Puckett's Pond
Fansided

Minnesota Twins: 5 questions for the ALDS vs. the Yankees

By Chris Schad

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 05: Eddie Rosario #20 and Nelson Cruz #23 of the Minnesota Twins celebrate scoring against the Atlanta Braves during the fourth inning of the interleague game on August 5, 2019 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. a(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 05: Eddie Rosario #20 and Nelson Cruz #23 of the Minnesota Twins celebrate scoring against the Atlanta Braves during the fourth inning of the interleague game on August 5, 2019 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. a(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JULY 23: Didi Gregorius #18 of the New York Yankees watches his two-run double against the Minnesota Twins during the eighth inning of the game on July 23, 2019 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Yankees defeated the Twins 14-12 in ten innings (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JULY 23: Didi Gregorius #18 of the New York Yankees watches his two-run double against the Minnesota Twins during the eighth inning of the game on July 23, 2019 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Yankees defeated the Twins 14-12 in ten innings (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Can the Twins slow down Gregorius?

The Yankees lineup has plenty of threats ranging from the dangerous duo of Judge and Stanton to up-and-comers like Luke Voit and Gleyber Torres (who actually led the Yankees in home runs in 2019 with 38). Even with a resurgent D.J. Lemahieu in the lineup, the Twins biggest worry may be containing Didi Gregorious.

All jokes about being named after the mother on Rugrats aside, the Yankees shortstop has put the Twins in a pickle every time he has crossed their path. Gregorius has a gaudy line against Minnesota in his career, hitting .345 with eight home runs and 36 RBI in 32 games.

More recently, Gregorius smashed a three-run homer off Ervin Santana in the 2017 AL Wild Card game and went 8-for-10 with a home run and 10 RBI during a three-game series at Target Field last July.

With a Ruthian OPS of 1.042 against the Twins, those numbers are a far cry from the .238/.276/.441 slash line he’s put up in 2019, meaning the Twins can contain him. If the Twins can figure out a way to keep Gregorius from doing damage, it could mean fewer opportunities for the Yankees to put up a crooked number when Judge and Stanton come to the plate.

Home/Minnesota Twins News