NFL
By Steve Rogers
The Minnesota Twins finally got the 0-18 record for playoff losses off their backs by sweeping the Toronto Blue Jays. The Twins are now set to face the reigning World Series champion Houston Astros in the ALDS. The Twins on paper will be the underdog. However, this Twins roster is built for the playoffs. For starters, they have a solid group of starters that can go out and win any game. The Twins Starters led the league in quality starts with 76. It’s not just the starting pitching either they have a bullpen full of quality arm talent too. The Twins pitching staff as a whole led the league in strikeouts with 1,560k. The Twins aren’t just a pitching team they can hit too, as they hit the third most home runs in the league with 233. The Twins play a uniquely complimentary style of ball.
The ALDS Matchup
The Houston Astros are the defending champs. They have won multiple championships both with and without asterisks. So, they do have a championship pedigree for sure. Along with Dusty Baker a true first ballot hall of fame manager. Yes, they still have most of the same roster led by Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez, Alex Bregman, and of course, the ageless one himself 40-year-old and former Cy Young winner Justin Verlander. These guys have been here and done that. They are battle-tested and used to the biggest of stages. They are a machine that just keeps making deep playoff runs. They are certainly capable of running it back for back-to-back titles.
This is the age-old saga of the tried and true versus the new kids on the block. The Twins are the young guns on the rise. Most of Minnesota’s roster has very little post-season experience outside of Carlos Correa who used to play for the Astros. That is a bonus for the them in multiple ways. First, he has tied Manny Ramires for the most game-winning runs batted in. Correa knows how to handle the big stage and the rest of the team can lean on his leadership. Secondly, he knows the ins and outs of his former club better than most as he was a key leader and contributor for several of their playoff runs including a World Series win.
Difference Maker
Twins Rookie third baseman Royce Lewis has exploded onto the scene since being called up this summer. In just 48 games he has already smashed five grand slams including an 18-game stretch where he hit four of them. Lewis just seems to have ice in his veins when it comes to big moments. He seems to almost thrive on them in fact. Case in point he was almost not on the opening wild card lineup due to a hamstring issue he said that a good night’s sleep had him ready to go when he got to the ballpark. So, manager Rocco Baldelli put him in as the designated hitter. In his first at-bat with a runner on he turned on an inside fastball and hammered it over the wall for a two-run homer. In his second at-bat, he launched a ball off the face of the upper deck. The Twins held on to win 3-1 thanks to his three RBI.
Series Outlook
This will be a good series. Justin Verlander will make his 36 post-season appearances. On the flip side for the Twins Bailey Ober will be making his post-season debut. The Astros have the players and chemistry to make a run at repeating. However, this Twins team is building and may just be peaking at the right time. I believe the Twins will continue to ride the wave of confidence after ending the longest playoff losing streak in all of American major sports. The Twins are locked in on all phase’s offense and defense. The Twins will win this series in six games.
