2021 Minnesota Twins season

The 2021 Minnesota Twins season was the 61st season for the Minnesota Twins franchise in the Twin Cities of Minnesota, their 12th season at Target Field and the 121st overall in the American League. The Twins were favored to win the American League Central for the third straight season, and hopes were high that they would break their American sports-leading 18 straight postseason losses. However, due to injuries to players such as superstar center fielder Byron Buxton, the Twins had a poor season, falling from first place in the AL Central the previous two seasons to last in 2021 with a 73–89 record and missing the postseason for the first time since 2018.

Regular season

Season standings

Records vs. AL opponents

Game log

Legend Twins win Twins loss PostponementBoldTwins team member

|- style="background:#fbb;" | 1 || April 1 || @ Brewers || 5–6 || Hader (1–0) || Dobnak (0–1) || — || 11,740 || 0–1 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 2 || April 3 || @ Brewers || 2–0 || Berríos (1–0) || Burnes (0–1) || Colomé (1) || 11,383 || 1–1 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 3 || April 4 || @ Brewers || 8–2 || Pineda (1–0) || Houser (0–1) || — || 10,666 || 2–1 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 4 || April 5 || @ Tigers || 15–6 || Shoemaker (1–0) || Ureña (0–1) || Dobnak (1) || 7,232 || 3–1 || W3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 5 || April 6 || @ Tigers || 3–4 || Soto (1–0) || Robles (0–1) || — || 7,306 || 3–2 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 6 || April 7 || @ Tigers || 3–2 || Maeda (1–0) || Boyd (1–1) || Colomé (2) || 7,568 || 4–2 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 7 || April 8 || Mariners || 10–2 || Berríos (2–0) || Gonzales (0–1) || — || 9,675 || 5–2 || W2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 8 || April 10 || Mariners || 3–4 || Graveman (1–0) || Rogers (0–1) || Middleton (1) || 9,817 || 5–3 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 9 || April 11 || Mariners || 6–8 || Steckenrider (1–1) || Colomé (0–1) || Montero (2) || 9,792 || 5–4 || L2 |- style="background:#bbb;" | – || April 12 || Red Sox || colspan=7| Postponed (Protests due to Daunte Wright shooting; Makeup: April 14) |- style="background:#fbb;" | 10 || April 13 || Red Sox || 2–4 || Ottavino (1–0) || Dobnak (0–2) || Barnes (1) || 6,724 || 5–5 || L3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 11 || April 14 || Red Sox || 2–3 || Eovaldi (2–1) || Maeda (1–1) || Barnes (2) || rowspan=2|7,074 || 5–6 || L4 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 12 || April 14 || Red Sox || 1–7 || Rodríguez (2–0) || Berríos (2–1) || — || 5–7 || L5 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 13 || April 15 || Red Sox || 4–3 || Colomé (1–1) || Ottavino (1–1) || — || 7,925 || 6–7 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 14 || April 16 || @ Angels || 3–10 || Slegers (1–0) || Dobnak (0–3) || — || 13,428 || 6–8 || L1 |- style="background:#bbb;" | — || April 17 || @ Angels || colspan=7| Postponed (COVID-19; Makeup: May 20) |- style="background:#bbb;" | — || April 18 || @ Angels || colspan=7| Postponed (COVID-19; Makeup: May 20) |- style="background:#bbb;" | — || April 19 || @ Athletics || colspan=7| Postponed (COVID-19; Makeup: April 20) |- style="background:#fbb;" | 15 || April 20 || @ Athletics || 0–7 || Manaea (2–1) || Shoemaker (1–1) || — || rowspan=2|3,322 || 6–9 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 16 || April 20 || @ Athletics || 0–1 || Luzardo (1–1) || Berríos (2–2) || Diekman (1) || 6–10 || L3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 17 || April 21 || @ Athletics || 12–13 || Guerra (1–0) || Colomé (1–2) || — || 3,405 || 6–11 || L4 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 18 || April 23 || Pirates || 2–0 || Happ (1–0) || Brubaker (2–1) || Rogers (1) || 9,541 || 7–11 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 19 || April 24 || Pirates || 2–6 || Cahill (1–2) || Pineda (1–1) || — || 9,718 || 7–12 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 20 || April 25 || Pirates || 2–6 || Holmes (1–0) || Shoemaker (1–2) || — || 9,396 || 7–13 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 21 || April 26 || @ Indians || 3–5 || Clase (2–1) || Colomé (1–3) || — || 4,555 || 7–14 || L3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 22 || April 27 || @ Indians || 4–7 || Civale (4–0) || Maeda (1–2) || Karinchak (2) || 6,303 || 7–15 || L4 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 23 || April 28 || @ Indians || 10–2 || Happ (2–0) || Allen (1–4) || — || 5,903 || 8–15 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 24 || April 30 || Royals || 9–1 || Pineda (2–1) || Singer (1–3) || — || 9,982 || 9–15 || W2

