Ted Schwerzler

The Minnesota Twins came into the postseason with nothing more important than winning a game. Looking to end the 0-for-18 streak, this team needed to do everything it could to distance itself from that history. Not only did they accomplish that reality, but it seems they could make serious noise in the games ahead. Image courtesy of Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports Rocco Baldelli’s squad could not have cared less about the previous ineptitude of Twins postseason teams of the past. Sure, history was reality, but Kyle Farmer stuck to the tone that it did not matter. He couldn’t have been more right in suggesting that this team was ready to turn the tide, and the American League Central Division Champions had something new in store for Twins Territory. So, after sweeping the Toronto Blue Jays, how did Baldelli’s Twins do it? Well, they did just about everything right. Royce Lewis The entirety of this Minnesota Twins season, they found players who showed up when they were needed. Byron Buxton couldn’t go on Opening Day, and ultimately never got in the field, Michael A. Taylor took over in center and had his best season. Willi Castro made his presence felt all over the diamond and even at the plate. Alex Kirilloff's season started late due to cautiousness in his return from wrist surgery. Late-signing Donovan Solano stepped in and was a consistent contributor. All through the roster, players continued to step up, but no one made a greater impact than the Twins rookie class. Lewis, Edouard Julien, and Matt Wallner were nothing short of exceptional when called upon. Lewis went on a prolific grand slam tear, and he brought Wallner along with him. The two combined for six slams during the season. They set new records. For much of the second half, it was the rookies (along with a resurgent Max Kepler) that stirred the drink. After showing ineptitude with the bases loaded to begin the year, they couldn’t have shown a greater turn as the bats came alive. When the Twins needed it most, Lewis stepped in and delivered in the biggest way. That was certainly the case in Game 1. With only one healthy hamstring, Royce was relegated to designated hitter duties. His first postseason plate appearance was a two-run blast, and he followed that up with a solo shot the second time he stepped into the box. Despite being doubted and discredited by some along the way, Lewis has continued to rise to the challenge even in the biggest moments. Pitching Since the Wild Card series went just two games, Baldelli was able to use only Pablo Lopez and Sonny Gray from his starting rotation, his co-Aces. Coming into the year, it was apparent that this team was going to be different. Nelson Cruz and Miguel Sano were long gone. This was not a reincarnation of the Bomba Squad. Knowing that they were built around pitching and defense, Baldelli leaned heavily on the top of his staff. Both Gray and Lopez will garner Cy Young votes, and each are deserving of the honor. Neither will best Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, but being in the conversation indicates how good they have been. Lopez pitched well in Game 1. He gave up one run in 5 1/3 innings. Gray threw five scoreless innings in Game 2, but he really had to do some work and get some help. He gave up five hits and walked two batters. He had just one perfect inning. He had at least two base runners to strand in three of those five innings. Toronto manager John Schneider inexplicably lifted Jose Berrios after just 47 pitches during the second game of the series, and his move was something out of a horror story. Looking to avoid what may come, he instead gave Minnesota an advantage that Toronto never came back from. Baldelli stuck by his horse, and Gray delivered as he has all season. In the two games, the bullpen combined to give up zero runs in 7 1/3 scoreless innings. Caleb Thielbar pitched a perfect seventh inning in Game 1, and then coaxed a huge double-play to end a sixth-inning, bases-loaded threat in Game 2. Brock Stewart dominated the seventh inning in Game 2. Griffin Jax has had his ups and downs all season, but he faced the middle of the Blue Jays order in the eighth inning of both games, and he shut things down. And finally, Jhoan Duran had a save in both games. Who could ask for anything more? Defense Along with the prowess on the mound, Minnesota has held themselves to a higher standard defensively than we have seen in previous seasons. Byron Buxton is not available in center field, but the acquisition of Michael A. Taylor has all but made up for it. Early in the game, Alejandro Kirk hit a soft liner to left-center. Taylor charged in and dove to make the catch. In the sixth inning of Game 1, Matt Chapman crushed a Louie Varland pitch deep toward the wall just right of center. Taylor sprinted back and turned a difficult play for many into a routine catch to end the Blue Jays threat. With Lewis shelved at the hot corner, both Edouard Julien and Jorge Polanco found themselves in less than ideal roles. Julien has grown as a defender, but he’s not as strong as Polanco at second base. Polanco has long been an unselfish, team-first player, but the reality is that he hasn't played a lot at the hot corner. It wasn't idea, but having Carlos Correa back at shortstop has proven invaluable. He made a couple of great plays that stood out as elite. Twins fans are familiar with Joe Mauer’s diving play in Yankees Stadium to tag out Brett Gardner just before he reached home plate. Former Twins shortstop Roy Smalley compared it to Derek Jeter’s flip to nab the non-sliding Jeremy Giambi before he could score during a playoff series. In Game 1 of this wild card series, it was a sprinting Carlos Correa that made the kind of play that will be talked about for decades. A bounding ball was hit toward third. It was a play where Polanco had to attempt to make a scoop and get rid of it quick, a do-or-die play. The ball got by Polanco. Bo Bichette started the play at second, but when he saw it get by Polanco, he darted toward the plate. Correa instinctually sprinted toward the loose ball, bare-handed it and in one motion threw a dart to Ryan Jeffers who tagged Bichette out to end a Blue Jays threat. The Twins shortstop showed an improbable level of perfection. And sometimes you need to do a little bit extra. Correa called for the pickoff move that nabbed Vlad Guerrero at second base for the third out of the fifth inning. It was arguably the biggest play of Game 2. That's a couple of veterans doing veteran things. It's baseball IQ and situational awareness. Now the Twins will head to Houston to take on the defending World Series champion Astros. Minnesota will need to continue to do things well, make the routine plays and occasionally make some great plays. They will obviously need more pitchers to step up in a longer series, and the offense needs to show up and provide some run support, much more than they did in the Wild Card round. This club is capable of more, and we have seen it, but they’ll need to show it on the field starting on Saturday. View full article

