4 Keys for the Twins to Keep Momentum in ALDS Game 3

[Cody Christie]

The Twins are returning home after splitting the first two games in Houston. Here are four keys to keep momentum on the Twins' side with the return to Target Field.

Image courtesy of Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota announced that Games 3 and 4 are sold out at Target Field, which should help build off the tremendous atmosphere fans created during the Wild Card Series. If the Twins want to upset the Astros, the club must win its home games and avoid a return trip to Houston. Playoff games take on a different ebb and flow than regular season action. However, there are some keys the Twins can focus on to turn the tide in their favor. 

Get to Houston's Starters
In Game 1, the Twins made Justin Verlander work in the early innings, but the club failed to push across any runs against him. Multiple double plays turned behind Verlander helped to keep Minnesota off the board, and Verlander eventually found his groove on the mound. The team missed early opportunities and ran out of time to complete their comeback in the final innings. Thankfully, the Twins bounced back in Game 2 and scored five runs against Framber Valdez, and that trend needs to continue. 

In Games 3 and 4, the Twins are projected to face two of Houston's more inconsistent starters. Cristian Javier is the Astros' projected Game 3 starter, and he finished the season with career-worst totals in ERA (4.56), WHIP (1.27), and K/9 (8.8). He also allowed three runs or more In three of his final four regular season starts. The Astros can go in a few different directions for Game 4 by turning to Jose Urquidy (5.29 ERA) or switching to Verlander on short rest, but he's struggled in those types of appearances in the past. Minnesota's hitters need to take advantage of these opportunities. 

Home Run Barrage
During the Toronto series, Royce Lewis used multiple home runs to help the team to a Game 1 victory. Jorge Polanco and Lewis hit back-to-back home runs in their Game 1 loss to Houston. In Game 2, Kyle Farmer connected for a massive two-run homer. Home runs have been part of the equation for the Twins for the entire season. In 81 home games, the Twins hit 118 home runs and posted a .778 OPS. However, the club's offense struggled in the first half (.709 OPS) before an influx of young talent helped improve the team's OPS to .808 after the All-Star Break. 

To continue to win in the playoffs, the Twins must use the long ball to their advantage. Minnesota saw Houston's lone left-handed pitcher on Sunday, so the club's young left-handed hitters will get plenty of home run opportunities against Houston's starters mentioned above. Matt Wallner, Edouard Julien, and Alex Kirilloff were held hitless in both home games against the Blue Jays. The Twins need their young bats to step up if they are going to take down the defending champions. 

Keep the Crowd in the Game
A raucous crowd played a role in the Twins series win versus the Blue Jays. Carlos Correa told Sonny Gray and the team's coaches that Toronto's runners couldn't hear the third base coach from second base because the crowd was so loud. The Blue Jays were also taking significant leads on the bases to try and get back in the game. Correa and Gray used the loud crowd to their advantage and picked off Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in a critical spot of Game 2. A situation like this likely won't repeat itself, but the crowd can play a factor in favor of the Twins. 

Twins fans are very familiar with home-field advantage in the playoffs. The Metrodome provided a perfect environment to amplify crowd noise and helped the Twins to be nearly unbeatable at home during their World Series runs. Target Field is built on the smallest footprint of any MLB ballpark, which means fans in the upper deck are closer to the field than most other places. Twins fans must be on their feet and ensure the Astros can't get comfortable in Minnesota. 

Quit Pitching to Yordan Alvarez
This change is quite simple. Alvarez might be the best hitter on the planet, and he's already an October legend. Quit giving him pitches to hit. 

Do you think the Twins should make these changes for Game 3? What's the most critical change for the club? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. 

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[Karbo]

I'll add in another. Get the bats of Wallner and AK to wake up. They have both have looked lost so far this post season and the Twins can't afford to have 2 dead spots in the lineup!

[chpettit19]

I don't know that you can totally quit pitching to Alvarez. You just have to be better at it (see: Lopez, Pablo). Kyle Tucker is no slouch. Lead the AL in RBIs. Pitching around Alvarez doesn't really solve your problems. It's the postseason. You have to get great hitters out to win. That's how it works.

