MLB Expert Believes This is the Minnesota Twins Greatest Asset, Come October

The Minnesota Twins are among the best teams in baseball. They are still attempting to chase down the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central Division. Come postseason time, there’s one area that sticks out for Rocco Baldelli’s squad as their greatest asset.

Rocco Baldelli’s lineup can bang

This current iteration of the Minnesota Twins are not the 2019 Bomba Squad. Then again, the baseball has been dialed back by Major League Baseball as well. Rocco Baldelli’s club is a top-10 home run team, and the lineup gives the opposition no breaks. ESPN’s David Schoenfield sees that depth as the roster’s greatest asset.

“Health is the key. Right now, Royce Lewis is active, but Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa are on the IL. Those three have started in the same game just 19 times this season. In the meantime, the Twins have gotten some surprising performances to keep the offense stable, particularly from Jose Miranda (.304 average, .832 OPS) and, lately, Matt Wallner (.946 OPS in 139 plate appearances, although that seems unsustainable with a 38% strikeout rate).“

David Schoenfield on the Twins biggest postseason strength (ESPN)

The Twins lineup can be a force to be reckoned with. The caveat “if they’re healthy” that Schoenfield adds does a lot of work for that belief. Baldelli is currently getting Minnesota to score runs, but plugging back in some of the big guns is a must. Twins hitters have produced the 5th highest fWAR in baseball this year, and their .326 wOBA is sixth. Guys have stepped up to fill the void when others have been missing.

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Before the postseason gets underway, Minnesota will need to be at full capacity for their stars assuming active roster spots.

Lineup must protect Minnesota Twins pitching staff

There remains serious doubt as to whether Joe Ryan will again be available this season. Even if Chris Paddack is, he shouldn’t be counted on as a reliable arm. That means the postseason rotation will look substantially different. Pablo Lopez and Bailey Ober must do the heavy lifting to take burden away from the rookies. There are bullpen pieces that work, even if the group has been bad as a whole. Schoenfield knows that everything comes back to the offense, however.

“The rotation will have to make do without Joe Ryan, and the bullpen has scuffled in the second half with a 5.35 ERA, although there is talent down there with Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, Cole Sands and Jorge Alcala. The Twins have been steady all season, but given how well Lewis (155 OPS+), Correa (148) and Buxton (137) have hit when they have played, this could be a sleeper team in October if the big three are in the lineup.“

David Schoenfield on the Twins protecting their pitching (ESPN)

The lineup alone could be a difference maker for Minnesota in October. The condensed schedule provides some pitching relief, and better arms may be moved to the bullpen.

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If the Twins can have a few things break right, they will certainly be a team you don’t want to see in the opposing dugout.