The individual returns Minnesota got for gutting its big league roster were mostly on the light side, and thanks to Bob Nightengale (USA Today), we now know why. For weeks, the Twins front office had a plan that was well-known around the league.

Minnesota Twins did not plan their trade deadline fire sale

Team president Derek Falvey’s message was clear. Minnesota was going to deal away expiring contracts (Castro, Paddack, Coulombe, etc), along with one or two back-end relievers, then get ready for another run at the playoffs in 2026.

In fact, when the Houston Astros first called on Correa (demanding the Twins pay most of his salary and include another big leaguer), Falvey laughed and hung up the phone. So did Carlos Correa’s agent, Scott Boras.

Astros GM Dana Brown telephone the Twins to inquire if they would be willing to trade Correa and one of their outfielders to the Astros. Oh, and could they pick up about $50 million of the remaining $103 million on Correa’s contract, too? The Twins laughed, and hung up.

When USA TODAY Sports contacted Correa’s agent Scott Boras to inquire whether Correa would waive his no-trade clause, he laughed, too. Correa loved Minnesota, he said. The Twins loved him. Besides, there was no way, he said, the Astros would take on that kind of money.

Bob Nightengale – USA Today Sports

Given the troubling season Correa was having with the Twins (.267/.319/.386), offloading him back to Houston isn’t the worst idea, even for an organization that cares about winning. Of course, we found out pretty quickly that winning anytime in the near future was not on the Pohlads’ radar.

Everything changed for MN Twins after the Carlos Correa trade

Because once they dealt Correa, everything about the Minnesota Twins deadline plans changed. Whether players wanted to be traded or not, Falvey started accepting cents on the dollar for some of the organization’s most expensive assets.

“[The Twins] said they were going to just trade players on expiring contracts. They were going to re-visit the other stuff in the winter. Then, they started selling off everyone.”

The GM spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity in order to freely analyze the trade deadline.

USA Today Sports

Related: Minnesota Twins Sale Reportedly Gaining Steam… with Some Doubters

But what changed in the hours between Falvey laughing and hanging hung up on Astros GM Dana Brown and the Correa deal officially being consummated? Well, Nightengale has that answer too.

We found out over the weekend that it was Jim Pohlad and Houston’s owner Jim Crane who handled the final Correa negotiations directly. In the end, the Minnesota Twins agreed to pay down $30 million of the $90 million remaining on Correa’s contract, along with 26-year-old single-A pitching prospect Matt Mikulski.

Astros owner Jim Crane convinced Pohlads to give everything away

According to Nightengale, however, Crane’s involvement in the Twins’ 2025 fire sale went way beyond finalizing the Carlos Correa deal. Instead, he seems to be the sole person who convinced the Pohlads into their deadline actions last week.

The Astros owner reportedly called up Jim Pohlad and used the impending sale of the franchise as a way to convinced him that selling off as many salary assets as possible was the best way forward for the Pohlad family and the future owners,

Houston Astros owner Jim Crane…perhaps lit the first match in the fire sale in a casual conversation at the Leatherstocking Golf Course. He mentioned that they might try to pursue All-Star shortstop Carlos Correa, and with the Twins so deep in debt – about $440 million – that Minnesota may have no choice but to dump him.

While some were dismissive of the idea, Crane refused to blink. He wanted to make sure the Twins understood the severity of their financial woes. The Twins are deep in debt. They are trying to sell the team for $1.7 billion. The team will be more attractive to every suitor, Crane said in talks with the Pohlad family, if their payroll was slashed. Correa’s contract happened to be the biggest financial commitment.

The Pohlad family got back to Derek Falvey, Twins president of baseball operations. They suddenly were curious. Correa, who left the game early Tuesday with a migraine, suddenly felt good enough to sit down with Falvey, himself. If the Twins indeed are rebuilding, he said, he’d gladly waive his no-trade clause for a chance to get back to Houston.

Bob Nightengale – USA Today Sports

How incredible is that? The Pohlad family strikes again, allowing a rival owner obviously trying to pry talent away on the cheap, talk them into one of the worst baseball business decisions in Minnesota Twins history, and that is saying something.

Again, it’s not that difficult to convince a Twins fan that it was time to end the Carlos Correa experiment. Had they deadline selling ended there, nobody would be mad.

Related: Byron Buxton is the Leader Carlos Correa Couldn’t Be

But in the hours between the Correa trade and the 5 pm deadline on July 31, Minnesota proceeded to give away Brock Stewart, Griffin Jax and Louie Varland for incredibly questionable returns, which shocked opposing front offices, as executives lined up for the Twins’ garage sale.

And now, the big league cupboards are bare and everyone in baseball is laughing at the Pohlads yet again.

