Twins’ Place in AL Playoff Bracket Increasingly Foggy Entering Final Weekend

We knew 2020 would be weird, especially for Major League Baseball and Minnesota Twins fans. Well, here we are. It might be the greatest cliche in sports… yet, it has seldom meant anything. On Sunday night, the ultimate hypothetical sports cliche becomes reality.

‘“If the season ended today”, after just 60 games, the Minnesota Twins would enter the playoffs as the __ seed in the American League.’ 60 games wouldn’t even get you to the All-Star break in most MLB seasons, but 2020 just hits different. For the first time since 1994, there won’t be a full MLB season. At least we get playoffs this time around… an expanded playoff, even.

It’s been a good week for our Minnesota Twins and they’ve already clinched their spot in the 16-team field. After a tough loss last night vs the Cincinnati Reds, the Twins’ 1st round playoff fate is still very foggy. If you’re looking for the last weekend of the MLB season to be stress free, don’t hangout in the AL Central.

Currently, just ONE GAME separates Minnesota, Cleveland and Chicago in the Central. The Twins could still land the #2, #3, #4, or #7 seed when the dust settles on the AL Playoff bracket.

That means both home and road opening rounds are still possibilities.

“If the season ended last night… (Info via espn.com)”

Current Playoff Matchups (w/2 days remaining)

(1) Tampa Bay Rays vs (8) Toronto Blue Jays

(2) Oakland Athletics vs (7) Chicago White Sox

(3) Minnesota Twins vs (6) Houston Astros

(4) Cleveland Indians vs (5) New York Yankees

If the Twins had won last night, their path to another AL Central title would have been difficult to roadblock, up two games on both Cleveland and Chicago, with just two games to play. Unfortunately, nothing comes easy as a Minnesota sports fan.

Instead, things are TIGHT in the Central Division (as noted above) and another loss today or tomorrow could be devastating. The Twins hold the tiebreaker over the Cleveland Indians (7-3 head-to-head record) but if they were to finished tied with the White Sox, atop the AL Central, they’d technically finish 2nd. The 5-5 head-to-head record forces the 2nd tie-breaker, which is interdivisional record. The Sox are 25-15 inside the AL Central this season and the Twins are 23-17.

This is far from doom and gloom, though. The Minnesota Twins hold their own destiny, with just two games remaining. Neither the White Sox nor Indians can say that. The Twins are in the driver’s seat. All they have to do with these last two regular season games, is win at home. They’ve done that all season, posting a 23-6 record this summer at Target Field.

It’s going to be a hot day of fall baseball in the USA and I hope you are up for it. All three contending teams in the American League Central will play tonight at the same time (6:10 CT) but there are plenty of other games that still matter, including a huge double-header in Oakland.

Today’s Important Games (w/Odds)

Miami Marlins @ New York Yankees (-185) | 12:05 PM

(GM1) Seattle Mariners @ Oakland Athletics (TBD) | 3:10 PM

Baltimore Orioles @ Toronto Blue Jays (-142) | 5:37 PM

Cincinnati Reds @ Minnesota Twins (-130) | 6:10 PM

Chicago Cubs @ Chicago White Sox (-152) | 6:10 PM

Pittsburgh Pirates @ Cleveland Indians (-200) | 6:10 PM

(GM2) Seattle Mariners @ Oakland Athletics (TBD) |6:10 PM

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan