Twins limp into their biggest series of the season

The Twins have announced they will erect a statue of Joe Mauer outside Target Field. Don’t honor Mauer by placing flowers; honor historical accuracy by applying bandages and ice packs.

That’s not a shot at Mauer — he’s a deserving Hall of Famer — but an acknowledgement of the challenges of Twins fandom. When it comes to injuries, the Twins remain the most cursed team in town.

On Wednesday afternoon at Wrigley Field, the Twins watched pitcher Joe Ryan walk off the mound with an arm injury, then watched a lineup without Byron Buxton, Carlos Correa or Royce Lewis produce just two runs.

That’s one of their most important starting pitchers on top of their three most important players. They will enter this weekend’s epic clash with the American League Central-leading Cleveland Guardians having not had Correa in the lineup since July 12, or Buxton in the lineup since Sunday. Lewis has played regularly, but will be given regular rest because of his history of injuries.

The Twins reliever with perhaps the best stuff on the staff, Brock Stewart, is also on the injured list, as is one of their key offseason acquisitions, Justin Topa.

Correa isn’t expected to play against Cleveland this weekend, and Buxton probably will be able to play in just two of the four games, while Lewis may be given one game off and used as a DH in another game.

In a vacuum this is sad. Everybody wants to see great players on the field in big games.

In historical context, this is almost predictable. Other than in the 1987 and 1991 postseasons, the Twins have been almost constantly cursed by dramatic injuries.

Mauer saw his prime shortened. Justin Morneau may have been one of the two or three best hitters in the game when an infielder’s knee caught him in the head, diminishing his abilities.

Tony Oliva played on a destroyed knee. Kirby Puckett woke up blind. Kent Hrbek, when willing to wear all of the bandages he required, looked like a mummy. Rookie of the year Marty Cordova broke down physically. Francisco Liriano injured his arm when he and Johan Santana seemed destined to make the Twins one of the best teams in baseball.

Now the Twins’ two highest-paid players, Correa and Buxton, are missing during a key stretch of games that could determine the division champion.

Injuries are prevalent throughout baseball, especially in the age of maximized athletic training, but the Twins have had more than their share, and recent developments indicate their luck isn’t changing.

I’ve believed all season the Twins have the best roster in the division, even with payroll cuts. But they have the best roster only when reasonably healthy — and they are not reasonably healthy.

This leaves manager Rocco Baldelli in a difficult position. To win key games, he needs his best players in the lineup. To put his best players in the lineup every day, he risks losing them for the rest of the season, and perhaps the postseason.

Let’s not blame the Twins’ medical staff this time around. The Twins brought in Nick Paparesta two winters ago, and he’s respected throughout the game. He can’t make Correa, Buxton or Lewis less brittle.

Free agency matters. Trade deadline deals can be helpful, although only a small percentage end up working out. Nothing matters more for this team than having their best players available.

With a split doubleheader on Friday and regularly-scheduled games on Saturday and Sunday, the Twins have a chance to cut into Cleveland’s lead.

In three of the four games, the Twins are expected to start pitchers who played this season in the minors: Simeon Woods-Richardson, David Festa and Louie Varland. All are capable of pitching well, but asking them to lead a team to a division title is a bit much, especially when they’ll have the recently-called-up Brooks Lee playing a middle infield position.

In a perfect world, I think the Twins are better than the Guardians. But the Twins can’t limp their way to a perfect world.