There’s One Team Twins Want to Avoid in Postseason

When it comes to October baseball, the Twins have not been good. Sure, they won a pair of World Series rings with Tom Kelly multiple decades ago, but the recent trend is so well documented it’s tired. Thankfully they won’t have to match up against the New York Yankees this year as Aaron Boone’s team is terrible, but finding the Houston Astros in the opposite dugout isn’t ideal either.

Right now the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, and Houston Astros are jockeying atop the AL West division. One of those clubs will win it, with the other two looking like potential wild card teams. Of the three of them, it’s Houston that presents the most daunting opponent.

In 2023, the Twins took the season series against the Astros going 4-2 with a +4 run differential. That pair played earlier in the calendar, and Houston has a new look since finishing with Minnesota. 2022 Cy Young award winner was sent back to his former team after the New York Mets flopped despite spending oodles of cash.

Although their new acquisition at first base, Jose Abreu, hasn’t hit at all, he’s a respected veteran that could find it at any moment. Jose Altuve is back and healthy, and Yordan Alvarez may be among the best power hitters in the game. Add in Kyle Tucker and the lineup is not one to mess with.

The starting rotation isn’t full of horses, but Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander are two extremely good arms to roll out in a short series. The bullpen is still anchored by former Twins reliever Ryan Pressly, and both Bryan Abreu and Hector Neris have had great seasons. Dusty Baker’s team is built to grab a lead, expand on it, and hang on as well.

No matter who Minnesota plays, they’ll likely face an opponent with a better record. That’s fine if it’s the Seattle Mariners or Texas Rangers, both good opponents, but something hits different with Houston. It’s not just who the Astros currently employ, but the fact that they have been in this spot so often in recent history.

Minnesota recently welcomed the Rangers to Target Field for a four-game series and took three out of the four contests. Bruce Bochy’s club has been among the best in baseball all year long, and the lineup is beyond talented. Facing Max Scherzer will never be an enviable task, and they can hit one through nine. Seattle is among the hottest teams in the sport, and Julio Rodriguez appears primed for a postseason impact.

Still though, it's Houston, their pedigree, and the familiarity with bright October lights that makes them scary.

Minnesota will have the benefit of hosting a short series at Target Field given their title as a division winner, but that advantage matters much less than experience. Verlander, leading a team of battle-tested veterans that have already won a World Series together, is a daunting opponent to run up against. Maybe the short series helps Minnesota and pushes the advantage a bit more in their favor, but they’ll undoubtedly have their hands full.

At the end of the day there is nothing the Twins can do to control their opponent. The AL West race will unfold on its own over the course of September, but Minnesota should definitely have a list of preferred outcomes. If it is Houston that comes to Target Field, the Twins will look to exact revenge from the 2020 series that saw Alex Kirilloff make a debut. Beating a juggernaut would be one way to end the losing streak in style.