The most jarring move of the day, one initiated by the Houston Astros and Carlos Correa, sent the shortstop back home. Minnesota paid $33 million to get rid of him, and effectively got nothing in return.

Correa though, got his wish, both on and off the field. He returns to an organization clearly willing to spend, and he’s going to make a position change to facilitate it.

Hot corner for Carlos Correa as he leaves Minnesota Twins

When Carlos Correa signed a free agent contract with the New York Mets, he was going to move to third base. Francisco Lindor was already on the roster, and the veteran knew that time would come anyways. After the deal got ripped up and he landed in Minnesota, shortstop was back on the table.

The Twins have struggled to develop the next talent at short, and that had Correa playing the position at 30 years old and with bad feet. He’ll move to a less demanding role with Houston and told The Athletic that has been the goal.

“I’ve been asking the Twins to play third base for the last two years. But it was not aligning because of how we were constructed. When (Twins general manager Derek Falvey) told me the Astros wanted me for third base, I was like, that would be perfect.”

Carlos Correa – The Athletic

Correa opened the door to the hot corner two-and-a-half years ago during free agency. That at least had to get the wheels in motion. As he’s gone through injury since, especially to his lower body, it only has to have increased that desire.

The Twins saw Correa play 135 games during the first season of his new contract. He did it playing through pain and it resulted in just a 94 OPS+. Last year he managed the issue better, owned a career-best 151 OPS+, and was named an All-Star. The downside is that he was available for only 86 contests.

Related: MN Twins Shock the World: Carlos Correa Back to Astros

Houston now gets a guy that hasn’t had any foot issues this year, and can play alongside of a star shortstop that took over his position in the first place.

Correa teams up with protege Jeremy Pena

The only reason Houston opted to let Carlos Correa walk in the first place was because of the emergence of Jeremy Pena. A former third round pick, Pena reached the majors in 2022. He earned rookie of the year votes and immediately won a Gold Glove.

Pena is returning from an injury now, but across 82 games this season he is hitting a career-best .322/.378/.489. Pena was named to his first All-Star Game, and is still playing Gold Glove level defense.

Related: Details Behind Red Sox’ Failed Attempt to Pry Joe Ryan from MN Twins

At 30 years old Correa can continue to mentor the 27-year-old. He’ll get to do so standing next to him on the left side of the diamond. There was one place the former Twins shortstop was willing to go, and this represented the perfect fit.

But all of those deals pale in comparison to this shocker. Carlos Correa opened the door for a reunion with the Houston Astros on Wednesday. Such a blockbuster still felt farfetched as the calendar flipped to trade deadline day. That was until approximately 3 p.m…

Minnesota Twins trade Carlos Correa to the Houston Astros

With just two hours until the 2025 MLB trade deadline, the MN Twins sent their most expensive free agent acquisition in club history back to his former team. That ended his rollercoaster time in the Twin Cities.

Source: The Astros are have agreed to a deal to reacquire Carlos Correa in a trade with the Twins.

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) July 31, 2025

Prior to the 2022 season the Minnesota Twins signed Carlos Correa to a three-year deal. It was essentially a one-year pact. After he fulfilled his one-and-done duties, he signed massive contracts with the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants, before both were voided due to failed physicals.

So, his price came down slightly and Correa returned to Minnesota. Correa’s second contract with the Minnesota Twins was signed for $200 million and covered six seasons. There were also team options that tied years 2029 through 2032 to the deal.

Now, that contract is Houston’s problem… but not totally. According to reports, the Twins are eating a big portion of Correa’s deal, a total of $33 million. In return, it sounds like Minnesota is getting back just one prospect. This seems like not much to get back for the face of your franchise, but I guess only time will tell…

The #MNTwins received LHP Matt Mikulski in exchange for Carlos Correa and $30 million.

— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) July 31, 2025

The prospect capital was always going to be muted for Minnesota considering the financial commitment taken on by Houston. Matt Mikulski was the San Francisco Giants second round pick in 2021, and joined Houston on a minor league deal.

The 26-year-old has never pitched above High-A. Mikulski owns a 6.46 ERA across 225 2/3 innings at the minor league level. Because Houston needed to send something back, he was what the Twins chose.

Correa and Twins deserve blame for failures

The assumption for both Correa, and the fanbase, was that his signing meant the team would continue to supplement the roster around him. Unfortunately, that never happened. After advancing to the divisional round of the 2023 playoffs, the Pohlad family dialed back the payroll, instead of adding on.

Of course, Correa has been a big part of the Minnesota Twins’ 2025 problems. He’s spent much of his time here on the injured list dealing with plantar fasciitis, and he’s been somewhat mediocre while healthy.

Related: MN Twins Clubhouse Boils Over as Trade Deadline Looms

Carlos Correa has also drawn the ire of youngster Royce Lewis, and seemed to insert himself into a clubhouse quarrel following the Jhoan Duran trade on Wednesday.

