The Twins reached Monday’s off day a little more than 20 percent through their 162-game season after a pair of one-run victories in Boston. There were some positive signs in those final two games against the Red Sox, but by all accounts, the team isn’t where it wants to be.

With a three-game series against Baltimore starting Tuesday, the Twins sit 15-20 in fourth place in the American League Central, far from where they thought they would be. Here are five observations through the first five-plus weeks of the season.

Injuries pile up

Somehow, some way injuries wind up being a big storyline for the Twins every season. In April, that was no different.

Royce Lewis was activated from the injured list (hamstring) on Monday but has yet to make his 2025 debut. Willi Castro was activated, as well. But his absence because of an oblique strain lasted longer than the Twins anticipated.

Pablo López had a minor hamstring strain but has since returned. Matt Wallner (hamstring) and Luke Keaschall (forearm), whose one week in the majors provided much to like, are both likely out through May — tough news for a team that could use their production at the plate.

As a result, the Twins went out and grabbed both Jonah Bride and Kody Clemens in trades for cash considerations to fill out the roster. Both, along with Mickey Gasper, have seen more playing of late.

The injury problem has been exasperated by the fact two players that likely would have been called up — Austin Martin and Jose Miranda — are on the Triple-A injured list.

Starting pitching fine

It’s not a surprise, but it has been nice for the Twins to see this play out as expected, particularly after a tough go of it at the beginning of the season.

Bailey Ober, dealing with an illness, got rocked in his first start for eight runs but has given up just a run in five of his six outings since. Joe Ryan has pitched to a 2.93 earned-run average, picking up where he left off last season before an injury cut his season short. López has not given up more than two earned runs in any of his starts.

Chris Paddack, like Ober, got crushed in his first start but has rebounded. Against Boston on Sunday, he gave up three runs in five innings. And Simeon Woods Richardson has kept the Twins in games. The starters have a 3.50 ERA as a group, sixth in the majors entering Monday’s play.

“I had a lot of belief that our rotation was going to be strong,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “That first week was an odd week. It was challenging. … But that’s behind us. The guys have settled in very well. They look like themselves and like they’re taking off.”

Offense not so much

And yet, the Twins find themselves looking up at .500 and feeling some urgency because the offense hasn’t performed. After firing their hitting coaches after last year’s finish, the Twins have an offense that ranks in the lower third of the majors in many major categories (average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, home runs, runs per game).

Sometimes it seems as if they’re on the verge of breaking things open, just a hit away. But those big hits have often been hard to come by, and the inconsistency has plagued them. Shortstop Carlos Correa, an all-star a season ago, hasn’t produced the way the Twins know he can, and his 57 OPS+ (on-base plus slugging) is 43 percent worse than the average hitter (and very far from his own career 124 OPS+).

“We just haven’t seen that level of production overall, unfortunately, from a good chunk of our lineup,” president of baseball and business operations Derek Falvey said. “But I know that it’s in there, and I know they have the ability to do it. I don’t think it’s a significant, philosophical shift across the board for everybody. It’s just some players aren’t getting those kinds of outcomes that they had before.”

New guys look good

The Twins didn’t make many moves this offseason, opting to keep their core intact — something questioned at the time and, for obvious reasons, now. But the additions they made have looked good so far.

Harrison Bader, brought in for his defense, has adapted seamlessly to the corner outfield positions after primarily playing center in his career (and winning a Gold Glove there). He has made his impact felt with the bat, too. On Sunday in Boston, he scored twice and drove in a key run with a late double off the Green Monster.

Ty France has driven in a team-leading 19 runs and has had some important hits — including a walk-off winner. And Danny Coulombe, the only lefty in the bullpen, has yet to give up an earned run in 12? innings. His 0.568 WHIP (walks and hits per Innings pitched) is a career low. He has allowed just one walk while facing 44 batters.

Attendance down

It’s no secret that attendance has been down at Target Field, a troubling trend for the Twins. A mid-April game against the New York Mets had an announced attendance of 10,240, the lowest for a game at the ballpark in any season except the COVID-affected 2020 and 2021 campaigns.

The Twins are averaging 17,030 tickets sold through their first 14 home games. That’s a 14.3 percent decrease from the first 14 games of the 2024 season, down 2,850 tickets per game.

At a time when attendance is up across the league, Falvey posited a couple reasons for why this may be, citing some fans having ticket packages that allow them to swap April tickets — when the weather might be worse — for warmer months, as well as Timberwolves and Wild playoff appearances. And, of course, the team’s play.

“When we look at April, obviously not our best month on the field,” Falvey said. “That contributes, too. No other way to say it.”