Josh Bell Powers Twins' 11-4 Win With 2 Homers and 10 Total Bases

Q: Can the Twins' elite offense overcome their league-worst pitching to make a legitimate playoff run?

Yes, but only if the Twins get even modest improvement on the mound. The case for them is real. Minnesota is 38-44 yet still in the AL playoff picture, and the offense has been strong enough to keep that realistic. The club ranks in the top 10 in key categories such as runs, hits, home runs and OPS, with Byron Buxton tied for the AL lead at 25 homers and Josh Bell surging. Bell has homered four times in his last five games and is hitting .307 over his last 24, a stretch that underscores how dangerous this lineup can be when healthy. The organization’s power-focused development pipeline also suggests more help could arrive, with prospects such as Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez nearing the majors. The problem is that elite offense rarely carries a team deep into October if the pitching and defense remain this poor. The bullpen owns a 5.30 ERA, worst in the league, and injuries to key starters have put constant strain on the staff. The defense also ranks last in the majors, which compounds the pitching issues by turning too many balls in play into damage. That leaves the Twins with a narrow path. They do not need dominant pitching to reach the postseason, especially in a weak league, but they do need competence. If injured arms return, the bullpen stabilizes, and one or two prospects provide a lift, the offense is good enough to push them into a wild-card race. Without that improvement, the lineup will likely only mask the flaws, not overcome them.

3 articles · Updated · CBS Sports · Jul 4

Bell went 3-for-5 with a double, two home runs and three RBI, driving Minnesota's 11-4 rout of the Yankees on Saturday.
His solo shot off Ryan Yarbrough in the seventh and two-run homer off Camilo Doval in the eighth helped fuel an 11-hit, six-homer Twins outburst.
The 10 total bases were Bell's season high and extended a hot stretch in which he has homered four times in his last five games.
Over his last 24 contests, Bell is batting .307 with 15 extra-base hits — including eight homers — plus 26 RBI, signaling a sustained midseason power surge.