|- style="background:#fbb;" | 25 || May 1 || Royals || 3–11 || Duffy (4–1) || Shoemaker (1–3) || — || 9,993 || 9–16 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 26 || May 2 || Royals || 13–4 || Berríos (3–2) || Keller (2–3) || — || 9,997 || 10–16 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 27 || May 3 || Rangers || 6–5 || Maeda (2–2) || Dunning (1–2) || Rogers (2) || 8,071 || 11–16 || W2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 28 || May 4 || Rangers || 3–6 || Rodríguez (1–1) || Waddell (0–1) || Kennedy (8) || 8,022 || 11–17 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 29 || May 5 || Rangers || 1–3 || King (3–1) || Thorpe (0–1) || Kennedy (9) || 7,853 || 11–18 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 30 || May 6 || Rangers || 3–4 || Hearn (1–1) || Duffey (0–1) || Sborz (1) || 8,760 || 11–19 || L3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 31 || May 7 || @ Tigers || 7–3 || Shoemaker (2–3) || Skubal (0–5) || — || 7,377 || 12–19 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 32 || May 8 || @ Tigers || 3–7 || Fulmer (2–2) || Duffey (0–2) || — || 8,000 || 12–20 || L1 |- style="background:#bbb;" | — || May 9 || @ Tigers || colspan=7 | Postponed (rain, makeup July 16) |- style="background:#fbb;" | 33 || May 11 || @ White Sox || 3–9 || Crochet (1–2) || Alcalá (0–1) || — || 7,962 || 12–21 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 34 || May 12 || @ White Sox || 8–13 || Keuchel (2–1) || Happ (2–1) || — || 8,393 || 12–22 || L3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 35 || May 13 || @ White Sox || 2–4 || Lynn (4–2) || Pineda (2–2) || Hendriks (7) || 8,188 || 12–23 || L4 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 36 || May 14 || Athletics || 1–6 || Montas (5–2) || Shoemaker (2–4) || — || 9,778 || 12–24 || L5 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 37 || May 15 || Athletics || 5–4 || Colomé (2–3) || Diekman (2–1) || Robles (1) || 12,212 || 13–24 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 38 || May 16 || Athletics || 6–7 || Trivino (2–1) || Rogers (0–2) || — || 10,270 || 13–25 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 39 || May 17 || White Sox || 4–16 || Keuchel (3–1) || Happ (2–2) || — || 8,431 || 13–26 || L2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 40 || May 18 || White Sox || 5–4 || Rogers (1–2) || Bummer (0–2) || — || 9,504 || 14–26 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 41 || May 19 || White Sox || 1–2 || Giolito (3–4) || Shoemaker (2–5) || Hendriks (9) || 8,608 || 14–27 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 42 || May 20 || @ Angels || 1–7 || Cobb (2–2) || Thorpe (0–2) || — || 9,920 || 14–28 || L2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 43 || May 20 || @ Angels || 6–3 || Berríos (4–2) || Canning (3–3) || Robles (2) || 9,820 || 15–28 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 44 || May 21 || @ Indians || 10–0 || Dobnak (1–3) || McKenzie (1–3) || — || 11,675 || 16–28 || W2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 45 || May 22 || @ Indians || 3–5 || Karinchak (2–0) || Colomé (2–4) || — || 11,505 || 16–29 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 46 || May 23 || @ Indians || 8–5 || Robles (1–1) || Karinchak (2–1) || Duffey (1) || 9,805 || 17–29 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 47 || May 24 || Orioles || 8–3 || Alcalá (1–1) || Scott (2–3) || — || 8,530 || 18–29 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 48 || May 25 || Orioles || 7–4 || Berríos (5–2) || Kremer (0–5) || Rogers (3) || 9,969 || 19–29 || W3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 49 || May 26 || Orioles || 3–2 || Pineda (3–2) || López (1–6) || Robles (3) || 10,574 || 20–29 || W4 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 50 || May 28 || Royals || 3–8 || Bubic (1–0) || Dobnak (1–4) || — || 14,260 || 20–30 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 51 || May 29 || Royals || 6–5 || Happ (3–2) || Santana (0–1) || Rogers (4) || 18,444 || 21–30 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 52 || May 30 || Royals || 3–6 || Keller (5–4) || Shoemaker (2–6) || Holland (3) || 17,923 || 21–31 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 53 || May 31 || @ Orioles || 3–2 || Rogers (3–3) || Plutko (1–2) || Robles (4) || 11,010 || 22–31 || W1