Walker JenkinsBrooks LeeEmmanuel RodriguezMarco RayaCharlee SotoTanner SchobelBrandon WinokurDavid FestaLuke KeaschallKala'i RosarioCory LewisConnor PrielippAustin MartinCJ CulpepperYunior SeverinoSimeon Woods RichardsonJose RodriguezJose SalasNoah MillerDanny De Andrade

Walker JenkinsBrooks LeeEmmanuel RodriguezMarco RayaCharlee SotoTanner SchobelBrandon WinokurDavid FestaLuke KeaschallKala'i RosarioCory LewisConnor PrielippAustin MartinCJ CulpepperYunior SeverinoSimeon Woods RichardsonJose RodriguezJose SalasNoah MillerDanny De Andrade

The Minnesota Twins have lost 18 straight postseason games. The last playoff win for this franchise came on October 5, 2004 against the New York Yankees. Everyone in Twins Territory is aware of that. Most news outlets are aware of it. The players in the clubhouse though, could care less. Image courtesy of Jordan Johnson-USA TODAY Sports The Major League Baseball regular season is an absolute marathon. Despite what the shortened 60-game Covid season tried to impose upon fans, living through every single outcome over a 162-game stretch is not necessary. Sure, the Twins played in one of baseball’s worst divisions this year, but they handled business and won it. Down the stretch, they have played at a 90-plus win pace, and they are going to host a wild card series. Suggesting that all things are equal in the postseason would be unfair. While Minnesota will have home field advantage, the reality is that they will be hosting a team with a better record. Given the pitching matchups, they should find themselves favored in at least one of the contests, but it’s not a clear coin flip at any point. That said, the statistical improbability of losing 18 straight is wild in and of itself. The Twins should win a playoff game in 2023 simply because logic says it will happen. Beyond that though, the Twins should win a playoff game, and maybe even a series, because this team isn’t impacted by the past. Of the holdovers from 2020, the last time Minnesota made the postseason, only Kenta Maeda, Caleb Thielbar, Ryan Jeffers, Jorge Polanco, Alex Kirilloff, and Max Kepler remain. If Byron Buxton joins the active roster again, he too would be included in the bunch. For Carlos Correa, Sonny Gray, Pablo Lopez, and the rest of Rocco Baldelli’s leaders, what happened in the past couldn’t be less of a concern. It’s not as though this current Twins contingent hasn’t heard about the ineptitude of the franchise in the postseason. In fact, Kyle Farmer addressed it head on with Audra Martin on the night in which Minnesota clinched the AL Central. His take is perfectly on par though, and assuming something as silly as a jinx exists couldn’t be more misleading. With the Toronto Blue Jays coming to Target Field, the Twins will take their positions like they have done every other time this year. These games are worth holding onto every happening, and viewing through a microscope, but the outcome of at least one of them will be positive and end an ugly storyline for the fanbase. When Baldelli took the Twins to the postseason in 2020, the same lack of care for those players could be said. Few of them were around in 2017, and none of them cared about that result. The team that made it through the Covid race was flawed though, and had much less to bring to the table. Josh Donaldson was hurt and couldn’t go, the pitching left plenty to be desired, and the lineup was plenty flawed in its own right. Getting healthy at the right time, inserting players like Chris Paddack and Brock Stewart back into the fold all push the water level higher. Having a roster that has battled through adversity and continued to come out on top matters. Seeing a front office bet on this collection and be right about their overall ability should be a confidence boosting measure as well. Expectations in Twins Territory are rarely high. This group will go into the postseason with one of the lowest sets of World Series odds. No one is expecting them to win a round, and plenty will assume they can’t grab a game. That all falls on the side of favor for the home team, and gives them an opportunity to play loose while going out and getting it done. The fact that 0-18 exists is awful, absolutely. The reality that it exists doesn’t have any impact on the players in the clubhouse, and it certainly won’t stop them from getting a win if they execute at the level we have seen. It’s time for the talking point to cease, and that’s much easier once the streak has ended. Like Kyle Farmer said, “We’re gonna get that first win, I promise you that." View full article