[tony&rodney]

When Julien has long drawn out at bats that exposes the offerings of a pitcher and stretches the limits of their stamina. Javier can be a dominating pitcher, especially when batters bite on his high fastball. The Astros are really good at forcing pitchers to throw strikes and then putting the ball into play. The Twins need to be disciplined and punish mistake pitches. Julien, Kirilloff, and Wallner (if he is in the lineup) will get chances today. The Astros will be more careful versus Correa, Polanco, and Kepler, which leaves opportunities for the rookies to shine. Go Twins.

[Blyleven2011]

58 minutes ago, Karbo said:

I'll add in another. Get the bats of Wallner and AK to wake up. They have both have looked lost so far this post season and the Twins can't afford to have 2 dead spots in the lineup!

Maybe playing in front of the home crowd will inspire them to hit better ...

Patience and determination ( killer instincts )  please 

[Karbo]

Just saw Lewis is at 3rd today! Great news as his hammy must be a lot better!

[Beast]

Pretty good assessment.

Going to need to keep them off the board early.  A multi-run inning early is going to take the crowd out of it.  That’s worst case.

Need some sort of power production out of Kirilloff and Wallner.  They’ve been abysmal at the plate in the playoffs. They’ll be key tonight against a RH fly ball pitcher.  Put something in the seats.

 

[Muppet]

I'd add that they also need to find ways to score WITHOUT hitting home runs. As October moves forward we are running out of hot days that help that ball soar. This is obviously a problem for both teams, but finding a way to change up the game a bit to get more aggressive on the bases (and more people on the bases) should help. 

[NeverSeenATwinsPlayoffWin]

I don't understand why teams use starters on short rest in the postseason. The last pitcher to throw on three days rest in the regular season was Greg Maddux in 2003, the Greg Maddux that was drafted in 1984 and is currently 57 years old. Pitchers are not used to throwing on three-day rest, and you are better off saving your #1/#2 guy for the following game. The only time this is acceptable is out of the bullpen in a game seven scenario.

[jimbo92107]

Hey, if Lewis plays 3rd base today, that frees up DH for either Polo or Julien. Polo looked sooooo much better at 2b than he did at third. I'd DH Julien today, bat him leadoff, see if he can have some long at bats early. 

Agree totally that the outfielders need to get their bats hot. Too many clean innings for these Astros hurlers.

[chpettit19]

21 minutes ago, jimbo92107 said:

Hey, if Lewis plays 3rd base today, that frees up DH for either Polo or Julien. Polo looked sooooo much better at 2b than he did at third. I'd DH Julien today, bat him leadoff, see if he can have some long at bats early. 

Agree totally that the outfielders need to get their bats hot. Too many clean innings for these Astros hurlers.

FYI, Lewis is on the lineup at 3B and Julien is DHing. As of now at least.

[chpettit19]

52 minutes ago, Muppet said:

I'd add that they also need to find ways to score WITHOUT hitting home runs. As October moves forward we are running out of hot days that help that ball soar. This is obviously a problem for both teams, but finding a way to change up the game a bit to get more aggressive on the bases (and more people on the bases) should help. 

Always want to score in as many ways as possible, but HRs rule the postseason. Teams that out homer their opponent in the last 5 postseasons have won 85+% of the games. Need to mash to win playoff games.

[USAFChief]

23 minutes ago, jimbo92107 said:

Hey, if Lewis plays 3rd base today, that frees up DH for either Polo or Julien. Polo looked sooooo much better at 2b than he did at third. I'd DH Julien today, bat him leadoff, see if he can have some long at bats early. 

Agree totally that the outfielders need to get their bats hot. Too many clean innings for these Astros hurlers.

If?

All these things were announced. Quite some time ago.

[Brandon]

I agree the Twins need to hit early against the starting pitcher.  The Twins got on base 5 times in their first 4 outs.  The Twins hit into 2 double plays.  No score lose by 2.  
no bueno.

and the rookies can get a hit too. I give them permission to relax and mash.