The Minnesota Twins are leading the [disappointing] AL Central with a record of 42-42 and are 1.5 games ahead of the Cleveland Guardians, sporting the only positive run differential in the division with +32. In the Twins’ quest to win their first postseason game since 2004, starting pitcher Bailey Ober (5-4) has been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise underwhelming first-half of the season for a team with large playoff aspirations.

The strength of the Twins so far this year has been the pitching staff, who have allowed the fewest runs in the MLB this year with 320 through 84 games. In a strong rotation with big names like Sonny Gray (4-2, 2.67 ERA), Joe Ryan (8-5, 3.44 ERA) and Pablo Lopez (4-5, 4.24 ERA), the 6’9” right-hander has quietly made a name for himself on the mound this season.

Since joining the majors in 2021, Ober has steadily improved each year. His ERA has declined in three consecutive seasons (4.19, 3.21, 2.70) in addition to his WHIP (1.20, 1.05, 0.95). Through thirteen games started this season, Ober has been a consistent force and has yet to allow more than four earned runs in a game. Ober, 27, is second on the Twins in Wins Above Replacement (WAR) with 2.0, trailing only Gray.

On Saturday, the Twins earned a hard-fought 1-0 win against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. The reason: Ober’s dominance on the mound. Through seven innings and 85 pitches, Ober struck out eight hitters and allowed three Orioles to reach base. Outfielder Joey Gallo homered to right center (439 feet) in the top of the fourth inning to score the lone run of the game.

Ober will likely make his next start against either the Kansas City Royals on July 5 or the Orioles on July 7. Gray is scheduled to start the series finale against the Orioles on Sunday.