The Minnesota Twins had another average week, going 3-3, and get rewarded by staying in the middle of this week’s MLB Power Rankings.
The Minnesota Twins had a tough week last week, playing the red hot Rockies and Royals at home. The week had some ups and downs, but at the end of it, the Twins came out with a .500 record for the week.
After a rough start against the Colorado Rockies, the Twins got another brilliant performance by their young starting pitcher, Jose Berrios. He led another 7 2/3 inning shut-out in a 2-0 victory over the Rockies.
The Twins made a great comeback in game 1 against the Rockies to win that one 4-3. Afterwards, they saw another rain delay give them yet another double-header. They split the double-header with a victory in the late game behind a strong performance by Adalberto Mejia.
The Minnesota Twins now sit at 22-18, tied atop the AL Central with the Cleveland Indians. After going 3-3 last week, the ESPN Power Rankings saw them move down just a few spots to number 15.
While the Twins looked solid with Berrios on the mound and in the series against the Royals, they still lack consistency. The power rankings credit consistency more than anything else. A strong week is needed for the Twins to see any big jumps.
Next week is going to be a very tough one for Minnesota. They will begin the week with a road series against the Baltimore Orioles, who sit at 25-17, 2nd in the AL East and 5th in the ESPN Power Rankings.
After leaving Baltimore, the Twins will head back home to take on the Tampa Bay Rays in another 3 game series. The Rays sit at 23-23, tied for 4th in the AL East and 14th in the Power Rankings.
Next: A Bandwagoners Guide to the 2017 Twins
Facing two teams with good records and solid players will test the Minnesota Twins, but if they find success, expect the power rankings to reward them for that. The Twins will need some solid outings from their starters and support from their bullpen to slow down the hot bats of the Orioles and Rays.