making the move, at least in his mind, was simple. Berrios was about to go through the Astros order for the third time in the game — he had gotten Springer, the lead off hitter, to end the fifth — and the numbers said that sending Berrios back out wouldn’t be a good idea.

The first time through the order in the regular season, Berrios had given up a .247 batting average, .324 on-base percentage and .268 slugging this season, according to Baseball Reference. The second time, it was .211/.287/.421 and the third time it was .271/.364/.542. So, by the book, Baldelli did the right thing.

But this wasn’t a by the book situation. This was a guy the Twins have been begging to be their ace pitcher turning into that guy in front of their eyes, and Baldelli, somehow, deciding the same strategy he would employ in April, May or June should be used in a must-win playoff game. Sometimes one has to mix gut feeling for the situation with what the analytics might say. Baldelli failed in this area. His answer was to turn to reliever Cody Stashak, who after retiring the Astros in order in the sixth, gave up what proved to be the winning home run to Carlos Correa in the seventh in a 3-1 loss that gave Houston a two-game sweep in the series.

That’s right, Berrios was yanked so Stashak could get two innings of work.

There are a few things that are troubling about Berrios’ removal from the game. The first was it marked the second consecutive day that Baldelli got five mostly strong innings from his starter and yet went to the bullpen. In Game 1, Kenta Maeda, who had a fantastic first season with the Twins, had given up no runs, two hits, walked three and struck out five in five innings when he was lifted. Maeda, at least, was at 91 pitches.

Evening Judd: Berrios deserved so much better.#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/GzTBYS7AUr

— SKOR North (@SKORNorth) September 30, 2020

Berrios, who has great stuff but at times had clearly questioned himself and lacked confidence, had nearly everything going for him on Wednesday. Baldelli had a chance to provide him with a tremendous vote of confidence and, instead, elected to do the opposite because the numbers told him that was the right call.

It was a misguided decision both in the short and long term. Stashak could have been warmed up and ready to go if Berrios struggled, but Baldelli wasn’t willing to take the chance. This isn’t to say Baldelli’s decision cost the Twins the game. The team’s offense was an embarrassment, hitting .119 (7-for-59) in the two games with two runs. Nelson Cruz doubled in each game to knock in the Twins’ only two runs of the series and other than that the club had five singles.

That’s why the Twins’ postseason losing streak has reached 18 games, extending their record for all-time playoff skids for MLB, NHL, NBA and NFL teams. But one has to wonder if Baldelli, now two years into his managerial career, is ever going to adjust his thinking when it comes to the playoffs. Baldelli goes out of his way to empower his players and treat them like adults both on the field and off.

On Wednesday, he had an opportunity to send a message to Berrios that, for one day at least, the stats be damned. The ball is yours, now go out there and continue to pitch. It could have been an absolutely key moment in Berrios’ growth. Instead, the manager told Berrios his day was done. That moment said more about the growth Baldelli needs to show than Berrios.

• Mackey & Judd react to the Twins’ 2020 season coming to an end after being swept by the Houston Astros in the Wild Card round of the MLB playoffs. The Twins have now lost 18 consecutive postseason games.

MINNEAPOLIS — The Twins got the most favorable matchup possible for the first round of MLB’s expanded playoffs, facing the below-.500 Houston Astros. Combine this with the series being at Target Field — where the Twins were dominant in the 60-game pandemic-shortened season — and it seemed to be only a matter of time before Minnesota took the best-of-three series.

Only one problem. These were playoff games and the Twins simply don’t win in the postseason. They proved it again Wednesday afternoon by losing 3-1 to the Astros and being swept in two games. That extended the Twins’ playoff losing streak to 18 games. That is a record for the major sports in North America (NFL, NHL, NBA and MLB) by two. The Twins also had two runs in the two games as their bats went silent.

What happened in Game 2? Glad you asked.

