López on the right track after 'disappointing' first half

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MINNEAPOLIS -- Pablo López’s first half was, in his own words, “very inconsistent, disappointing.” But for all that inconsistency and disappointment, he was still grateful for the fact that he’d maintained his health into the All-Star break, because as long as he’s healthy, he still has a shot at turning this thing around.

What matters most is how López is performing when his team needs him most in September and October -- and Saturday marked a good start to that redemption tour.

Pitching in as close to a playoff environment as he’ll get this time of year in front of a Target Field record crowd of 41,679, López stifled the Brewers by allowing just one run across seven strong innings, though his injury-depleted lineup couldn’t take advantage of the effort as the Twins fell, 8-4, in that delirious 12-inning Border Battle affair.

“I think it jump-starts the rest of the season for Pablo,” manager Rocco Baldelli said.

With the Trade Deadline quickly approaching in nine days (it’s earlier than usual, on July 30 this season), the Twins figure to have some need in the starting rotation -- but ultimately, if they make the playoffs, they’ll have to rely on their ace to bounce back from his 5.11 first-half ERA and helm what looks to be a shallower group for the time being, with Joe Ryan as their No. 2 option and perhaps Bailey Ober as their No. 3.

“First half, it is what it is, it was what it was,” López said. “That’s the first half I dealt myself. But what I have right now is the second half in front of me, that I’m hoping with willingness and feeling prepared and ready, I can provide more outings like this one.”

One key is getting his sweeper back to its strongest form.

After working with the Twins to add that pitch last season following his acquisition from the Marlins on Jan. 20, 2023, it quickly became a focal point of his arsenal, as he threw it second-most often among his pitches and saw hitters post a .173 average and a .287 slugging percentage on the pitch -- which have shot up to a .247 average and a .464 slugging percentage this year.

But there was continued encouragement on that front on Saturday, when four of López’s seven strikeouts came on the pitch, and he continued to cite better feel with the pitch -- especially in landing it where he wants to.

A consistent problem that López has described this season is actually throwing too many hittable strikes with the pitch as he’s tried to find more consistent intent and location with it -- and considering it’s his primary pitch that breaks away from right-handed hitters, he’s going to be using it a lot.

As for the importance of that? Take a look at the following image, which shows how every hit López has allowed on the sweeper this season has come when it has caught the strike zone. Essentially, when he throws a convicted sweeper that allows him to expand the zone, he’s not really getting hit on the pitch.

The key is getting him back there with consistency -- and perhaps the results will finally follow.

“I thought it was taking a good turn,” López said. “It’s always good to see. You know, we have all the data out there. As much as sometimes we try not to get too caught up in the movement, the velo, it’s nice to take a peek and see, like, 'OK, what I’m doing today feels right, the pitch is taking the turn I want it to turn. Let’s keep feeling what I’m feeling at release.'”