Minnesota Twins: 5 goals for the team to complete before the postseason

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 07: Mitch Garver #18 and Willians Astudillo #64 of the Minnesota Twins celebrate defeating the Cleveland Indians after the game at Target Field on September 7, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Indians 5-3. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 07: Mitch Garver #18 and Willians Astudillo #64 of the Minnesota Twins celebrate defeating the Cleveland Indians after the game at Target Field on September 7, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Indians 5-3. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – JUNE 02: Jake Odorizzi #12 of the Minnesota Twins walks off the field after striking out Willy Adames #1 of the Tampa Bay Rays to end the first inning at Tropicana Field on June 02, 2019 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – JUNE 02: Jake Odorizzi #12 of the Minnesota Twins walks off the field after striking out Willy Adames #1 of the Tampa Bay Rays to end the first inning at Tropicana Field on June 02, 2019 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

Win the American League Central division

The Minnesota Twins have tried to put breathing room in between themselves and the Cleveland Indians since the Indians brought themselves even for the division lead on August 9th. The Twins have pulled away again with a 3 1/2 game lead, but the series against Cleveland starting Friday offers the best chance to widen the gap.

With Jake Odorizzi and Jose Berrios projected as two of the starters going against the Indians this weekend, even a 2-1 series win gives Minnesota a five game lead and puts Cleveland in a tough position going forward. Cleveland has six games against the Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals, two teams fighting for a Wild Card berth, that could cause them to drop even further back of the Twins.

Even if the Twins fail to win the final series against the Indians (Cleveland leads the season series 9-7), the Twins can take advantage of thirteen games against the bottom of the AL Central barrel (all teams with sub-.500 records). It would take a true slump for Minnesota to miss out on winning the Central for the first time since 2010.

Prediction: With the Twins’ magic number sitting at 13, Minnesota will beat Cleveland twice and then lock up the division by the time the team heads to Detroit on September 24th.

Schedule