• The Twins loaded the bases for the second consecutive game in the first inning but were unable to score. Max Kepler and Miguel Sano walked, sandwiched around Eddie Rosario reaching on a throwing error by second baseman Jose Altuve. That brought up right fielder Alex Kirilloff, making his major league debut. Kirilloff flew to center on an 0-2 pitch to end the inning.
• Kirilloff, one of the Twins’ top prospects, did get his first big-league hit, and the Twins’ first hit of the game off Astros starter Jose Urquidy, when he ripped a two-out single to right in the fourth inning. Kirilloff also made a nice sliding catch of Josh Reddick’s fly ball in the fifth inning in right-center field.
• Twins starter Jose Berrios retired the first 11 batters he faced before Michael Brantley and Alex Bregman walked to put runners on first and second in the fourth. Kyle Tucker then hit a ball to the shortstop position, but with Jorge Polanco positioned toward second base in a shift, the ball went through and scored Brantley to give the Astros a 1-0 lead. Berrios got out of the inning by getting Yuli Gurriel to ground to third to leave runners on first and third. Berrios threw 29 pitches in the first three innings but 32 alone in the fourth.
• The Twins tied the score in the fifth as Marwin Gonzalez led off with a single to right field. Ryan Jeffers was called out on strikes and Urquidy was pulled for lefthanded reliever Brooks Raley. Luis Arraez walked to put runners on first and second and after Kepler was called out on strikes, Nelson Cruz smashed a double to left that scored Gonzalez from second to tie the score at 1-1. Arraez was waved home by third base coach Tony Diaz. Tucker’s relay was taken by shortstop Carlos Correa. Correa’s throw home to Martin Maldonado was off the mark, but the catcher caught the ball slightly toward the first base side of the plate and lunged back in time to tag out Arraez to end the inning.
• Berrios was removed after throwing only 75 pitches through five innings, in large part because manager Rocco Baldelli did not want the starter to face the Astros for a third time. The move left Baldelli open to some major second-guessing, considering Berrios had given up one run, two hits, two walks and struck out four and definitely had at least another inning left in his arm. Cody Stashak replaced Berrios and retired the side in order in the sixth.
• Correa gave the Astros a 2-1 lead in the seventh, hitting a 1-0 pitch from Stashak into the right field seats on an 82-mile-per-hour slider with two outs.
• As good as Berrios was on the mound early in the game, Jeffers was just as good behind the plate. The Twins catcher got strikeouts in the third and fourth innings by bringing pitches on Reddick and George Springer back into the zone and fooling plate umpire Manny Gonzalez into calling both strike three. Springer was especially upset with the call on him but he wasn’t ejected.
• Eddie Rosario was ejected by Gonzalez in the sixth inning after he struck out swinging and then said a few magic words. Rosario was upset by Gonzalez’s strike two call during his at-bat. Baldelli also had some words for Gonzalez but he was not ejected.
• The Twins got back-to-back outs thanks to replay reviews in the eighth inning. Gonzalez made a nice defensive play on Springer’s shot to third but Springer was called safe by first base umpire Tim Timmons. The call was overturned on review. Altuve, the next hitter, grounded up the middle and Arraez’s throw was judged to be a second too late by Timmons. The replay showed otherwise and Altuve was called out.
• Cruz walked with one out in the eighth inning and was pinch run for by Byron Buxton, who did not start in Game 2 because he was “not 100 percent,” according to Baldelli. Jake Cave, who replaced Rosario, then hit for the first time in the game against righthander Cristian Javier. Cave struck out swinging and Buxton did not run on the 3-2 pitch. With Miguel Sano at the plate, Buxton then got picked off by Javier. It went down as a caught stealing because Buxton broke for second before retreating toward first.
• The Astros added to their lead in the ninth as Tucker’s single to right scored Brantley against Taylor Rogers to make it 3-1. Rogers gave up two singles and a walk before being lifted for Tyler Duffey.

Berrios crushed he's being removed pic.twitter.com/Qawiv59CBM

— CJ Fogler (@cjzer0) September 30, 2020

My favorite part of Rosario's ejection is the secondary bounce he got on his batting helmet pic.twitter.com/iGwXGFGXFD

— CJ Fogler (@cjzer0) September 30, 2020

Welcome to the bigs, kid. #MNTwins

pic.twitter.com/3pFtH62im9

— SKOR North (@SKORNorth) September 30, 2020

MINNEAPOLIS — Facing elimination in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series against Houston, the Twins will be without center fielder Byron Buxton. Buxton, the best center fielder in the big leagues and a difference-maker in the Twins lineup when he’s healthy, is “not at 100 percent,” according to manager Rocco Baldelli.

Buxton returned to the lineup in the Twins’ 4-1 loss to the Astros on Tuesday after being hit in the head by a pitch on Friday and experiencing concussion symptoms. Buxton went 1-for-4 with a first-inning single but then struck out three times. Buxton is no stranger to concussions having suffered one when he collided with a teammate in the outfield while playing Double-A and then suffering another one last season while diving head first for a ball in Cleveland.

