Minnesota Twins vs San Francisco Giants Picks and Predictions May 11th 2025

Streaking Twins Hit .500 and Target Sweep Against Giants

Reaching the .500 mark doesn’t usually make headlines, but for the Minnesota Twins, it’s a major milestone in what’s becoming a dramatic early-season turnaround.

Just over a week ago, the Twins were buried in the AL Central standings at 13-20. They had lost 15 of their first 22 games and looked like a team adrift. But after rattling off seven straight wins, including a potential second consecutive series sweep, Minnesota now stands even at 20-20 — and trending up.

“It feels great,” said right-hander Joe Ryan. “Vibes are really good. It doesn’t feel streaky, either. We’re beating good teams and doing it with quality baseball. That just adds another layer of confidence.”

Sunday Sweep in Sight: Lopez vs. Roupp

The Twins will try to close out the weekend by completing a three-game sweep of the San Francisco Giants, who’ve scored just five runs over their last three contests.

Minnesota will hand the ball to ace Pablo Lopez (3-2, 2.18 ERA), who’s been dialed in over his past few starts. In his latest outing, Lopez struck out 11 Orioles over five dominant innings in a 9-1 win. On the season, he’s racked up 37 strikeouts in 33 innings with pinpoint command.

Lopez has faced the Giants five times in his career, carrying a 2.10 ERA against them despite a winless record.

Meanwhile, San Francisco will send righty Landen Roupp (2-3, 4.89 ERA) to the hill. Roupp has dropped his last two starts and gave up four runs (two earned) in his most recent outing versus the Cubs.

While he’s been solid against interleague opponents (2-0, 1.96 ERA), this will be Roupp’s first time facing the Twins. And he’ll need to bring his best to cool off one of the hottest teams in baseball.

Giants Slumping at the Plate

The Giants’ offense is in a rut. After an offensive explosion against the Cubs last Tuesday (14 runs in 11 innings), they’ve managed just five total runs in their past three games. On Friday and Saturday, they dropped 3-1 and 2-1 decisions, respectively.

“I felt a little more energy [Saturday],” manager Bob Melvin said. “There were times when I thought we could overcome it, but we couldn’t.”

Now, San Francisco finds itself on the brink of being swept for the first time since early April.

Twins Rolling in All Phases

Minnesota’s recent stretch has been fueled by both pitching and timely hitting. Starters like Ryan and Lopez are setting the tone early, while the bullpen has locked down leads. Offensively, it’s been a group effort, with contributors up and down the lineup stepping up.

One player still searching for form is third baseman Royce Lewis. Since returning from a hamstring injury, Lewis is 0-for-13 on the year.

But manager Rocco Baldelli isn’t worried.

“He’s finding his timing and swing and working hard every day to do that,” Baldelli said. “We’ve seen some good passes and now it’s just stacking those. He’s working to get where he needs to be, and that’s fine.”

Your Access to the Game Starts Here

Join Now!

Get Free Trial

What’s Next for the Twins?

A win on Sunday would push Minnesota above .500 for the first time this season and solidify their status as one of MLB’s hottest teams. With the Orioles already in the rearview and a potential sweep of the Giants within reach, confidence is surging.

This is a team that looks like it’s flipped the switch — and they’re doing it without relying on just one or two stars. It’s been a full-team surge.

Key Storylines to Watch

• Pablo Lopez’s Strikeout Prowess – Can he match or top his season-high 11 Ks from last week?
• Royce Lewis’s Breakout Coming? – He’s due, and Sunday could be the day.
• Twins Bullpen Dominance – If they get a lead, the back end has been lights out.
• Giants Desperate to Salvage – San Francisco’s offense has to wake up to avoid a sweep.

Final Thoughts: A .500 Mark That Means More

Reaching .500 isn’t the end goal, but for the Twins, it’s proof they’re turning things around. It shows grit, growth, and the ability to win consistently — not just survive.

If they keep playing like this, that early-season slump will become a distant memory. And with Lopez on the mound and the offense clicking, the Twins might not stop at .500 — they may just be getting started.