The Minnesota Twins clinched the AL Central division a handful of days ago, but they were uncertain of their opponent until the final day of the regular season. With results shaking out as they did, the Toronto Blue Jays will come to Target Field as the away team for a three-game wild card series. Image courtesy of Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports With the Texas Rangers, Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners, and Toronto Blue Jays all in play as potential opponents for the Minnesota Twins during the wild card round, it’s the team north of the border that will oppose Rocco Baldelli’s club. Minnesota hasn’t seen Toronto since early-June, and their Target Field series against the Blue Jays came at the end of May. For both squads, a lot has changed since that time. Although the Twins have home-field advantage against Toronto, the two teams are very evenly matched. Looking at comparisons up and down the board, here’s how things shake out: Records Toronto Blue Jays 89-73 (89-73 pythag) 3rd AL East Minnesota Twins 87-75 (93-69 pythag) 1st AL Central The pair are split by just a pair of tallies in either column of their overall record on the season. Of course the American League East was a more tightly contested division than the American League Central, but both played to similar results across their 162 games. Minnesota played to the tune of a 47-34 record at Target Field, and they took off in the second half going 43-28 after the All-Star Break. On the flip side, Toronto had near neutral splits regardless of which dugout they were in during 2023. On the road, the Blue Jays went 46-35, but they slid a bit in the second half playing to a 39-32 record. Seeing each other six times earlier in the year, each side won their away series. Splitting the season series, Minnesota had a plus-two run differential against Toronto. Rotation In a short series, the rotation becomes just three pitchers. Minnesota will send Pablo Lopez, Sonny Gray, and Joe Ryan to the mound as starters. Skipping arms to keep them healthy, Toronto lines up Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, and Chris Bassitt on their side. Lopez has been great in his first season after being acquired from the Miami Marlins for Luis Arraez. Gray has looked the part of a Cy Young pitcher, and his 5.3 fWAR is tied with the Blue Jays Gausman to lead American League pitchers. Ryan has struggled since the All-Star break, most notably with the long ball, but he will start Game 3, if necessary. Kenta Maeda will work out of the bullpen. Gausman will finish near the top of the Cy Young voting behind Yankees Gerrit Cole. He’s been great during both of his season with the Blue Jays, and he earned the second all-star appearance of his career this season. Berrios is well known in Minnesota, having been a prolific prospect and former staff ace for the Twins. After a disastrous 2022, Berrios has bounced back in 2023. He has made three postseason appearances, all for Minnesota, and the most recent was his only start at Target Field. Each of them has been a loss. Signed to a lucrative three-year deal this offseason, Bassitt has had a strong first season in Toronto. His 200 innings were the most of his career. Toronto could look at throwing either Yusei Kikuchi or Hyun-Jin Ryu if they want to keep Minnesota's lineup off balance with a left-handed arm. The Twins have struggled against southpaws most of the season, but Toronto will have to tip their hand when the roster is announced as it's unlikely the full complement of starters will head to the United States. The Blue Jays rotation has slumped of late, so it could be more about matchups than predictable performance. Bullpen The pecking order for Baldelli is well established in relief. Jhoan Duran is the Twins closer, and the setup men are largely reflective of the situation. Griffin Jax has operated in that spot at times, while Brock Stewart has looked the part of an elite shutdown arm when healthy. Emilio Pagan has also been in that group, and Caleb Thielbar has worked as much more than just a lefty specialist. In the postseason, Minnesota will have a bit of a different look in terms of length. Starter Kenta Maeda will be available in relief, and Chris Paddack has worked his way into the picture. Minnesota transitioned starter Louie Varland to a relief role, and he has looked great while throwing near-triple digits. Adding another lefty for Baldelli to use, Kody Funderburk should be in the mix as well. The Blue Jays bullpen ranks ninth in baseball in terms of fWAR, and they sit eighth by ERA. Jordan Romano is the closer, but the group has plenty of depth to it as well. Tim Mayza has been an elite left-handed option, and (West Fargo native and current northern Minnesota resident) Erik Swanson has had a nice year as well. Toronto acquired former St. Louis Cardinals star Jordan Hicks at the trade deadline, and he’s done nothing but get outs for the Blue Jays. His 2.05 ERA hides a 3.57 FIP, and while the strikeouts have dipped some. He’s stopped allowing free passes at a breakneck pace. How manager John Schneider utilizes his relief group remains to be seen, but they are a strong sum of parts. Romano was shaky in the final few games of the season, and the bullpen may be tasked with picking up for a rotation that has seen somewhat of a slide. How they eat innings as a whole will be something Schneider must prepare for. Hitters The strength of Minnesota’s lineup is multi-faceted. The Twins can build a threat or score in a hurry. This isn’t the Bomba Squad of 2019, but Matt Wallner, Max Kepler, Carlos Correa, Royce Lewis, and a handful of others can all send the ball into the seats. They also have players like Edouard Julien, Alex Kirilloff, and Ryan Jeffers that can get deep in a count and make an opposing pitcher work. While Minnesota struggled to get things going for most of the first half, they are one of the better teams in baseball with the bases loaded at this point, and they have been scoring runs in bunches. Building a lead for starters capable of going deep in ballgames is certainly a strong blueprint toward coming up victorious. Toronto’s hitters have posted the 8th highest fWAR across baseball, whereas the Twins sit 10th. The big names include George Springer, Matt Chapman, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Bo Bichette. Bichette is leading the club with a 3.8 fWAR, closely followed by Chapman. Both are plus defenders, with the latter being among the best defensive third basemen in the league. Defense is something the Blue Jays write home about, and their defensive runs saved metric leads baseball by a good margin. Daulton Varsho is a great asset in left field, and centerfielder Kevin Kiermaier has been a Gold Glove candidate for the vast majority of his career. Springer remains a strong fielder even as he has aged, and Alejandro Kirk has often been viewed favorably behind the dish. Like Minnesota, the Blue Jays don’t have a single player with gaudy home run numbers. Guerrero Jr. leads the team with 26. He’s had quite a down year by his standards, but a player with that much talent is never one to overlook. The Blue Jays have four players with 20 or more homers, and they have a handful of players that can ambush the opposition. Managers This will be the third time in five years that Baldelli will manage in the postseason. He brings a 376-332 (.531) regular-season record. While being 0-5 in the postseason, the Twins can end an ugly streak that this team has no business worrying about. Baldelli managed during a three-game wild card series last time the Twins were in the playoffs but nothing was normal about a 2020 season in which no fans were present. Baldelli, 42, is the youngest manager in baseball. He will be opposed by the Blue Jays John Schneider who, at 43, is the second youngest in the sport. Having taken over for Charlie Montoyo midseason last year, this is his first full season at the helm for Toronto. He owns a 135-101 (.572) regular-season record, and he experienced two postseason losses in a wild card series against the Seattle Mariners a season ago. From our look at the postseason managers over the weekend, the Blue Jays and Schneider had a few different notes. “After stealing at an above-average clip last season, the Blue Jays have dialed it back significantly in 2023. They don’t give away outs while sacrifice bunting, and Schneider isn’t a huge proponent of pinch hitters. Toronto has inserted pinch runners at a clip 37% higher than the league average, however, making them one of the more aggressive teams in the space across the American League postseason field.” Minnesota will look to defend Target Field and advance to the American League Division series next weekend. What are your thoughts about the Blue Jays as the Twins first-round opponent? What are you most looking forward to from the matchup? View full article

With the postseason right around the corner, and rosters to be set in the coming days, how each manager utilizes his 26 players remains to be seen. There is a good mix of styles in this group, both well-experienced and newer to the playoffs. Rocco Baldelli gets another crack, but where does he fall amongst the competition? Image courtesy of Brock Beauchamp & Twins Daily Although Minnesota won’t wind up playing each of the teams to make the postseason in the American League, there’s still plenty of value in knowing what they are up against. Twins fans watch Rocco Baldelli on a daily basis, but understanding who is calling the shots from the opposing dugout is important too. Without dissecting the teams as a whole, here is what each manager for the opposition brings to the table: Brandon Hyde - Baltimore Orioles Finishing as the runner up in American League Manager of the Year voting a season ago, Hyde quickly has picked up where he left off. The Orioles were expected to be young, and talented, but a division winning team wasn’t supposed to be in the cards. Instead, Hyde has the American League Rookie of the Year in Gunnar Henderson, and plenty of talent around him. Hyde is just 49-years-old, and in his fifth season with Baltimore. The improvement has been gradual, but he has grown with this group, especially over the past two seasons. Despite an 83-win 2022, Baltimore finished fourth in the AL East. This will be Hyde’s first postseason. His team steals and pinch-runs at slightly lesser rates than league average, but they are a prominent sacrifice bunting squad. Kevin Cash - Tampa Bay Rays Having won American League Manager of the Year awards in 2020 and 2021, Kevin Cash is accustomed to strong performances. This Tampa Bay Rays team has dealt with internal adversity late in the 2023 season, and continued to weather the storm. Cash has consistently coached this club to a top-3 finish in one of baseball’s toughest divisions, and they’ll be looking for more than just an American League Pennant this time around. The Rays are a well-oiled machine and do lots of things well on the fringes. Cash, who is 45-years-old, isn’t afraid to put his team in motion. Stealing second at a 55% clip higher than the league average, this is one of Cash’s highest running teams. His teams don’t believe in bunting at all, and that’s reflective of a strong analytical approach. In the postseason, Cash carries a 15-17 record. Dusty Baker - Houston Astros The 74-year-old Dusty Baker remains an institution in baseball circles. A future Hall of Famer, Baker has seen it all, and accomplished plenty with the San Francisco Giants and these Houston Astros. Repeating as World Series Champions is not an easy feat, but Baker has his club well positioned to give it a try. While not a significant stealing team, the Astros are running at a clip 15% higher than league average, which is the most Baker has led outside of his 2016 Washington Nationals team. Baker has utilized sacrifice bunts right around league average, but he has not turned to his bench in the form of pinch hitters or runners all too often. Baker has managed nearly 100 postseason games and owns a 51-46 record across them. Bruce Bochy - Texas Rangers Not quite the elder statesman that Baker is, Bochy enters the postseason at 68-years-old. Like Baker though, he has seen it all. This Texas Rangers team infused the clubhouse with veteran leadership and put Bochy in charge after a few years of Chris Woodward. Managing for the first time since 2019, Bochy immediately brought Texas to the top and has had them contending for the AL West lead all year. Although some of his early Padres, and even winning San Francisco Giants teams stole bases, the Rangers have not in 2023. They also don’t bunt or bring in too many pinch hitters, but Bochy hasn’t shied away from using pinch runners in key situations. For a manager that has won four pennants and three World Series rings, nothing about the postseason should be new. Across his 26 seasons as a skipper, Bochy owns a 44-33 in the playoffs. John Schneider - Toronto Blue Jays At just 43 years old, Schneider is the second-youngest manager in the American League postseason field outside of Twins Rocco Baldelli. Taking over last season for Charlie Montoyo, Schneider is in his first full season with Toronto. He managed in the postseason last year and dropped both games, but this Blue Jays team has youth and can pitch. Going into the fray again for year two, Schneider will be better equipped on what to expect. After stealing at an above-average clip last season, the Blue Jays have dialed it back significantly in 2023. They don’t give away outs while sacrifice bunting, and Schneider isn’t a huge proponent of pinch hitters. Toronto has inserted pinch runners at a clip 37% higher than the league average however, making them one of the more aggressive teams in the space across the American League postseason field. Which managers are you excited to see up against the Twins own Rocco Baldelli? Is there another skipper you think has an advantage due to game planning or experience? View full article

From what I have been told, Correa is a lock. Lewis is a near lock, though not certain at 3B. Buxton could make the roster, and needs to show well Monday, but may be a bench bat. I'd hope to see Stevenson rostered somewhere.

