The 2012 Minnesota Twins season was the 52nd season for the franchise in Minnesota, and the 112th overall in the American League. The Twins wound up with a 66–96 record, fifth place in the American League Central.

Regular season

On May 2, the Twins were no-hit for the fifth time in their history. Jered Weaver of the Anaheim Angels threw 121 pitches, striking out nine, walking one and allowing no hits. Four of the Twins' no-hit losses have occurred in California. Two of the no-hitters were perfect games (Catfish Hunter, 1968 and David Wells, 1998).

Joe Mauer is the lone Minnesota selection to the All-Star Game, played July 10 in Kauffman Stadium. As a reserve catcher, he enters the game in the top of the eighth as a replacement first baseman and goes 1 for 1 with a single.

On September 8, the Twins retired former manager Tom Kelly's number '10'. He is the seventh Twin so honored, joining Harmon Killebrew (3), Rod Carew (29), Tony Oliva (6), Kent Hrbek (14), Kirby Puckett (34) and Bert Blyleven (28). The number '42' is retired across all of the major leagues in honor of Jackie Robinson.

Outfielder Josh Willingham wins the Silver Slugger Award for the only time in his career.

Season standings

American League Central

American League Wild Card

Record vs. opponents

Game log Legend Twins Win Twins Loss Postponed

|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 1 || April 6 || @ Orioles || 2–4 || Arrieta (1–0) || Pavano (0–1) || Johnson (1) || 46,773 || 0–1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 2 || April 7 || @ Orioles || 2–8 || Hunter (1–0) || Liriano (0–1) || || 31,532 || 0–2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 3 || April 8 || @ Orioles || 1–3 || Hammel (1–0) || Swarzak (0–1) || Johnson (2) || 14,738 || 0–3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 4 || April 9 || Angels || 1–5 || Wilson (1–0) || Blackburn (0–1) || || 39,414 || 0–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 5 || April 11 || Angels || 6–5 || Gray (1–0) || Takahashi (0–1) || Capps (1) || 31,413 || 1–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 6 || April 12 || Angels || 10–9 || Gray (2–0) || Thompson (0–1) || Capps (2) || 31,782 || 2–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 7 || April 13 || Rangers || 1–4 || Harrison (2–0) || Swarzak (0–2) || Ogando || 31,400 || 2–5 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 8 || April 14 || Rangers || 2–6 || Ross (1–0) || Duensing (0–1) || || 35,854 || 2–6 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 9 || April 15 || Rangers || 3–4 || Ross (2–0) || Perkins (0–1) || Nathan (3) || 32,093 || 2–7 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 10 || April 16 || @ Yankees || 7–3 || Pavano (1–1) || García (0–1) || || 40,218 || 3–7 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 11 || April 17 || @ Yankees || 3–8 || Sabathia (1–0) || Liriano (0–2) || || 40,194 || 3–8 |- style="text-align:center; background: #bfb;" | 12 || April 18 || @ Yankees || 6–5 || Marquis (1–0) || Kuroda (1–2) || Capps (3) || 36,831 || 4–8 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 13 || April 19 || @ Yankees || 6–7 || Hughes (1–2) || Swarzak (0–3) || Rivera (3) || 40,327 || 4–9 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 14 || April 20 || @ Rays || 5–4 || Maloney (1–0) || Gomes (0–1) || Capps (4) || 18,763 || 5–9 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 15 || April 21 || @ Rays || 1–4 || Shields (3–0) || Pavano (1–2) || Rodney (5) || 31,774 || 5–10 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 16 || April 22 || @ Rays || 2–6 || Niemann (1–2) || Liriano (0–3) || || 26,507 || 5–11 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 17 || April 23 || Red Sox || 5–6 || Bard (1–2) || Capps (0–1) || Aceves (3) || 32,351 || 5–12 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 18 || April 24 || Red Sox || 2–11 || Beckett (2–2) || Blackburn (0–2) || || 33,651 || 5–13 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 19 || April 25 || Red Sox || 6–7 || Buchholz (2–1) || Hendriks (0–1) || Aceves (4) || 32,254 || 5–14 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 20 || April 27 || Royals || 6–7 || Mijares (1–1) || Duensing (0–2) || Broxton (3) || 33,315 || 5–15 |- style="text-align:center; bgcolor="bbbbbb" | || April 28 || Royals ||colspan=7|Postponed (rain); Makeup: 6/30 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 21 || April 29 || Royals || 7–4 || Marquis (2–0) || Chen (0–3) || || 34,201 || 6–15 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 22 || April 30 || @ Angels || 3–4 || Wilson (3–2) || Blackburn (0–3) || Downs (2) || 27,027 || 6–16

