After nearly two decades of misery, the Minnesota Twins can't seem to stop breaking postseason losing streaks.
The Twins finally won their first playoff game in 18 games last week and proceeded to win their first playoff series since 2002. Advancing past the Wild Card meant a trip to Houston, where Minnesota promptly won its first ALDS game in over twenty years and will now attempt to win its first home ALDS game since beating the Oakland A's back on October 5, 2002.
Not for nothing, but that win over the A's was an 11-2 domination, which is very similar to what happened on Sunday night against the Astros. While the score wasn't nearly as lopsided, it certainly felt like the Twins were in control from the start and never let go of the momentum.
That momentum is what fans are hoping will help carry the team to a win on Tuesday and a series lead. Minnesota hasn't led an ALDS since 2004, after which the 18-game losing streak began. It's highly unlikely that such a thing will happen again, even if the Twins lose because the vibes of this postseason run are immaculately unprecedented.
Snapping the losing streak was a relief, but it never felt like more than that. Usually, when teams spend so much energy on celebrating the end of something they lose sight of what's next -- not this Twins team, though.
From Carlos Correa's veteran leadership to the young stars like Royce Lewis stepping up, everything points toward this being the beginning of another streak, one of sustained success. The fact that Sunday's win didn't feel like a big deal and more like business as usual speaks volumes to the mindset of a team that's already wise beyond its years.
ALDS 2023: How to watch the Minnesota Twins today
As great as Sunday's win was, Game 3 is even more important. Minnesota can put Houston on the ropes with another convincing victory, and will attempt to do so in front of a home crowd.
The action shifts back to Target Field, and the Twins are rolling out all the stops to try and muster up as much good luck as possible. Johan Santana and Joe Mauer will be on hand for the ceremonial first pitch, a not-so-subtle extension of the storyline involving Pablo Lopez and his childhood hero.
Lopez showed up to his Game 1 start in the AL Wild Card game wearing a Johan Santana jersey, and hasn't been shy about how much he idolized the Twins icon while growing up in Venezuela. Lopez channeled his inner Johan on Sunday against the Astros, and it looks like he has officially taken the torch from his idol.
Despite the game being scheduled at yet another weird time by MLB, the Twins announced late last week that Game 3 had sold out, which means things are going to be loud at Target Field on Tuesday.
Here's everything you need to know to catch today's game:
- Date: Tuesday, October 10th
- Game Time: 3:07 pm CT | 4:07 pm ET
- Location: Minneapolis, MN
- Stadium: Target Field
- Local TV Channel: FOX 9
- National TV Channel: FOX
- Live Stream: Fox Sports Go