MLB Playoffs: 3 key factors to Twins finally ending postseason losing streak
Do the Twins have a legit chance in MLB Playoffs this year?
With the postseason nearly here, the storyline surrounding the MInnesota Twins and ending an 18-year losing is moving closer and closer to center stage.
Minnesota is going to play in the Wild Card round and will host at least two games, but fans just want to see them win one. It’s been since 2004 that Twins Territory has celebrated a win, and we’re getting sick and tired of waiting for that to change.
The franchise can no longer take solace in saying ‘next year’ will be the year, as it’s been almost two decades of next year’s that have gone unfulfilled. Broken promises have defined the Twins for too long, and it finally feels like this year the team has the talent to turn things around.
It won’t be easy, though, as the Twins will need to win in three key areas in order to avoid extended the most miserable streak in baseball.
A third starting pitcher
The Twins are set with a solid 1-2 punch of Pablo Lopez and Sonny Gray at the top of the playoff rotation, but what happens after that?
Hopefully there won’t be a need to figure that out in the Wild Card and the Twins can take care of business in two games. It’s going to be a question that needs answering sooner rather than later, though.
Joe Ryan saw his performance dip, but as of late, but he's starting to return to form. Getting the start in Game 3 would also go a long way in his development as a potential future ace for the Twins, or at least help him along in fulfilling the prophecy.
Kenta Maeda would also make sense as a starter in the Wild Card if it were to go to a third game in the series. He’s struggled at times this year but has managed to be an impactful member of the rotation when healthy. Maeda also has the playoff experience from his days in L.A., which counts in big situations like this.
Revitalized bullpen
A Twins fan would certainly have to think, certainly hope, with the quality of the starting pitching would carry over to the postseason.
That goes double when accounting for the anxiety the bullpen has given fans all season long.
Brock Stewart’s return and the feel good comeback of Chris Paddack has added some much needed depth for Rocco to lean on, which helps quell some fears. As such it allows Jhoan Duran, Emillo Pagan, Caleb Thielbar and newly converted Louie Varland to be locked and loaded for playoffs and perhaps be used in more ideal situations than simply putting them out as a necessity. That’s been hat it’s felt like at times this year, but we can an chalk it up to Rocco feeling things out for this sort of situation.
Minnesota failed — or refused — to make a trade at the deadline to add relief pitching. The counter to the criticism that drew was that guys like Stewart and Paddack were going to get healthy and be free additions, which they turned out to be. The Twins made their bed at the deadline, and while it looks much more comfortable than it once did, key players in the bullpen will have to shine.
Hitting with runners in scoring position
Among the many frustations fans had with the Twins offense, the lack of ability to capitalize with runners in scoring position is near the top of the list.
Things have gotten decidedly better, though, and the upward trend needs to continue in October. Simply put, if the Twins offense starts to look even a little bit like it did in the middle of the season, it’s going to be another quick exit from the postseason.
Some good news is that the Twins have a .751 OPS and .324 OBP, which ranks them in the Top 6 of AL team leaders. But while getting on base has been a strength, the Twins lead all MLB teams in strikeouts. Factoring this in, getting the clutch hits will loom large for Twins success. For key players like Jorge Polanco, Max Kepler and Carlos Correra, it's time for the veterans to step up and be the leaders in the playoff run.
While it may seem straight forward, the fundamentals of quality pitching and clutch hitting always stand tall. Do the Twins have enough in the three phases of the game to make a run — or end the streak that has haunted fans since 2004? Historically fans are being set up for a letdown, but if finally feels like Minnesota has a team that, if they play to the level of talent we know they can, is capable of doing damage in October.
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