This season Correa owns a .267/.319/.386 slash line and his 92 OPS+ is the lowest mark of his career. Clearly the relationship has broke down to the point where Minnesota is willing to deal him while his value is so low.

In interview with MLB. com, Correa says he’s happy to come home to the team where he started career. He said it was clear Minnesota wasn’t going in the direction he wanted and they agreed to find a trade.

“I let them know there was only one team I would allow that to happen.”

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) July 31, 2025

There have been multiple points during his tenure with the Twins that Correa had hoped for more. He came from a winning organization and went to one that had hoped to get there. It’s unfortunate there wasn’t more of a desire from ownership to make that happen, but this season was also a reflection of the shortstop’s own failures.

With the Astros, Correa will move to third base. He takes over for the injured Isaac Paredes, but assumes a lesser role with Jeremy Pena still there after replacing him at shortstop when he departed. Correa seemed open to that idea with the New York Mets when he originally agreed to a contract alongside Francisco Lindor. He’s remained above-average at shortstop for Minnesota, but bows out of the premium position to go home.

If there was a way for Derek Falvey to reset the core of the Twins roster and try again, this was it. It seemed like insane probability… but that’s deadline day.

And now, with the Major League Baseball trade deadline just three days away, Twins president Derek Falvey has no choice but to sell off talent between now and July 31, because the dream of acting as a buyer is all but dead, at 50-55, with six teams between them and the final AL wild card spot.

While Falvey hasn’t indicated a direction publicly, there have been endless reports over the past few weeks pin the Twins as one of the league’s most sought after seller in the American League. How aggressive they decide to be, beyond their impending free agents, is still a mystery.

Expect to see guys like Brock Stewart, Danny Coulombe and/or Tuesday’s scheduled starter Chris Paddack to be traded. Recently, The Athletic’s Aaron Gleeman tabbed Willi Castro as the expiring contracts that is certain to be moved by Thursday’s deadline.

Willi Castro drawing interest from Astros

That said, he is having a better season than he did as an All-Star last year, and the Houston Astros are taking notice. The Athletic’s Chandler Rome is reporting that he is on their radar.

Suárez may be the sexier name, but Minnesota Twins utilityman Willi Castro is also of interest to the Astros and a far better fit for their roster.

Castro is a switch hitter with starts at six different defensive positions this season, versatility that would be valued as the Astros’ nine injured position players are activated. Castro has made 26 starts at second base and 25 in left field — the two most unsettled positions on Houston’s major-league roster.

Both Castro and Suárez are rentals being sought after by a bevy of contending teams, again inviting wonder if the Astros can win a bidding war against clubs with deeper farm systems.

Chandler Rome – The Athletic

A team would need to give up much more, regardless of the rental status, for the Diamondbacks Eugenio Suarez. Last season Castro slashed .247/.331/.385. He tailed off to end the year, but that was an All-Star campaign. This season he owns a .254/.342/.423 slash line.

Teams will need to decide whether he is more valuable as an infielder or outfielder for them. Regardless his versatility and prorated $6.4 million salary are too enticing to pass up.

Derek Falvey seeing Minnesota Twins direction come into view

According to Bobby Nightengale (Star Tribune) there were at least seven teams with scouts at Target Field over the weekend. Representation from the Yankees, Red, Padres, Phillies, Mariners, Rays, and Rangers were all present. Falvey tried to put a positive spin on the Twins’ disappointing reality Sunday.

“Entering the break, it felt like we were gaining a little bit of momentum. The last couple series haven’t gone as well as we would have hoped. Now the job is just to evaluate what comes our way and navigate in any direction possible. We still feel like there’s a lot of talent on this roster.”

Derek Falvey – via the Star Tribune

Related: Dodgers Coming for Twins Outfielder

The Minnesota Twins leader of the front office can try to sugarcoat the reality as much as he wants. Unfortunately this team has flopped and now he’s forced with parting them out. The Star Tribune’s Bobby Nightengale heard from Falvey on Sunday.

Players like Joe Ryan, Jhoan Duran, and Griffin Jax would require a substantial return to be moved. While Falvey is taking calls on his more expensive assets, inquiring teams thus far have walked away from those conversations with mostly sticker shock.

Nonetheless, it’s shaping up to be a busy week for the Minnesota Twins. Disappointingly, it’s not the busy we were all hoping for when the 2025 MLB season started.

On Sunday night, while the Dads were in Houston playing the Astros, a scary moment happened at the first base bag, involving Arraez and Astros second baseman, Mauricio Dubon. It all started when Arraez attempted to pull a drag bunt with him down the first base line.