Baldelli did not provide any specifics on what’s wrong with Buxton.

With Buxton out of the lineup, Max Kepler will move from right field to center and Alex Kirilloff will make his big-league debut in right field after being added to the Twins’ playoff roster on Tuesday morning. Kepler played two games in center field this season after appearing in 60 games at the position in 2019.

Buxton is not fully healthy this morning, which is why he's not in the starting lineup. Rocco couldn't specify anything more, including whether it's related to the end-of-season injury.

"All I'm going to be able to say is that he's not at 100 percent."

— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) September 30, 2020

Game 2 ready. https://t.co/sjWVujM3BK #OurSZN pic.twitter.com/o2xPp3uEKf

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) September 30, 2020

• Mackey & Judd do an abbreviated edition of Write That Down and Randy in Cottage Grove hijacks the show with a Twins Dud Stable.

The Twins’ 4-1 loss to the Astros on Tuesday afternoon in their first-round playoff game at Target Field contained plenty of instances where key decisions were made. Some made sense, some didn’t. Here are three by Twins manager Rocco Baldelli that we questioned.

WHY TAKE MAEDA OUT?

Starter Kenta Maeda was fantastic through three innings, giving up one hit and one walk and never finding himself in trouble. The fourth inning was a different story as Maeda began to struggle to control his fastball and loaded the bases on two walks and a single. The righthander’s pace slowed and his pitch count grew, but with two outs he struck out Josh Reddick to get out of the inning.

The righthander had thrown 81 pitches at that point and came back out for the fifth. It was as if the fourth inning had never happened. Maeda got Martin Maldonado to strike out swinging, George Springer hit a fly ball to center and Jose Altuve popped to first. Maeda walked off the mound having thrown 10 pitches.

He did not return.

Trevor May replaced him and threw 11 pitches before he was lifted for Tyler Duffey, who gave up the tying run in the seventh. Lifting Maeda didn’t cost the Twins the game, but it made little sense. Ninety-one pitches isn’t a deal-breaker for him and this was one appearance in the series. He got the Game 1 start because he’s the Twins ace, and his ability to work out of a jam only solidified that fact.

So why not bring him out for another inning?

WHY PINCH-HIT FOR JEFFERS?

The Astros had tied the score 1-1 in the top of the seventh and rookie catcher Ryan Jeffers was set to lead off for Minnesota in the bottom of the inning. Jeffers had been the last hitter to face Astros starter Zack Greinke before he was removed after four and had put together a quality at-bat.

Jeffers turned it into a nine-pitch at-bat before he lined to left on a 2-2 changeup. But instead of sending up the righthanded-hitting Jeffers to face lefty Framber Valdez, Baldelli had Mitch Garver pinch-hit. Garver saw four curveballs and took the final one, on a 1-2 pitch, for strike three.

Garver, who hit 31 home runs last season, had a miserable and injury filled year. He slashed .167/.247/.264 with two homers and five RBIs in 23 games. Jeffers isn’t Johnny Bench but having Garver hit for him in that situation didn’t make much sense.

IS ASTUDILLO THE BEST CHOICE?

Garver had hit for Jeffers and Baldelli then put Alex Avila in to catch in the eighth inning. That meant the Twins had used three of the four catchers (that’s right, four catchers) on their roster and Baldelli made it 4-for-4 in the ninth when he had Willians Astudillo pinch-hit for Avila with runners on first and second and one out.

As Astudillo, who was added to the playoff roster on Tuesday after being optioned off the 28-man roster during the season, approached the plate, my first thought was this: Ideal double play guy and I bet he swings at the first pitch.

So, Astudillo got in the box, swung at the first pitch and grounded into a third to first double play. There’s a few things I don’t get about this and the first starts with the decision making by the Twins’ brass. Why not have LaMonte Wade Jr., on the roster instead of Astudillo?

Wade takes more professional at-bats than Astudillo and he can play outfield and first base. Astudillo can catch and serve as a utility infielder and emergency outfielder. But the Twins don’t need an emergency outfielder and Ehire Adrianza has them covered as a utility infielder.

As far as Baldelli’s decision, was Astudillo really going to give you the best at-bat in that situation? Honestly, it would have been a better idea to have Jeffers take that at-bat against Valdez and that would have been the case if he hadn’t been lifted in the first place.