With the Minnesota Twins set to play baseball in October, they’ll have the privilege of shuffling the 26-man roster with a focus on a three-game home series. That construction is different from the regular season, and how the bench spots are utilized could be of the utmost importance. Image courtesy of Brock Beauchamp & Twins Daily With the wild card round being just a three-game series, there is no reason for starters that won’t pitch in relief to be on the roster. That could certainly include the likes of Kenta Maeda or Bailey Ober, but takes Dallas Keuchel out of the equation. Needing a few fewer players, Rocco Baldelli should have something like 15 position players on his roster. The bench will be deeper than it has been all season, and that provides ample opportunity to pinch hit, make defensive changes, or insert a pinch runner. Here’s a look at the names that could be included: Kyle Farmer If there’s an infielder that seems certain to start on the bench, it’s Farmer. He’s not the priority anywhere on the dirt, and really the only path he has to a start is if Carlos Correa can’t go because of his heel issue. Farmer was brought in to be the Twins shortstop before they were able to bring Correa back into the fold. As a right-handed hitter, he hasn’t shown well against lefties. That’s basically been where he has made a living thus far as a hitter, but his slugging percentage is lower there than against left-handed pitchers. Baldelli could do a lot worse in pinch-hitting or replacement spots, but Farmer isn’t going to start on the dirt. Donovan Solano Depending on the opposing starter, Solano could find himself in the starting lineup. He makes some sense at designated hitter, and he has played plenty at both first and second base. The chalk moves would involve Alex Kirilloff, Edouard Julien, and Jorge Polanco, but Minnesota will respond to the opposition. Signed as somewhat of a last addition to the roster, Solano has been nothing short of exceptional for the Twins in his role. He bounced back from somewhat of a down year with the Reds last year, and currently owns a 112 OPS+. He has hit for average, and he has gotten on base. Both of those things aren’t consistent throughout the Minnesota lineup. No matter how he gets into a game, Solano being an additional option for the Twins in the playoffs is a huge boost. Willi Castro Similar to Solano, Castro was an afterthought pickup and has elevated himself to being one of the most integral contributors on the team. Signed to a minor league deal back in December, Castro has seen time both in the infield and outfield. There’s a chance he could start in center for Minnesota, but that probably means Michael A. Taylor experienced a setback. This season it has been Castro leading the Twins on the base paths. He has stolen a career-best 31 bases, and he has had significant success picking his spots to go. With an ability to advance 90-feet, even if Castro isn’t in a starting lineup, he can impact a game for Baldelli. Castro also brings handedness flexibility to the bench in that he’s a switch hitter. Baldelli has turned to him in key pitching scenarios, and also used him as a defensive replacement. Andrew Stevenson Promoted from Triple-A St. Paul following one of his best years in professional baseball, Stevenson largely got an opportunity with the Twins because he can run. Stevenson has won a World Series playing with the Stephen Strasburg, Max Scherzer, and Juan Soto Washington Nationals, but the veteran still brings plenty to the table as a fringe talent. An adept defender in all three outfield spots, Stevenson would be an ideal late-game replacement for someone like Matt Wallner or Castro. He isn’t someone that you want at the plate, but with 48 steals on 54 attempts in pro ball this year, he’s almost a guaranteed bet to swipe a bag. Probably the least likely name here to be included on the postseason roster, Stevenson’s opportunity revolves solely around defense and running. Christian Vazquez For most of the season Minnesota has gone with a near 50/50 split behind the plate with their catchers. Vazquez was brought in as the trusted veteran, but Ryan Jeffers has had a breakout performance and pushed for more playing time. In the playoffs, Vazquez’s pedigree and previous experience could be a big boost. The former Red Sox and Astros backstop has a pair of World Series rings to his credit, and while he’s not much of a hitter, he’s always been well respected as a defender. Vazquez has played 31 games in the playoffs and has a pair of home runs to his credit as well. In a short series, both Vazquez and Jeffers should be expected to catch a game apiece. Byron Buxton There's almost no scenario in which Buxton starts a game in the outfield for Minnesota. He was limited to just seven innings in center field when trying to rehab with the Saints, and despite playing in a simulated game at Target Field on Wednesday, his availability is still a massive question mark. He won't be given the designated hitter spot after scuffling at the plate, and Royce Lewis may need the role given his hamstring injury that sidelined him for the final week of the season. Should the Twins feel confident that Buxton can bring something to the postseason roster, his inclusion will likely be in the form of a right-handed pinch hitter. That would be a substantial bat off the bench against either a righty or lefty, but only because we have seen what he is capable of. The production hasn't been there for quite some time this season, and coming back off such a lengthy stint on the injured list makes his expectations worthy of being tempered at best. Other options to come off the Twins bench would include Nick Gordon, Trevor Larnach, and Joey Gallo. Minor leaguers such as Austin Martin and Brooks Lee aren't going to be called upon at this point. None of them seem entirely likely though, and giving Baldelli this group to work with should be plenty. How do you feel the Twins bench stacks up to the competition? Is there someone you’d like to see added that isn’t here? View full article

He's not, it's a bullpen game.

The Minnesota Twins will look to construct a postseason roster that has them well positioned to win a three game series at Target Field. Wanting to capitalize on the short stretch, they’ll utilize the 26 openings different than they may during the regular season. Who makes the cut in the outfield? Image courtesy of Brock Beauchamp & Twins Daily Rocco Baldelli probably had envisioned a certain way in which his outfield was going to line up coming into spring training, and then at no point this year has that been possible. Byron Buxton never ramped up from offseason surgery, and despite playing only designated hitter in an effort to get him back on the grass, we haven’t seen it. The three spots have been in flux with a rotating cast of names each week, but there has been a consistent trio available. This stands to reason as the most likely alignment when Minnesota throws the first pitch of their wild card round: Right Field - Max Kepler If there is a spot that’s locked in, it’s this one. That may have seemed crazy to say a few months ago, but since the All-Star Break, Kepler has been among the Twins best players. He’s forced the conversation as to whether he’ll return in 2024, and there is no doubt he’ll start in right field for Game 1 of a Wild Card series. On the season Kepler owns a .798 OPS and a 116 OPS+. While he is still better against right-handed pitchers, the platoon splits aren’t quite as drastic in 2023. Baldelli will likely have him lower in the lineup against a lefty, but Kepler has proven to be a strong commodity both in the lineup and the field. Last time Minnesota player a postseason game, Kepler started in right and center. Eddie Rosario is now gone, and Byron Buxton’s status remains murky. While Alex Kirilloff debuted against the Astros in right field, he shouldn’t be expected to factor in there this time around. Left Field - Matt Wallner For most of the season this spot was given to veteran Joey Gallo. He has struggled mightily since a strong April, and finds himself on the injured list currently. Minnesota could opt to bring the power hitter along as a bench bat, but starting him over Wallner at this point doesn’t seem likely. The Forest Lake native waited out his time at Triple-A St. Paul, while continuing to produce at a high level. He has now proven he’s capable in the big leagues, and he’s responded well from his first true slump. Wallner is much more susceptible to struggling with lefties than Kepler is, so this spot could be Willi Castro’s should a southpaw be on the mound for game one. Wallner has come up big in some very pivotal moments for the Twins during the regular season, and he’ll be given a grand stage in front of hometown fans during the postseason. Wallner possesses an immense amount of talent at the plate, and he’s shown that he’s more than capable in the outfield as well. Center Field - Michael A. Taylor It’s unfortunate that, like the last time Minnesota was in the playoffs, they’ll be without Buxton in center. He did start Game 1 against Houston before being a pinch-runner in Game 2 during 2020. Taylor was brought in as an insurance policy for Buxton, and he’s helped to be that and more. Although Taylor has produced at a near league-average rate offensively, and in large part to his career-best power surge, he gets this nod as a defender first. Like Buxton, Taylor is an elite defender with significant range. Needing familiarity and consistency in a difficult role with game’s on the line, Taylor should be a set-it-and-forget-it type. It is unfortunate that Taylor missed time down the stretch due to a hamstring injury, but that’s behind him and the former Kansas City Royals defender should be all systems go. There really isn’t a platoon advantage playing him against any type of pitcher, and putting Castro in centerfield is a less-than-ideal option all around. Alternatives - Andrew Stevenson Every other name has been touched on thus far. If Gallo and Buxton are both left out, there is easily room for Stevenson to make the squad. With just one opening, it will come down to whether Minnesota prefers a defensive replacement with significant stolen base ability, or some other addition. Stevenson has shown he can swipe a base when the opposition knows it’s coming, and he’s a plus-defender at each of the three outfield spots. What choice Minnesota makes here probably has more to do with who they can’t roster than the guys they already have chosen. What do you make of the Twins outfield for the wild card round? Will they have an advantage over the opposition? View full article

