Prediction 
Odds 
Last Recap 
Top Handicapper 
Picks 
Twins, Nationals Clash in High-Stakes Series Amid Skids
Misery loves company, and that’s exactly what we’ll see when the Minnesota Twins roll into town to face the Washington Nationals in a three-game series starting Monday. Both teams are desperate for a win—each stuck in their own losing streaks. The Twins have lost six straight, while the Nationals are coming off a tough 2-7 road trip.
Recent Struggles
The Minnesota Twins are really feeling the heat, enduring their longest losing streak of the season at six games. Their latest heartbreak came in a 5-2 defeat to the Cleveland Guardians. They were so close to a win, tying the game in the ninth inning, only to lose on a walk-off three-run home run. Twins’ manager Rocco Baldelli is urging his team to stay positive, saying, “It can feel like you’re stuck, and nothing you do will get you out of it. But we’re close. We’re just an at-bat or two away.”
On the other hand, the Nationals aren’t doing much better. They’re returning home after losing five straight, including getting swept by the Philadelphia Phillies. Their latest loss was an 11-5 blowout on Sunday. Even though they went into that game with a solid bullpen ERA of 3.35, the relievers ended up giving away eight runs. Nationals’ manager Dave Martinez tried to keep spirits up, saying, “Today was just one of those days it didn’t happen.”
Offensive Woes
Offense has been a major issue for both teams. The Twins have managed just nine runs during their six-game losing streak, including a late rally that came up short in an 11-4 loss on Saturday. Sunday’s game was even worse—they only got four hits.
The Nationals haven’t fared much better. They managed just three hits in one of their recent losses to the Phillies, with two of those being home runs by Eddie Rosario and Jesse Winker.
Pitching Matchup
Monday’s game will feature Minnesota’s right-hander Pablo Lopez (4-3, 3.93 ERA) going up against Washington’s rookie left-hander Mitchell Parker (2-2, 3.09 ERA). Lopez was solid in his first two starts but got roughed up a bit in his last outing against the Yankees, giving up three runs on 10 hits over 6 1/3 innings. “His two-strike execution wasn’t where it usually is,” said Baldelli.
Parker, just 24 years old, has shown promise in his young career. He hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in any of his first six major league starts. In his last start against the White Sox, he gave up three runs on five hits over five innings, with all the runs coming from a third-inning home run by Andrew Vaughn.
Outlook
Both teams are eager to snap their losing streaks and gain some momentum. The Twins need their offense to step up and seize scoring opportunities, while the Nationals will look to back their bullpen with more consistent hitting. This series is a critical chance for either team to turn things around and make a statement as the season moves forward.
