September 21, 2026 • 12:04 PM EDT
Updated 1 hours ago
The San Francisco Giants and Minnesota Twins wrap up their seasons in San Francisco this week, and let’s be honest—both clubs will be happy when it’s over. The Twins’ owner went as far as calling up season ticketholders in the offseason just to beg them to stick around. Fan frustration boiled over so badly that Tom Pohlad even had a public incident with a fan wearing a ‘SELL THE TEAM’ hat. The billionaire nerves in Minnesota aren’t exactly made of steel.
The Twins opened the year with some promise—by late July, they were 56-55 and only three games back in the AL Central. Since then? It’s been a brutal slide. A 17-28 finish takes all the steam out, especially after a 70-92 season. So, if you’re a Giants fan thinking you have it bad, realize the Twins are right there with you, even if they’ve chalked up more playoff runs and winning seasons in the decade than the Giants have managed.
Check the stats: over the last ten years, the Twins are 763-749, while the Giants trail at 735-777. But this year, both teams’ defenses have crumbled. Minnesota’s at -38.4 Defensive Runs Above Average, 25th in MLB, and the Giants barely edge them out at 23rd with -34.5. It’s ugly on both sides. For the Twins, losing Byron Buxton to injury again has crushed their lineup, Taj Bradley stepped up in the rotation, but Joe Ryan is watching his best years slip away with the playoffs out of reach.
The offense is another sore point. In the 45-game slide that killed their postseason hopes, the Twins’ lineup fell below league-average, posting a 99 wRC+. That’s a team in reverse, and defense isn’t helping. Giants fans know the feeling: the last big rebuild in San Francisco was supposed to open a window of contention, but outside a flash run in 2020-2021, the spark fizzled—while upstarts like the Padres and Diamondbacks blew past them. Same story for Minnesota, who found themselves overtaken by the Tigers and even the White Sox while they blinked.
- The Twins’ offense tanked late: 99 wRC+ over the final 45 games
- Byron Buxton out injured—again
- Taj Bradley’s emergence a rare bright spot
- Twins’ defense ranks 25th in MLB (-38.4)
- Giants barely better defensively at 23rd (-34.5)
- Both teams outside the playoff picture with losing records
The road stats paint the same glum picture. The Twins are 33-45 away from home. Giants are 36-39 at Oracle, and they’ve dropped seven of their last nine. Add in Bryce Eldridge stuck in concussion protocol, and you see why the atmosphere in San Francisco is just plain dismal heading into the final week. But really, it’s been like this for months.
Series Overview
This series is about pride, milestones, and maybe making a statement for next year. The Giants (64-92) host the Twins (73-83) for three games at Oracle Park. Forget national broadcasts—this one’s local only.
Projected starters might not thrill anyone outside diehards, but worth noting: Blade Tidwell faces Zebby Matthews Monday, followed by Anthony Molina versus Taj Bradley Tuesday, and Cesar Perdomo gets Wednesday’s start for the Giants with the Twins’ arm yet to be named.
Prediction Time
I’m circling a couple of personal milestones here. Kody Clemens, son of Roger, has 26 home runs—14 on the road—and could make a run at 30. I’ll call my shot: Clemens belts at least one this week. For the Giants, Jung Hoo Lee is chasing his mark from last year, needing six extra-base hits to match a total of 51. He’s already matched last season’s 31 doubles. A hot streak in this set could put him within reach heading into the final Dodgers series.
Key developments
- Twins fall out of AL Central race after promising early start
- Both teams’ defenses rank among the league’s worst
- Huge late-season slide by Twins (17-28 finish)
- Byron Buxton’s injury and Bryce Eldridge’s concussion cloud lineups
- No national TV coverage; only local broadcasts
Key takeaways
- Both teams limp into this series with nothing but pride and milestones on the line
- Defensive struggles define both clubs’ seasons
- Taj Bradley and Kody Clemens headline individual storylines to watch
- Monitor Jung Hoo Lee’s chase for last year’s extra-base hit total
- Injuries and fan frustration continue to shape both franchises’ outlooks
- Bet the under if you expect offense to keep sputtering
- For bettors, look carefully at Kody Clemens and Taj Bradley props
More coverage: more MLB headlines, MLB betting hub and MLB picks and predictions.
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