With the Minnesota Twins headed to the postseason, they’ll need to make decisions on how to handle their starters in a short series. Depth has been key all season long, but only three games are available for the first round. Who gets the ball and what happens to everyone else? Image courtesy of Brock Beauchamp & Twins Daily Rocco Baldelli really only has one decision to make when it comes to his starting rotation in the first round of the playoffs. With Sonny Gray and Pablo Lopez locked in as two obvious choices, the game three starter has yet to be determined. When considering which of the pair should get the ball in game one, Baldelli has a few lines of thinking to ponder. Game 1: Pablo Lopez Lined up to start on Wednesday September 27 against the Athletics, the acquisition from the Luis Arraez trade looks to be positioned for game one. Lopez has been everything he was expected to be when Minnesota traded for him, and this is the type of moment they envisioned him pitching in. Looking to set up the short series on a positive note, Lopez is an arm you should feel comfortable about. Over the course of his starts for the Twins, Lopez has averaged just a tick more than six innings per outing. He could be the type to save Minnesota’s bullpen out of the gate, and his strikeout ability can give him a chance to avoid precarious situations. Racking up punchouts in droves this year, Lopez will look to punish opposing batters. Lopez made his lone postseason start for the Miami Marlins during the National League Division Series in 2020, and he gave up just two runs across five innings while striking out seven Atlanta batters. Going for the first time with the Twins, the former Marlin will want to make a strong impression prior to kicking off his extension in 2024. Game 2: Sonny Gray It was Joe Ryan that started on Opening Day for the Minnesota Twins, but Gray got that honor a year ago. The veteran has made four previous postseason starts, with the last one coming in 2017 for the New York Yankees. Gray probably brings the most volatility to his start among Twins options, given his uncertainty as the game goes on. He has averaged just shy of six innings an outing this year, but Baldelli has been reluctant to let him go deep even when rolling. Gray has an ability to look truly untouchable, only to have things quickly go sideways. By going with Gray in game two, the Twins should have a good idea of how their bullpen can be utilized if needed in an emergency scenario. The moment certainly shouldn’t be too big for Gray, and a strong playoff showing will only add to the amount of zeroes he’s guaranteed to see on the dotted line this offseason. Game 3: Joe Ryan The only other consideration for this start would be veteran Kenta Maeda, but ultimately it makes sense for Baldelli to transition him into a bullpen role. He has pitched there before and seen success, while Ryan would be an unknown commodity coming on in relief. Minnesota has seen Ryan struggle this season, even to the point of inserting Dallas Keuchel into the rotation for a couple of his turns. Ryan worked back through a groin injury, but the home run issue really hasn’t subsided. With a career best 10.8 K/9, and walking less than two batters per nine innings, Ryan can certainly dominate a lineup. Unfortunately, he has also allowed 29 homers in 27 starts, and the Twins can’t afford that to be a big run-producer in the playoffs. Ryan has pitched in a few key matchups, and this gives him a chance to prove he’s ready. If Ryan makes this start for Minnesota, the bullpen will also be all hands on deck as it would be an elimination scenario. Everyone Else: Minnesota has prided itself on having more than a few strong starters this season. They even added veteran Keuchel down the stretch to give their top arms a bit of a breather. How the Twins construct their postseason roster remains to be seen, but a few of the starters should transition to the bullpen. The most obvious arm working out of relief can be Maeda. He has thrown 42 1/3 innings out of the bullpen in his career, and his numbers have actually been better when coming on from behind the outfield wall. Maeda would probably prefer to start, and hasn’t been a reliever since 2019 with the Dodgers, but he could easily acclimate back into the role. It doesn’t stand to reason that Keuchel would pitch out of the bullpen over more traditional arms, and Louie Varland has already transitioned to that role. Both Tyler Mahle and Jose De Leon are out for the year, which leaves only Bailey Ober as eligible starters left unaddressed. Bringing him along as a bullpen piece is appealing to me in that he could be called upon if something goes wrong early for one of the starters, and that should have more value than the last bullpen consideration. How would you line up the Twins starters in the postseason? Is there a name you’d like to see relied upon more? View full article

