Predictions .....and stuff

[stringer bell]

I was pondering the "what will it take" thread and I have some thoughts about the American League races and what the Twins need to do to win the second Wild Card.

 

First of all, I think 85 wins will be enough to garner a trip to Toronto or New York. The Twins would need to go 22-16 to get there. I think they might get a break by playing their last series against the Royals, who probably will have clinched everything  (division and home field) long before they head to Minnesota.  I am predicting also that Houston will fade, they have the fewest road wins in the AL and they have the most road games to play of the contenders. Houston's club has not been in a pennant race and they are heavily a young team. The Twins get Houston for six games in the last six weeks.

 

The Twins will face a lot of aces and near aces. For them to succeed, they need to win quite a few games against elite pitchers. Most likely they will see Kuechel and Kazmir, Sale, Kluber and more. I think they have to win their share of those games. I think they need to play well at home and their best of the season on the road.

 

The biggest thing is that the starting rotation needs to right the ship. We haven't seen many quality starts of late and the bullpen has been taxed. It is nice that they had a day off and that they can add an arm or two in a week.

 

Texas is playing well right now and has a very favorable schedule. I think they overtake the Astros, so the Twins would then have to get by Houston. The good thing there is that they have all six of their games with Houston remaining.