Minnesota Twins: Projected Playoff Roster
By Nate Palmer
Starting Lineup
1B Joe Mauer
2B Brian Dozier
3B Miguel Sano/Eduardo Escobar
CF Byron Buxton
RF Max Kepler
DH Robbie Grossman/Eduardo Escobar
There isn’t much of a surprise here. The starting lineup has little to tweak and question. The one big question surrounds Miguel Sano’s availability as he tries to come back from injury. If I had to solidly land on a prediction it would be that Sano will be a DH at best for the playoffs. That would make Eduardo Escobar the starting third basemen and force Robbie Grossman to the bench.
If there is another question about the starting lineup it has to be if Max Kepler can hit left-handers well enough to stay in the starting lineup if the team faces one. In the New York Yankee series, it appeared that Molitor had trust in Kepler to have good at-bats against lefties. Not to mention having Kepler in right is just the best for the defense and the question marks that still face the teams pitching.
Fans should be able to continue to have good feelings about the lineup going into the playoffs. It is by far the strongest part of this team. As Joe Mauer continues to have a renaissance hitting performance and it feels like a new young bat steps up to be the hero each night.