|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 23 || May 1 || @ Angels || 0–4 || Williams (2–1) || Liriano (0–4) || || 30,039 || 6–17 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 24 || May 2 || @ Angels || 0–9 || Weaver† (4–0) || Hendriks (0–2) || || 27,288 || 6–18 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 25 || May 4 || @ Mariners || 3–2 || Pavano (2–2) || Wilhelmsen (1–1) || Capps (5) || 22,492 || 7–18 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 26 || May 5 || @ Mariners || 0–7 || Hernández (3–1) || Marquis (2–1) || || 28,437 || 7–19 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 27 || May 6 || @ Mariners || 2–5 || Noesí (2–3) || Blackburn (0–4) || || 23,913 || 7–20 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 28 || May 7 || Angels || 3–8 || Weaver (5–0) || Liriano (0–5) || || 31,382 || 7–21 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 29 || May 8 || Angels || 5–0 || Diamond (1–0) || Haren (1–3) || || 30,776 || 8–21 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 30 || May 9 || Angels || 2–6 || Santana (1–6) || Pavano (2–3) || || 31,915 || 8–22 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 31 || May 10 || Blue Jays || 2–6 || Álvarez (3–2) || Marquis (2–2) || || 31,438 || 8–23 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 32 || May 11 || Blue Jays || 7–6 || Blackburn (1–4) || Drabek (2–4) || Capps (6) || 33,387 || 9–23 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 33 || May 12 || Blue Jays || 1–2 || Hutchison (2–1) || Walters (0–1) || Janssen (2) || 38,820 || 9–24 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 34 || May 13 || Blue Jays || 4–3 || Diamond (2–0) || Romero (4–1) || Capps (7) || 36,889 || 10–24 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 35 || May 14 || Indians || 4–5 || Smith (3–1) || Capps (0–2) || C. Perez (12) || 32,313 || 10–25 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 36 || May 15 || Indians || 0–5 || Lowe (6–1) || Marquis (2–3) || || 35,732 || 10–26 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 37 || May 16 || @ Tigers || 11–7 || Burnett (1–0) || Below (2–1) || || 33,955 || 11–26 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 38 || May 17 || @ Tigers || 4–3 || Walters (1–1) || Fister (0–2) || Capps (8) || 37,840 || 12–26 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 39 || May 18 || @ Brewers || 11–3 || Diamond (3–0) || Estrada (0–3) || || 32,421 || 13–26 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 40 || May 19 || @ Brewers || 5–4 (11) || Gray (3–0) || Parra (0–1) || Capps (9) || 42,398 || 14–26 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 41 || May 20 || @ Brewers || 4–16 || Greinke (5–1) || Marquis (2–4) || || 33,064 || 14–27 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 42 || May 22 || @ White Sox || 9–2 || Walters (2–1) || Floyd (3–5) || || 20,026 || 15–27 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 43 || May 23 || @ White Sox || 0–6 || Sale (5–2) || Diamond (3–1) || || 20,064 || 15–28 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 44 || May 24 || @ White Sox || 8–11 || Jones (2–0) || De Vries (0–1) || || 20,167 || 15–29 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 45 || May 25 || Tigers || 6–10 || Smyly (2–1) || Swarzak (0–4) || || 37,688 || 15–30 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 46 || May 26 || Tigers || 3–6 || Scherzer (4–3) || Pavano (2–4) || Valverde (8) || 37,360 || 15–31 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 47 || May 27 || Tigers || 3–4 || Villarreal (1–0) || Capps (0–3) || Valverde (9) || 38,710 || 15–32 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 48 || May 28 || Athletics || 5–4 || Burnett (2–0) || Cook (1–1) || Capps (10) || 34,709 || 16–32 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 49 || May 29 || Athletics || 3–2 || Perkins (1–1) || Fuentes (2–1) || || 31,781 || 17–32 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 50 || May 30 || Athletics || 4–0 || Liriano (1–5) || Ross (2–6) || || 35,103 || 18–32