|- style="background:#fbb;" | 54 || June 1 || @ Orioles || 4–7 || Zimmermann (3–3) || Pineda (3–3) || Sulser (1) || 5,337 || 22–32 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 55 || June 2 || @ Orioles || 3–6 || Wells (1–0) || Dobnak (1–5) || — || 5,945 || 22–33 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 56 || June 3 || @ Royals || 5–6 || Junis (2–3) || Robles (1–2) || Barlow (2) || 11,072 || 22–34 || L3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 57 || June 4 || @ Royals || 5–14 || Keller (6–4) || Shoemaker (2–7) || — || 22,612 || 22–35 || L4 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 58 || June 5 || @ Royals || 5–4 || Berríos (6–2) || Minor (4–3) || Robles (5) || 21,574 || 23–35 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 59 || June 6 || @ Royals || 2–1 || Farrell (1–0) || Singer (3–5) || Rogers (5) || 14,046 || 24–35 || W2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 60 || June 8 || Yankees || 4–8 || Loáisiga (5–2) || Rogers (2–3) || — || 17,949 || 24–36 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 61 || June 9 || Yankees || 6–9 || Cole (7–3) || Dobnak (1–6) || — || 17,078 || 24–37 || L2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 62 || June 10 || Yankees || 7–5 || Robles (2–2) || Chapman (4–1) || — || 17,728 || 25–37 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 63 || June 11 || Astros || 4–6 || Stanek (1–1) || Shoemaker (2–8) || Pressly (10) || 17,223 || 25–38 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 64 || June 12 || Astros || 5–2 || Berríos (6–2) || García (5–4) || Rogers (6) || 18,767 || 26–38 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 65 || June 13 || Astros || 3–14 || Valdez (3–0) || Pineda (3–4) || — || 19,147 || 26–39 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 66 || June 14 || @ Mariners || 3–4 || Sewald (3–2) || Robles (2–3) || Steckenrider (1) || 9,185 || 26–40 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 67 || June 15 || @ Mariners || 0–10 || Flexen (6–3) || Happ (3–3) || — || 7,669 || 26–41 || L3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 68 || June 16 || @ Mariners || 7–2 || Thielbar (1–0) || Sheffield (5–6) || — || 8,098 || 27–41 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 69 || June 18 || @ Rangers || 7–5 || Robles (3–3) || Sborz (3–3) || Duffey (2) || 30,304 || 28–41 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 70 || June 19 || @ Rangers || 3–2 || Thielbar (2–0) || King (5–5) || Rogers (7) || 34,044 || 29–41 || W3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 71 || June 20 || @ Rangers || 4–2 || Maeda (3–2) || Dunning (2–6) || Robles (6) || 34,007 || 30–41 || W4 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 72 || June 21 || Reds || 7–5 || Shoemaker (3–8) || Hembree (1–3) || — || 17,530 || 31–41 || W5 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 73 || June 22 || Reds || 7–10 || Antone (2–0) || Robles (3–4) || Garrett (4) || 19,187 || 31–42 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 74 || June 24 || Indians || 1–4 || Parker (1–0) || Alcalá (1–2) || Karinchak (9) || 18,812 || 31–43 || L2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 75 || June 25 || Indians || 8–7 || Jax (1–0) || Wittgren (2–2) || Robles (7) || 16,892 || 32–43 || W1 |- style="background:#bbb;" | — || June 26 || Indians || colspan=7 | Postponed (rain, makeup September 14) |- style="background:#bfb;" | 76 || June 27 || Indians || 8–2 || Happ (4–3) || Hentges (1–2) || — || 20,215 || 33–43 || W2 |- style="background:#bbb;" | — || June 28 || @ White Sox || colspan=7 | Postponed (rain, makeup July 19) |- style="background:#fbb;" | 77 || June 29 || @ White Sox || 6–7 || Giolito (6–5) || Maeda (3–3) || Hendriks (21) || 17,382 || 33–44 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 78 || June 30 || @ White Sox || 3–13 || Cease (7–3) || Ober (0–1) || — || 16,803 || 33–45 || L2

|- style="background:#fbb;" | 79 || July 1 || @ White Sox || 5–8 || Kopech (3–0) || Alcalá (1–3) || — || 29,944 || 33–46 || L3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 80 || July 2 || @ Royals || 4–7 || Lovelady (1–0) || Happ (4–4) || Barlow (3) || 31,824 || 33–47 || L4