The Minnesota Twins attempted to revamp their bullpen after losing players like Matt Wisler and Trevor May. This offseason, they signed Hansel Robles, Alex Colomé and banked on a few on the margin players like Danny Coulombe, Ralph Garza Jr., Luke Farrell, Juan Minaya, etc.

Minnesota has been great at finding fringe players and retooling them into productive players.

The Twins have started to turn the corner as of late, winning four straight series against the Houston Astros, Chicago White Sox, Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Indians. It would be one thing if they were rattling off wins against bad teams, but they’re defeating division leaders (except Cleveland who’s in second).

A major reason for this change has been the Twins’ bullpen playing better. Here’s a look at the first and second half stats:

• First Half: 16-21, 329.2 IP, 4.91 ERA, 319 H, 180 ER, 54 HR, 132 BB, 345 SO
• Second Half: 10-5, 128.1 IP, 4.35 ERA, 105 H, 62 ER, 18 HR, 51 BB, 119 SO

Granted the sample size is largely different, but if you continued that same trajectory, it’s easy to see that the bullpen has been better.

In August, the Twins have had one of the best bullpens in baseball. They’re 6-0, with an ERA of 3.65 (12th). There are only two other teams that have yet to record a loss.

What’s even more impressive, are the players they’re doing it with. Currently, the bullpen consists of Andrew Albers, Caleb Thielbar, Tyler Duffey, John Gant, Kyle Barraclough, Colomé, Coulombe, Garza Jr. and Minaya.

There’s been a lot of injuries that’s put Minnesota where they are, but credit’s due where credits are due and the bullpen has stepped up in a major way.

Thielbar has been a major revelation in the second half of the season. He’s currently 5-0, with an ERA of 3.66. April and July were his two worst months, posting an ERA of 4.00 and 6.00, respectively. However, before the All-Star break in 33.1 innings, he was 2-0, with an ERA of 4.59 and an opponent batting average of .258. Granted it’s a smaller sample size, but after the All-Star break in 13.1 innings, he’s 3-0, with an ERA of 1.35 and an opponent batting average of .119.

Thielbar is dealing.

Duffey was supposed to be one of the best relief pitchers in the Twins bullpen, but he’s been largely up-and-down. Since the All-Star break, opponents are hitting .341 off him in 11.0 innings. If he were to turn things around, the bullpen could look even scarier.

Albers is no stranger to the Twins fanbase. Since making his appearance in 2013, the 35-year-old pitcher has found his way back to Minnesota three times (2013, 2016, 2021). In his first major league game since 2017, Albers was thrown into the fire against the white-hot Yankees. Despite that, he delivered four innings and gave up only two hits and one earned run.

Gant came over in the J.A. Happ trade and has been one of the best relievers on the team. His 6.00 ERA is a little deceiving, since he had to make a rare start against New York. He started the game well, but started to fall apart the further he pitched. That’s to be expected when you’re not a starting pitcher who’s asked to pitch as many innings as possible. On Aug. 13, he gave up 3 earned runs to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Beyond those two performances, he’s given up one earned run in six appearances.

Barraclough was originally drafted by the Twins in the 2011 MLB Draft but made his first appearance in a Twins uniform on Aug. 20. The veteran reliever would have liked a do-over after giving up three earned runs in two innings against the Yankees.

Colomé was a big get this offseason after he delivered a 2-0, 0.81 ERA season for the Chicago White Sox. In April, he was 1-3, with an ERA of 8.31. June wasn’t kind to him as well, but he’s been steadily getting better over the last two months. In August, he’s pitched 8.1 innings and opponents are only hitting .167 off him. If he continues this way, it’s easy to see him back with the Twins next season.

Coulombe has been a pleasant surprise for Minnesota this season. The 31-year has struggled this month, holding an ERA of 6.75, and an opponent batting average of .269. Regardless, he’s exceeded expectations and has been the Twins’ best reliever some nights.

It’s been brief, but Garza Jr. has looked good in three games with Minnesota. He’s pitched five innings and has yet to give up a run. If the 27-year-old can keep this up, he will be back with the team next season.

Minaya has been up-and-down this year but he’s starting to settle in this month. In August, he has an ERA of 1.86 and an opponent batting average of .121. The way he’s looked, it’s easy to see him carving out a high leverage role with the team at some point.

There’s been no continuity with the bullpen this season, but the Twins have found something with this group of players. For the most part, they’ve looked dominant, but have struggled in their most recent games. That’s expected when they’re shorthanded and overworked after relieving Lewis Thorpe in the second inning on Aug. 18. If the bullpen continues to pitch like this, Minnesota will be winning a lot more games.