Yoendrys

Gómez

He walked two, but Gomez was eventually able to keep the Guardians off the board in the bottom of the ninth. The Twins didn’t rally in the top of the 10th to put him in line for a win. Gomez will likely be unavailable tomorrow after throwing 14 pitches on Wednesday and 22 today, but with Andrew Morris also pitching in back-to-back games, the Twins will likely play matchups if they have a save chance.

Gómez walked the first batter he faced of the inning, but was able to retire the next three batters he faced to end the game and any hope the Cubs had of a comeback. The righty is a perfect 12-for-12 in save opportunities this season and has allowed just one earned run in the month of July.

Gómez has his first full-inning save since June 28. He also recorded saves on June 29 and July 7, but those saw him pick up just one out each time. Gómez allowed a single to Mike Trout and walked Nolan Schanuel with one out in the ninth today, but he got Jorge Soler to pop out and struck out Vaughn Grissom to end the game. He still hasn’t blown a save this season.

That’s the second-consecutive save for Gómez where he has only needed one out. Why work hard when you can work smart? It’s the 10th conversion of the season for the 26-year-old, and his ERA lowers ever-so-slightly to 3.67.

The Twins had a four-run lead entering the ninth inning, but by the time Gómez entered the game it was only a two-run lead. Gómez allowed a solo home run to Cam Smith before getting the final out and recording his ninth save. Gómez is the favorite for saves in Minnesota, though others are in the mix.

Gómez didn’t get a strikeout nor give up a walk. It would have been impossible to do so, as the 26-year-old threw just four pitches against the ultra-aggressive Colorado lineup. Gómez is now up to eight saves with a respectable — if far from dominant — 3.40 ERA on the season.

Yoendrys Gómez seems like the favorite for saves in Minnesota right now, but the Twins had him work the eighth today. Banda then retired Adrian Del Castillo, Tommy Troy and Ketel Marte in order in the ninth. It’s the fifth career save for the 32-year-old Banda; he had one for the Rays in 2020 and two for the Dodgers in 2024. Banda possesses a 4.22 ERA in 32 innings this season.

Gómez didn’t allow a hit nor a walk, and he picked up a strikeout. The 26-year-old is now up to six saves on the season, and while it hasn’t been a perfect experience, he’s handled the closing gig well since taking over the role. We can’t say we predicted Yoendrys Gómez: closer to begin the season, but we can’t say we predicted a lot of things.

Gómez now leads the Twins with four saves on the year and has picked up three of their past four. A whopping 11 relievers have earned a save for Minnesota in 2026, but Gómez is beginning to consolidate opportunities. He has been brilliant since joining the team from the Rays, but to keep getting ninth-inning chances, he can’t afford to be as shaky as he looked on Wednesday.

Gómez is one of many faces who have picked up a save for the Twins this year. All four of his saves have come since May 10, but Gómez isn’t running with the job. Minnesota’s closer situation remains a fantasy situation to avoid.