NEW YORK – Max Kepler has hit home runs in each of his past three games. Jorge Polanco hit for the cycle Friday, part of a career-best five-hit game.
"It has been fun so far, and I think it is going to be fun the rest of the season, if that's the way we are going to go," Polanco said. "I know [Kepler's] approach and I know sometimes the way he goes, then I know when to be ready right behind him. We're good hitters, and I think we can help the lineup."
They have so far. As the Twins bring a 5-3 record into their two-game road series against the Mets on Tuesday, Kepler and Polanco had provided an all-around offensive boost to the lineup.
Kepler is batting only .265, but his three home runs — including the first leadoff homer of his career Sunday — have led to a .529 slugging percentage. And his on-base-plus-slugging (OPS) percentage of .854 is 11th among major league leadoff hitters, fourth in the American League. He's also tied with Nelson Cruz for the team lead with six RBI.
Polanco became the 11th Twin to hit for the cycle and has lifted his OPS to 1.116. Only the Angels' Mike Trout and the Brewers' Christian Yelich lead him among No. 2 hitters in that category.
One of first-year manager Rocco Baldelli's most important tasks was to improve the offense in the post-Joe Mauer era. The Twins lost 15 years of batting savvy in the top third of the order when Mauer retired after last season.
Kepler was sort of a surprise pick to be the leadoff hitter, but it's not like Baldelli had many options. The outfielder batted only .224 last season but did draw 71 walks and raised his batting average against lefthanders to .245 from .152 in 2017. He also hit 20 homers last season and has not altered his approach.