|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 51 || June 1 || @ Indians || 1–7 || Lowe (7–3) || Pavano (2–5) || || 19,904 || 18–33 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 52 || June 2 || @ Indians || 7–4 || Duensing (1–2) || Tomlin (2–3) || Capps (11) || 25,469 || 19–33 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 53 || June 3 || @ Indians || 6–3 || Diamond (4–1) || Masterson (2–5) || Capps (12) || 21,238 || 20–33 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 54 || June 4 || @ Royals || 10–7 || De Vries (1–1) || Smith (1–2) || Capps (13) || 16,531 || 21–33 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 55 || June 5 || @ Royals || 0–1 || Chen (5–5) || Liriano (1–6) || Broxton (14) || 23,934 || 21–34 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 56 || June 6 || @ Royals || 4–2 || Blackburn (2–4) || Mendoza (2–3) || Capps (14) || 18,386 || 22–34 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 57 || June 8 || Cubs || 8–7 (10) || Capps (1–3) || Camp (2–3) || || 38,014 || 23–34 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 58 || June 9 || Cubs || 11–3 || Diamond (5–1) || Samardzija (5–4) || || 39,309 || 24–34 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 59 || June 10 || Cubs || 2–8 || Dempster (2–3) || Liriano (1–7) || || 37,526 || 24–35 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 60 || June 12 || Phillies || 11–7 || Blackburn (3–4) || Kendrick (2–6) || || 32,622 || 25–35 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 61 || June 13 || Phillies || 8–9 || Hamels (9–3) || Walters (2–2) || Papelbon (17) || 32,581 || 25–36 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 62 || June 14 || Phillies || 1–6 || Blanton (6–6) || Diamond (5–2) || || 32,205 || 25–37 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 63 || June 15 || Brewers || 3–5 || Loe (3–2) || Capps (1–4) || Axford (11) || 37,295 || 25–38 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 64 || June 16 || Brewers || 2–6 || Fiers (2–2) || Hendriks (0–3) || || 37,698 || 25–39 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 65 || June 17 || Brewers || 5–4 (15) || Swarzak (1–4) || Dillard (0–2) || || 39,206 || 26–39 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 66 || June 19 || @ Pirates || 2–7 || Correia (3–6) || Diamond (5–3) || || 19,936 || 26–40 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 67 || June 20 || @ Pirates || 2–1 || Burton (1–0) || Grilli (1–2) || Perkins (1) || 19,878 || 27–40 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 68 || June 21 || @ Pirates || 1–9 || McDonald (6–3) || Hendriks (0–4) || || 21,563 || 27–41 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 69 || June 22 || @ Reds || 5–4 || Blackburn (4–4) || Bailey (5–5) || Perkins (2) || 33,531 || 28–41 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 70 || June 23 || @ Reds || 0–6 || Cueto (9–3) || Duensing (1–3) || || 41,750 || 28–42 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 71 || June 24 || @ Reds || 4–3 || Diamond (6–3) || Chapman (4–4) || Burton (1) || 34,513 || 29–42 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 72 || June 25 || White Sox || 4–1 || Liriano (2–7) || Peavy (6–4) || Burton (2) || 35,695 || 30–42 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 73 || June 26 || White Sox || 2–3 || Floyd (6–7) || Hendriks (0–5) || Reed (10) || 35,102 || 30–43 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 74 || June 27 || White Sox || 5–12 || Sale (9–2) || Blackburn (4–5) || || 36,539 || 30–44 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"