Earlier this month, Major League Baseball released the 2026 postseason schedule. If the season ended today, the Twins would be in the playoffs as the final AL Wild Card team and would play a best-of-three series against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park in the Wild Card Round. Games 1 and 2 would be on the final days of Sept. The third game would take place on Oct. 1.
If the Twins make the playoffs as the third Wild Card team and make it past the Wild Card round, they would play in the American League Division Series. If the current standings hold up, Minnesota would play a best-of-five series with the Chicago White Sox, the second seed in the AL.
Notably, there are more off days than usual in the ALDS this year, with scheduled days off between each game except Games 3 and 4. Therefore, teams will need only three starting pitchers for the series, whereas in the past, clubs needed four if the series went past three games. The Game 1 starter will have enough time to rest to pitch Game 4, and the Game 2 starter can pitch in Game 5.
Twins' starting rotation should benefit from extra days off in ALDS (if they make it that far)
While this seems like good news for all teams hoping to make it to the Division Series, this is especially good news for the Twins. Let's say the Twins make it to the ALDS and play the White Sox. If the White Sox have everyone fully healthy for the playoffs, they will have four solid starting pitching options: Sean Burke, Luis Castillo, Davis Martin and Anthony Kay.
The Twins' top two pitchers are clearly Joe Ryan and Taj Bradley, but it's a bit of a question mark as to who would be the third starter in a postseason series. Minnesota would likely go with either Dean Kremer, Bailey Ober or Connor Prielipp. As of now, Kremer appears to be the best option, as he has a 3.12 ERA in 17 1/3 innings across three starts since being acquired by Minnesota ahead of the trade deadline. Ober could be a solid option, but he tends to get hit very hard when he struggles with command. Prielipp has struggled the most of those three starters this year, but he likely offers the most upside.
The Twins can benefit from their off days by keeping two of Kremer, Ober and Prielipp in the bullpen in case one of the playoff starters runs into early trouble. Overall, the extra days off should benefit the Twins in the ALDS if they make it that far.
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