Twin Cities Territory

The MLB-best Brewers have built a contender in a small market one state over. Does Milwaukee's success provide a blueprint the Twins can follow? The Athletic's Dan Hayes and Zack Pierce discuss that and more in the latest episode. Topics include:

— Can the Twins be more like the Brewers? 
— How the Brewers have aced the international pool 
— Building loyalty by signing players early 

Twins owner Tom Pohlad, GM Jeremy Zoll and manager Derek Shelton spoke Tuesday at the team's end-of-season press conference and gave plenty of clues about the team's offseason strategy, spoke about parting ways with pitching coach Pete Maki, and provided several injury updates. The Athletic's Dan Hayes and Zack Pierce, along with longtime MLB pitcher Tyler Duffey, discuss what it all means. Topics include:

— Tom Pohlad...

The Twins' 2026 season came to an end this weekend, and now an offseason of big questions begins. Will Joe Ryan be traded? Will Ryan Jeffers depart in free agency? Who else might not be back? The Athletic's Dan Hayes and Zack Pierce, along with longtime MLB pitcher Tyler Duffey, talk about all that and more. Topics include:

— Final thoughts on the Twins' season
— What's Joe Ryan's future in Minnesota?
&m...

As the Twins' season draws to a close, we pick the top performers of the year with our inaugural Ham & Eggies award show. The Athletic's Dan Hayes and Zack Pierce, along with longtime major leaguer Tyler Duffey, hand out these prestigious honors for Team MVP, Pitcher of the Year, Rookie of the Year and more. Topics include:

— Welcome to the Ham & Eggies, which two of us dressed up for
— Rookie of the ...

In likely his final start of 2026, Taj Bradley became the 10th Twins pitcher to pass 200 strikeouts in a single season. Longtime MLB pitcher Tyler Duffey and The Athletic's Zack Pierce talk about, their offseason wish list for the team and more from the past two days. Topics include: 

— Taj Bradley joins Twins' 200-strikeout club
— Bradley looking like a needed rock in the 2027 rotation
— Aaron...

The Twins were officially eliminated from postseason contention on Sunday, sending them into an offseason with big questions about the starting rotation, the bullpen, Royce Lewis' future and more. The Athletic's Dan Hayes and Zack Pierce, along with longtime MLB pitcher Tyler Duffey, talk about that and more from the weekend split in Anaheim. Topics include:

(0:00): Twins eliminated, and who should be in 2027's rotation?
(4:40):...

The Twins' struggling top prospect took out his frustrations Thursday in Anaheim, going 3-for-4 including a game-tying home run in the ninth and the rally-starting single in the eighth. Still, the Twins lost in extra innings. The Athletic's Dan Hayes and Zack Pierce, along with longtime MLB pitcher Tyler Duffey, talk about that and more. Topics include:

— Walker Jenkins busts out of his slump
— How nice does that fee...

Walker Jenkins, the Twins' top prospect, is hitting .089 in 53 plate appearances since his call-up in late August. He and manager Derek Shelton spoke Tuesday about his challenges adjusting to the big leagues and why they think better things are ahead. The Athletic's Dan Hayes and Zack Pierce, along with longtime MLB pitcher Tyler Duffey, discuss Jenkins' slump, Emmanuel Rodriguez's brilliant start and more. Topics include:

— ...

With a chance to get themselves back in the wild-card chase this weekend, the Twins instead went the wrong direction, dropping two of three to the Guardians. They're now 5.5 back in the wild card and 6 back in the AL Central with just 13 games to play. The Athletic's Dan Hayes and Zack Pierce, along with longtime MLB pitcher Tyler Duffey, break down the likely end of the line for their playoff hopes and more. Topics include:

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A big series with Cleveland looms this weekend, Austin Martin returns from the IL, and you had another round of Twins questions. The Athletic's Dan Hayes and Zack Pierce, along with longtime MLB pitcher Tyler Duffey, talk about all of it in the latest episode. Topics include:

— A do-or-die series vs. Cleveland
— Austin Martin returns from the IL
— Why not give Matt Wallner another shot?
— Who will b...

The Twins lost two of three in Detroit this week and stayed 4.5 games back in the AL wild-card race with now 16 games to go. There's still a narrow path to the playoffs, but this team sure doesn't look ready to walk down it. The Athletic's Dan Hayes and Zack Pierce, along with longtime MLB pitcher Tyler Duffey, talk about that and more. Topics include:

— At least one of us 4.3 percenters is starting to crack
—...

Joe Ryan is returning from the IL as the Twins face ever-dimming playoff hopes, now 4.5 games back in the American League wild-card race after losing two of three this weekend in Chicago. The Athletic's Dan Hayes and Zack Pierce along with former MLB pitcher Tyler Duffey talk about Ryan’s return, Walker Jenkins’ ongoing struggles at the plate and more from the weekend. Topics include:

— Joe Ryan returns fro...

The Twins rallied from an early deficit Wednesday to give themselves a shot, but then squandered golden opportunities in the 8th, 10th and 11th innings in a 12-inning loss to the Tigers that cost them a chance to gain ground in the playoff race. Former Twins pitcher Tyler Duffey joins The Athletic's Dan Hayes and Zack Pierce to break down the series finale and more. Topics include:

— A blown opportunity in a winnable g...

The Twins obliterated the Tigers twice in a row, outscoring them 26-3 over the last two nights at Target Field to keep their playoff hopes alive. Dan Hayes, Tyler Duffey and Zack Pierce talk about the highlights from the games and more. Topics include:

— On two absolute routs at Target Field
— Ryan Jeffers has a monster two games
— Twins are getting big hits in big spots again
— Walker Jen...

Byron Buxton is headed back to the 10-day IL due to his lingering hip injury, and the Twins lost two of three over the weekend to the White Sox to lose ground in the AL Central and miss a chance to gain in the wild-card standings. Dan Hayes, Tyler Duffey and Zack Pierce break it all down. Topics include:

— Byron Buxton back to the IL
— Joe Ryan to make Triple-A start Tuesday
— Walker Jenkins looks good in de...

It's finally happening, Twins fans. Walker Jenkins has been called up and will join the Twins this weekend for their critical series against the Chicago White Sox. Dan Hayes, Tyler Duffey and Zack Pierce talk about why now was the time, what he brings to the team, what the concerns are and more. Topics include:

— How we finally ended up here.
— Why there was ultimately no reason to not do this.
— Does Kaele...

The Twins dropped two out of three games in Sacramento, fading further back in the playoff race in a series they needed to go a different way. Plus, with Byron Buxton hurting and the outfield thin, the need to call up top prospect Walker Jenkins has become quite clear. Dan Hayes, Tyler Duffey and Zack Pierce talk about all that and more. Topics include:

— Was that the spiritual knockout blow for the Twins' season?
— ...

Byron Buxton left Tuesday's game with more hip problems. His status is still unclear, but will it be the catalyst for the Twins to call up Walker Jenkins? Dan Hayes, Tyler Duffey and Zack Pierce talk about that and more from the first two games in Sacramento. Topics include:

— Byron Buxton leaves game after re-aggravating hip injury.
— Is it now time for Walker Jenkins if Buxton needs the IL?
— Why a Jenkins...

We are completely miserable, San Diego. The Twins got swept for the second time in a week, this time at the hands of the Padres, and fell two games back in the wild card and 5.5 back in the AL Central. Dan Hayes, Tyler Duffey and Zack Pierce break down the weekend. Topics include:

— All three games blew up spectacularly on the Twins.
— The bullpen struggled mightily on Saturday and Sunday.
— On Kael...