The Twins’ Playoff Odds, and the Week Ahead in the AL Central and Wild Card Races

Ranking who I would like to play down to who I wouldn’t:

1.) Seattle

2.) Texas

3.) Houston

We are deeper than Seattle and I think would play them well. Texas without Scherzer doesn’t have the same moxy as they had in season. The Stros always seem to be Twin killers, so I’d like to avoid them.

8 minutes ago, GoldenTwin said:

Ranking who I would like to play down to who I wouldn’t:

1.) Seattle

2.) Texas

3.) Houston

 

We are deeper than Seattle and I think would play them well. Texas without Scherzer doesn’t have the same moxy as they had in season. The Stros always seem to be Twin killers, so I’d like to avoid them.

Yes, this order would be fine, but in round 2. Let’s just keep winning this week and see what happens.  Who knows?

Twins can still take 2 seed-think this will happen 

This is a crazy last week for the West.  3 teams playing for 2 spots and 1 of those being a bye most likely.  

12 minutes ago, Peter said:

Twins can still take 2 seed-think this will happen 

If Texas goes 2-5 they will get the 2 seed. I will give you 10-1 odds that the Twins are not the #2 seed.

9 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

If Texas goes 2-5 they will get the 2 seed. I will give you 10-1 odds that the Twins are not the #2 seed.

And the Twins would have to go undefeated the rest of the way too if the Rangers only win 1.

My list would be, in order of preference for twins to play in wild card round:

1.  Texas Rangers.  I think we match up well with them and they won't have Sherzer.

2.  Mariners. This would be tough as I think the games would be very close and could go either way.

3.  Astros.  They worry me the most due mainly to their winning pedigree.  Also Manager Dusty Baker would easily out manage Rocco.  

Hope this is the year we win a playoff game.  We could advance to the second round.  Go Twins!!

It's more likely the Twins play Toronto than Texas in the first round. The Jays close the season against the Yankees and Rays.

If the Jays get the #2 wild card they will be playing back-to-back series against Tampa.

17 minutes ago, Whitey333 said:

Hope this is the year we win a playoff game.  We could advance to the second round.  Go Twins!!

They could make it to the World Series. All they need to do is go 9-6.

If the bats show up like they have in the second half, Twins can make a deep playoff run. 
 

The pitching is there to make it happen. Should be looking to do more then just end the streak. 

17 minutes ago, lake_guy said:

Are any of the other teams at a point that they lose just to draw the Twins? 

No. The AL East runners up have locked up the first Wild Card. The Blue Jays are likely Wild Card number 2. That means each of the three AL West teams are fighting just to get into the playoffs, None of them are looking to lose because they would find themselves watching the playoffs from couches.

Houston would be my least favorite team to play in the first round.

Between the others (texas and seattle), I opt for whomever has less left handed pitchers.

An interesting thing to watch will be if the AL West comes down to the last game or two, will any of the teams feel compelled to throw their best starter at it just to get into the playoffs, and thus taking them out of starting game 1 of the Wild Card series against the Twins. For example, Houston has Verlander and Seattle has Castillo lined up to pitch Monday and Saturday, so they'd be out for Tuesday. Houston also has Valdez lined up to pitch Wednesday and then Tuesday (Game 1) but if it's win or go home on their final game Sunday, would they pitch Valdez on 4 days rest (and take him out for Game 1 of Wild Card series).

8 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

You seriously think a team needing to win to get in wouldn't pitch its best available starter?

 

Zero chance.

Yea I'm assuming they will pitch their best available starter. So hopefully it does come down to the last two days and they blow through their top starters and bullpens. Good news is that all 4 teams in the final weekend series could all be playing for something significant: Texas vs Seattle & Houston vs. Arizona.

46 minutes ago, ashbury said:

you should offer higher odds than 10-1 or you're just taking Peter's dollar.

Peter was the one who said he thought it would happen. He should be giving me even odds. I split the difference.

Sounds like the Astros have inflicted some emotional and psychological scars on our community. But they’ve been just ‘good’, not great, all season, and have been DREADFUL down the stretch. I’m not backing away from a team that just got swept at HOME by the Royals…in games they NEEDED to win.

I don’t know what to predict…but for the first time since the streak began, they’re actually close, if not on par with the opposition they’ll see in the first round. This is a prerequisite for success, IMO…despite the common refrain of “anything can happen”. It’s not about the regular season records. It’s about who you have, how they’ve been playing, and pitching match-ups. I like the Twins to do SOMETHING here, more than I liked them with 100 wins in 2019…much more, because of the above.