This was the week that the Minnesota Twins turned their postseason odds into 100% and clinched the AL Central. Doing so for the first time at home since 2010, the monumental occasion was a fun one at Target Field. But, who will they play? Image courtesy of Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports Although the Twins will wrap up their home schedule during the coming week as the Oakland Athletics come to town, they’ll still have at least one more series in that they host an AL Wild Card round. Whatever team occupies the visiting dugout after the A's leave town will be a much tougher opponent, but there is a decent chance it’s a club that the Twins have handled previously this season. The most likely scenario has Rocco Baldelli’s club welcoming an AL West foe. The division continues to change hands on a near-daily basis. Minnesota owns the season series against both the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers, but facing either in the postseason presents a different beast altogether. Here’s the picture, and who could potential embark upon Target Field during the first week of October: Toronto Blue Jays Playoff Odds - 97.3% Although the Blue Jays aren’t going to win the AL East, they have definitely held their own this season. The past week was filled with divisional foes, and John Schneider’s club took a pair of road series against both the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays. They increased their hold on the top wild card spot, and they finish the season with the same two teams (in order) but north of the border. Toronto will look to continue beating teams they may see in October. Texas Rangers Playoff Odds - 91.4% Kicking off the week with a series win at home against the Boston Red Sox, the Rangers sprinkled in an off day before sweeping the Seattle Mariners at home to end the week. The strong performances elevated them to the top spot in the AL West, taking that position from the Houston Astros, and severely crushing Seattle’s playoff chances. Bruce Bochy’s club gets the Angels and Mariners on the road over the final week. Their goal will be to hold off the competition within the division and lock up the number two overall seed. Houston Astros Playoff Odds - 57.1% Currently projected to be the Twins first-round opponent as the third wild card team coming to Target Field, the week was not good for Houston. The Astros lost the top spot in the AL West thanks to a home series loss against the Baltimore Orioles, and a sweep by the Royals at Kauffman Stadium. In their past two series against Kansas City, the Astros have gone 1-5. Playing that poorly against a bottom feeder heading into the playoffs certainly doesn’t bode well. The Astros will have World Series pedigree against no matter who they face, but they’ll look to heat up against the Mariners and Diamondbacks on the road this upcoming week before the playoffs start. Seattle Mariners Playoff Odds - 54.2% Following a sweep by the Dodgers at home, the Mariners rebounded early this week by beating the hapless Oakland Athletics in three straight contests. They then got a day off on the road, traveling to Texas, and found themselves at the wrong end of another sweep. The Mariners are in an uphill battle for the division, but still right there for the wild card. Playing seven games, all at home, against Houston and Texas will make the AL West an absolute bloodbath over the final week. Who Minnesota will face on October 3rd should begin to reveal itself midweek. The opponent is all but certain to be an AL West foe, and only the Mariners have a winning record against the Twins this year (4-3), but the -2 run differential for Minnesota shows how tightly the squads have played each other. Based on recent results, who are you most hoping to see? Who would you like to see the Twins avoid? View full article

Playing the last minor league game of the season for the Minnesota Twins affiliates, the St. Paul Saints came out Sunday afternoon looking to avoid inclement weather for the second consecutive day. With plenty of Twins trying to get in rehab action, there was more than enough to watch. Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints TRANSACTIONS RHP Chris Paddack completes rehab assignment and is activated by Minnesota RHP Josh Winder optioned to St. Paul SAINTS SENTINEL Toledo 3, St. Paul 2 Box Score After a rainout on Saturday evening, the St. Paul Saints took the field Sunday afternoon for their final game of the 2023 season. Although Chris Paddack was activated by the Twins, Byron Buxton, Joey Gallo, Nick Gordon, Brock Stewart, and Jorge Alcala all continued their rehab assignments. Patrick Murphy took the ball for Toby Gardenhire on Sunday and worked four innings. Murphy allowed seven hits and three runs while giving up a walk and striking out four. Brent Headrick then took over in relief for St. Paul. The Mud Hens took the lead with a run in the second inning, and then tacked on another pair in the third inning. St. Paul got on the board in the fifth inning, and it was because of Michael Helman’s hustle that they got two. Beating out an infield single, Helman was on when Jair Camargo stepped in and launched his 21st homer of the season. The two-run blast made it a 3-2 game with the Saints drawing closer. Taking over for the seventh inning, and looking to keep things close for St. Paul, was Ronny Henriquez . He worked a scoreless inning of relief while striking out one. Hunter McMahon got the eighth inning with the Saints still needing a run to tie things up. McMahon followed Henriquez’s lead and worked a scoreless inning of his own. Unable to score in the eighth inning, Cole Sands was on to hold the deficit in the ninth, and give the Saints a chance. He did his job working a scoreless inning, and St. Paul was down to their final three outs. Yunior Severino struck out for the fourth time on the afternoon to kick off the inning, and DaShawn Keirsey Jr. was a strikeout victim as well. Buxton stepped in with just one out left and worked a 3-2 count. His fly out to centerfield ended the game Gordon finished the day going 0-for-2 with a strikeout and a walk. Buxton finished 0-for-4 with a strikeout, and Gallo was 0-for-3 with a strikeout. The Saints finish their season with an 84-64 record. TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day –Brent Headrick (St. Paul) - 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K Hitter of the Day – Jair Camargo (St. Paul) - 1-3, R, 2 RBI, HR(21) PROSPECT SUMMARY Here’s a look at how the current Twins Daily Top 20 performed: #1 - Brooks Lee (St. Paul) - 0-3 #7 - Austin Martin (St. Paul) - 0-2 #14 - Yunior Severino (St. Paul) - 0-3, 3 K #20 - Brent Headrick (St. Paul) - 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Sunday’s game! View full article

