NFL
By: Billy Lewis
ALDS Schedule
Game One: Friday, October 4th, 7:07 pm
Game Two: Saturday, October 5th, 5:07 pm
Game Three: Monday, October 7th, TBD
Game Four (if necessary): Tuesday, October 8th, TBD
Game Five (if necessary): Thursday, October 10th, TBD
Well, folks, we are finally at the best time of the year, October baseball! Luckily the New York Yankees will bypass the Wild Card Game and host the American League Division Series vs the Minnesota Twins.
Offensive Powerhouses
The 2018 Yankees set the Major League home run record with 267. 2019 that record was shattered, four teams topped the Yankees from last year: Dodgers 279, Astros 288, Yankees 306, Twins 307.
As you can see from the list, the Twins and Yankees were the top home run hitting teams in Major League Baseball this season You’ll often hear the cliche that “you can’t count on the long ball in October.” You can throw that out the window as the home run will almost certainly play a big role in this series.
Recent history would favor the Yankees in this matchup. The Yankees have played the Twins in four playoff series, and the 2017 Wild Card Game. The Yankees have won 13 of the 15 playoff games against Minnesota. Minnesota’s last playoff win came in 2004. Johan Santana and Joe Nathan shutout the Yankees 2-0.
Of course, the most recent playoff matchup was the 2017 Wild Card Game. Luis Severino struggled in his playoff debut, giving up three runs, while only getting one out. Chad Green was able to get the Yankees out of a first-inning jam. This set up Didi Gregorius for first inning heroics. With one out and two men on, Gregorius tied the game by depositing an Ervin Santana fastball into the bleachers.
The Yankees went on the win the game 8-4, setting up a magical run to the ALCS.
2019 New York Yankees vs Minnesota Twins Matchup
Despite the Yankees’ success over the Twins, Minnesota should not be taken lightly. They played each other six times this season, with the Yankees winning four of the six games. This included one of the most exciting games of 2019. The Yankees beat the Twins 14-12 in 10 innings. This included an Aaron Hicks go-ahead home run in the top of the ninth. Hicks then ended the game with an incredible diving catch in the bottom of the tenth.
The Yankees will use a three man rotation of James Paxton, Masahiro Tanaka, and Luis Severino. Aaron Boone will more than likely have a quick trigger with the starter, and look to utilize his shutdown bullpen. The Twins will probably throw their ace, Jose Berrios in Game One. Minnesota may follow with Kyle Gibson and Jake Odorizzi.
The Yankees should have the pitching advantage, especially when factoring in their bullpen. The offensive firepower will make this series a must-watch. The two teams combined for 81 runs in the six games they played, good for 13.5 runs a game.
Series Prediction
This should be an exciting series and a fast start to October. Though both teams have tremendous offensive firepower, the Yankees bullpen will be the difference-maker.
Yankees in four
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