With just four games left in the season, the Minnesota Twins are somehow still alive and in a position to sneak back into the playoff picture.
We all know what happened over the last month, as the Twins have engaged in the longest Midwest Goodbye from the postseason race. They're still in the foyer and haven't left just yet, even if their backs are up against the wall.
Minnesota finally snapped its latest losing streak with an emphatic 8-3 win over the Miami Marlins on Wednesday. It was what should have also happened on Monday, but this team simply can't seem to stay out of its own way long enough for any momentum to build. We'll see if that finally happens over the next few days, as the Twins' path the playoffs is still open.
Updated AL Wild Card standings after Twins finally snap losing streak
Nothing really changed in terms of the standings, but the biggest development by far is the fact that the Twins remain alive -- and kind of well -- when it comes to chasing down Detroit or Kansas City for a Wild Card spot.
The latter is the likeliest to get knocked off, as the Royals are about to start a series with the Atlanta Braves that could help the Twins.
Team | Record | GB |
|---|---|---|
Baltimore Orioles | 88-70 | +4 |
Detroit Tigers | 84-74 | -- |
Kansas City Royals | 84-74 | -- |
Minnesota Twins | 82-76 | 2 |
Seattle Mariners | 82-77 | 2.5 |
Two teams that didn't play on Wednesday and aren't even in the American League might have helped Minnesota's playoff chances. The Mets and Braves were rained out and will make up the final game of their series on Friday. Because of that, both Chris Sale and Max Fried are expected to pitch in the series against Kansas City, which means an Atlanta team fighting for its playoff life will have every reason in the world to hammer the Royals.
If the Twins can take care of business against the Marlins, they'll get a series against an Orioles team that might not have anything to play for. If the Yankees win one more game, they'll clinch the AL East and lock the Baltimore into the top Wild Card spot.
Should that happen, there's no reason for the Orioles to go hard against the Twins which could create a potential sweep scenario.
The Twins are just two games out with four to go, and despite how ugly things have been they still have a shot at making it to October. If they do, it will require some good baseball to be played which would theoretically justify them being in the playoffs but the margin for error is razor thin.
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