The Minnesota Twins front office has been criticized up and down over the years for making decisions that could ultimately be looked back upon as wrong. When looking at the 2023 trade deadline, Derek Falvey and Thad Levine decided to bet on the group they had assembled. It was a gutsy move, but they were right. Image courtesy of Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports Coming into the year, Derek Falvey gave Rocco Baldelli a roster that included star power in the form of Carlos Correa. He provided depth in the form of Kyle Farmer, Willi Castro, Michael A. Taylor, and Donovan Solano. He got ownership’s blessing to spend to a threshold the franchise had never before seen. This team wasn’t complete, but it was a very strong foot forward. With the Twins playing through multiple months of baseball and clinging onto a slim lead atop the AL Central division, Minnesota’s leaders opted against adding at the deadline. They had conversations with teams that wound up hanging onto their assets. Maybe they didn’t cast a wide enough net, and they certainly could’ve afforded to bring in relief help. Their inaction suggested one thing though, they believed in what they had. Now, halfway through September, Minnesota leads the Cleveland Guardians by 8.5 games in the division and recently clinched the AL Central. Terry Francona’s club made a last-ditch effort in claiming former Angels Lucas Giolito, Matt Moore, and Reynaldo Lopez. Even though Minnesota put in claims for some of those talents, their play on the field proved they weren’t needed. With only a handful of game’s left in the regular season, the front office’s belief that the guys were already in the organization is again starting to rear its head. Brock Stewart was put on ice before the All-Star Break, and his absence has been lengthier than imagined, but he is trending towards a return at the opportune time. Nick Gordon is available for a return to the roster, and Chris Paddack will be called upon as well. More than any other time during the season, they’ll have a roster crunch to sort out. Maybe it’s unfair to suggest that Falvey knew each of his injured players would return, but behind the scenes Minnesota was certainly operating with that belief. While not all of them may be needed on the initial postseason roster, having them for the final games in September, and as an option when games matter most, is a good thing. There’s also an unspoken belief in the youth that Minnesota’s inaction has provided. By bringing in additional bodies at the deadline, it’s uncertain how much playing time guys like Edouard Julien, Royce Lewis, and Matt Wallner may have ceded. Louie Varland probably isn’t transitioning to the bullpen, and though he's a veteran, Kenta Maeda working out of there may not be an option either. It’s a great thing for a clubhouse to feel like the front office believes in them enough to supplement, but there is also a message sent in saying the talent we have already is enough for us to get the job done. How things go in October remains to be seen, but it will be difficult to suggest that the Twins didn’t put their best foot forward. The veteran depth that has served them well all year can round out the edges of the roster, and the youth movement that has stepped up in a big way will be given their first true time to shine. What Minnesota could have done at the deadline may have made a difference in a few key spots, but that the roster got it done on their own, and no prospects were pieced out, is a feather in the cap of leadership as well. View full article

The Minnesota Twins are ready for the playoffs and will kick off their action on October 3rd. Their opponent is not yet known, and while the rotation isn’t set, we have a good idea of the candidates. How will Rocco Baldelli use them though? Image courtesy of Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports The Minnesota Twins are looking towards the playoffs and will kick off their action on October 3rd. Their opponent is unknown, and while the rotation isn't set, we have a good idea of the candidates. How will Rocco Baldelli use them? One of the most common refrains regarding complaints directed toward Twins manager Rocco Baldelli is that he pulls starters too early. That has never been the case and was exaggerated a year ago because he had poor starters like Dylan Bundy, Chris Archer, and others. Now, with an elite group of arms, no team in baseball has gotten more innings from their starters than Minnesota. Knowing that Sonny Gray and Pablo Lopez will be the first two starters of the short three-game series, the only decision Baldelli has to make is who will be called upon in a winner-take-all Game 3. It would seem likely that the options come down to either Kenta Maeda or Joe Ryan, with the former being an ideal candidate to move into the bullpen. Considering Gray and Lopez, Minnesota should have a relatively reliable pair of arms to start against any opponent in a three, five, or seven-game series. Gray has looked the part of a Cy Young contender for most of the year and is challenging for the best ERA in the American League. Through his first 29 starts, Gray is averaging just shy of six innings per start. That reflects his performance against the opposition as he gets deeper in a game. He gave up a .574 OPS in the fifth inning, which jumped to .678 in the sixth inning, and while he hasn't pitched much in the seventh, his OPS balloons to .934 in that frame. He worked roughly 20 more innings than Gray, although, with an extra start to his credit, Lopez has averaged just over six innings per start. He has gone at least seven innings in eight starts and has a complete game to his credit. The sixth inning, allowing an .800 OPS, has been the worst this season for Lopez. If he makes it through, though, he owns just a .519 OPS against in the seventh and a .444 OPS in the game's final three frames. With every game taking on such a heightened importance in the playoffs, Baldelli will undoubtedly have someone constantly in mind to take over. Gray and Lopez should be expected to give the Twins five innings during their first starts. If either fails to make it that far, immediately going to someone like Maeda or Bailey Ober (should he make the roster) would make sense. The plan on paper should be for Gray and Lopez to be given six innings. Gray becomes much more touch-and-go from there, and it isn't worthwhile to push for individual accomplishment in the playoffs. Lopez could be stretched to seven innings, but his usage will likely reflect how Game 1 goes (assuming Gray makes that start). Although the Twins bullpen has a questionable underbelly, they should feel confident in arms needing to get outs from the sixth inning. Jhoan Duran is the closer but could be inserted as a fireman whenever the situation dictates that it is most necessary. Griffin Jax has been awful since the All-Star Break but still possesses the stuff to get big outs. Beyond the two notable leverage arms, Minnesota will give Brock Stewart back his late-inning role if he can continue to show he is healthy. Stewart was among the Twins best relievers in the first half, and facing his stuff late is no easy task for the opposition. Caleb Thielbar often comes in against lefties, but he's far more than the traditional LOOGY type. With the Wild Card round being just a three-game series, the first tilt should dictate many decisions. It isn't easy to assume that even your best relievers will be utilized in three straight games, as all the action happens on consecutive days. Baldelli will hope for his rotation, which has carried the team, to highlight why this group could be built for October. The last time Minnesota made the postseason, Maeda and Jose Berrios went five innings, with the bullpen picking up the rest. I can't see a scenario in which either Gray or Lopez are penciled in to throw that little, but the lineup providing breathing room will also help push the envelope. Baldelli had quick hooks with bad pitchers. He shouldn't have any bad pitchers throwing this postseason, and they'll be given ample opportunity to eat outs. View full article