Can the Twins actually win a series? After a stretch that feels like 18 straight losses, they have a chance to take the series against the Nationals today at 12:05 PM CT. You can catch the action on Twins.TV or listen in on 830 WCCO, 102.9 The Wolf, or the Audacy App. For the latest on the Nats, check out Federal Baseball.
But let's be real: the bullpen has been a disaster. "Implosion" doesn't even cover it. And today, things might not get better with Simeon Woods Richardson on the mound. He's in the worst stretch of his career. So far in 2026, his strikeout rate has plummeted to just 10.6%—half his career average and the second worst in baseball among pitchers with at least 30 innings. His walk rate is league average, but you can't survive on average walks when you're not striking anyone out.
The problem? His splitter, which was a key weapon in his second-half resurgence in 2025, is getting crushed. Opponents are hitting .350 with a .625 slugging percentage off it. His slider isn't any better (.343 batting average, .600 slugging). So batters are just sitting on his fastball, making that pitch underperform too. For a rotation already missing Pablo Lopez, Mick Abel, and David Festa—and dealing with a Joe Ryan injury scare—this is a worst-case scenario.
What's the fix? Honestly, nobody knows. With every pitch getting hammered and no swing-and-miss stuff, a move to the bullpen might help. His funky delivery could add velocity and movement in shorter outings. And given how the bullpen has performed, he can't be worse than Justin Topa or Luis Garcia. Plus, the Twins have a knack for turning failed starters into bullpen stars—just look at Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, Louis Varland, Brock Stewart, Cole Sands, and Taylor Rogers.
For now, Woods Richardson gets another chance to turn things around, at least until Mick Abel is ready to return. Andrew Morris and John Klein are transitioning to bullpen roles for now, and Kendry Rojas is still on a tight pitch count. Unless Zebby Matthews rediscovers his form, SWR will stay in the rotation. And Austin Martin? He gets yet another opportunity to prove himself.
It's a tough spot for the Twins, but baseball is a game of adjustments. Let's see if they can pull off a series win today.