Former Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa has had a solid start to the season with the Houston Astros, slashing .294/.368/.412 (127 OPS+) with one homer, three doubles, nine RBI and two Outs Above Average (OAA) in 13 games while splitting time between third base and shortstop.
However, while Correa has had a strong start to the year, the Astros are tied for the worst record in the American League at 6-10. Meanwhile, the Twins are tied with the Cleveland Guardians for the best record in the league at 9-7.
Twins lead the American League after 10% of the season. Seriously. pic.twitter.com/d9KyUW43u3
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) April 13, 2026
It's hard to imagine the Twins will hold the best record in the American League for the rest of the season, but a playoff berth is certainly possible.
As for the Astros, the team obviously has plenty of time to turn its season around. Even with the worst record in the league, Houston is just three games behind Minnesota in the standings. Still, with the Astros coming off a season where they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016, the slow start is the last thing their fanbase wanted to see.
The Astros' slow start makes the Twins' hot start feel even sweeter. Last summer, Correa wanted to be traded to a team he thought he could play in the postseason with. The Twins honored his request by dealing the three-time All-Star back to his original team for a minor-league pitcher who has since been released.
Astros in danger of missing playoffs in back-to-back seasons while Twins are hot
After Houston missed the playoffs last season, the club's players are in danger of watching the postseason from their couches again. While Correa is probably happy to be with his original team, he is likely shocked they missed the playoffs last year and are off to such a slow start in 2026. After being swept by last season's worst MLB team, the Colorado Rockies, in three games, the Astros lost three straight games to the division-rival Seattle Mariners this past weekend.
The Astros are going to have a tough time winning the American League West this year. The Mariners are coming off a season where they were one win away from a World Series berth, the Texas Rangers added stars Brandon Nimmo and MacKenzie Gore during the offseason, and the Athletics' offense is arguably among the best in the sport.
If the Twins shock the baseball world by making the postseason while the Astros miss it, Correa may regret requesting his trade.