With the Boston Red Sox win over the Houston Astros on Saturday, they clinched the American League East and made more certain the Minnesota Twins postseason plans.
The Minnesota Twins have assumed the New York Yankees would be their matchup for the Wild Card game since they were more sure of their own destination as the 2nd Wild Card team, but a surge from the Yankees and late-season swoon by the Red Sox left that in flux until today.
Now what?
The Minnesota Twins can now prepare for the New York Yankees on Tuesday, October 3rd, at 7PM CT. on ESPN. Ervin Santana has already been announced as the starter for the Twins, and Jose Berrios has worked in relief to prepare to possibly pitch in relief on Tuesday as well.
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The New York Yankees have not announced their starter, but it is believed that they will start their ace, right-hander Luis Severino. Severino has put together a 2017 with a 14-6 record, 2.98 ERA, and 1.04 WHIP over 193 1/3 inning, posting a 51/230 BB/K ratio.
Severino faced the Twins just once this season, on September 20th, and it did not go well for the young hurler, as he went 3 innings, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits and a walk, striking out 3. He’s struck out at least 7 and gone at least 6 innings in every other one of his starts in September.
On the season in Yankee stadium, Severino has made 16 starts, throwing 97 innings, with a 3.71 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 26/114 BB/K ratio. Most interesting is that he has allowed 15 of his 21 home runs allowed on the season at home, in spite of his innings being nearly evenly split. That could certainly favor the Twins’ power-hitting lineup.
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The Yankees bullpen is one of the best in all of baseball and will be a force to be reckoned with on Tuesday, but with the return of Miguel Sano, the Twins’ lineup is whole and should be a force in their own right. Tuesday should be fun!