Collision lands former Minnesota Twins fan favorite in Houston hospital

The bunt was fielded cleanly by Houston first baseman, Christian Walker. He turned to his left and flipped the ball to Dubon, who was running behind him to cover the first base bag, as was his responsibility with the switch-hitting Arraez batting lefty for this plate appearance.

Unfortunately, Arraez and Dubon arrived at first base at the same time, resulting in an ugly collision that the former Twin got the worst of. Luis fell to the ground and appeared unresponsive. Eventually, a cart was brought out and he was wheeled off Minute Maid Field, before being transported to Houston Methodist Hospital.

Luis Arraez was placed on a stretcher and carted off the field after colliding with Mauricio Dubon at first base.

Arraez gave a thumbs up as the cart was driving off the field. pic.twitter.com/C0yM3KsJIS

— ESPN (@espn) April 20, 2025

Entering tonight’s game, Luis Arraez was batting .287 with a .755 OPS (113 OPS+) on the young 2025 season. As a member of the Minnesota Twins, the eccentric Venezuelan hit .314 over the course of four seasons.

Luis Arraez is currently awake and responsive

Thankfully, the San Diego Padres’ most recent update revealed that Luis Arraez is currently “conscious, responsive and able to move his extremities”. Given how bad this story started, this is about the best possible update we could have gotten.

Luis Arraez has been transported to Houston Methodist Hospital for further evaluation. He is currently stable, conscious, responsive, and able to move his extremities.

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 20, 2025

In an age where the home run is king, Arraez is a taste of old school hitting greatness, posting a career batting average of .322, earning him three All-Star appearances and three batting titles, the first of which came in 2022 as a Twin.

Related: Brock Stewart is Finally Back in MN Twins Bullpen

He’ll never be an .800 OPS guy, which is why he has been traded twice, despite his incredible ability to hit the ball where fielders are not. But tonight, none of that matters. We all just hope and pray that the news coming out on Luis Arraez continues to be positive, and he makes a full recovery, sooner than later.

Byron Buxton has been added to the Division Series roster as an injury replacement for Alex Kirilloff, who went 0-for-9 with 4 strikeouts in the 2023 MLB Postseason. The nearly 30-year-old oft-injured Buxton has not appeared in a Major League Baseball game since August 1.

BREAKING: Byron Buxton has been added to the #MNTwins playoff roster. He’s an injury replacement for Alex Kirilloff.

— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) October 11, 2023

Buck has suffered through a variety of injuries throughout his professional career, including broken/sprained fingers (2014 – AZ Fall Lg) and thumbs (2015 – MLB), a broken hand (MLB – 2021), fractured toe (2018 – Rehab Assn), torn labrum (2018 – MLB), a concussion (2014 – AA) and recurring migraines (2018 – MLB).

But his most recent injury has been diagnosed and reported as patellar tendinitis, which is a product of the arthroscopic knee surgery he had in the offseason. Even with his vast variety of injury issues, his knee problems have arisen as the biggest threat to Buxton’s MLB career.

Byron Buxton on Twins roster, NOT in starting lineup

Related: Disguised Kirk Cousins Spotted at Twins vs Astros Sitting Amongst Common Fans Yet Again

The Twins’ starting lineup for game 4 has already dropped and Buxton is not in it. But, there is a very real possibility we see him up at the plate tonight, at some point, if given an opportunity to spark some magic.

First pitch is at 6:07 p.m. CT. Get all the details on how to watch here: ALDS: How to watch the Minnesota Twins vs Houston Astros – Game 4

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Royce Lewis moving back to 3rd base

And on Tuesday morning, they got even more good news. AL Wildcard MVP, Royce Lewis, who has been stuck at designated hitter for the Twins’ first four postseason games thanks to a bad hamstring, is moving back to 3rd base for game 3 this afternoon.

Related: Minnesota Twins Playoff Lineup vs Houston Astros: ALDS (Gm 3)

Just wrapped midday news hit with Derek Falvey on @KSTP from the field. Royce Lewis back at 3B today, he’s feeling good. Willi Castro starts in CF, they want an extra lefty bat vs. Christian Javier. His left/right splits stick out. #MNTwins #WeBelieveinTC pic.twitter.com/oX7VcpinDL

— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) October 10, 2023

On Monday, manager Rocco Baldelli hinted at Lewis’ move back to 3rd base when asked about his young superstar’s hamstring entering game 3. Rocco seemed optimistic at the prospect, and didn’t rule out Royce’s glove being in the Twins’ game plan as soon as game 3, though that might be a bit too hopeful.

“Yeah, there’s a chance [Royce Lewis] is gonna play third base this week. I don’t know if it’s gonna be tomorrow, though. We still have have to figure some things out on the medical side and have some conversations. I don’t know. I honestly don’t know.

He does look significantly better than he did seven days ago, you know, about a week ago. That’s great news for us. I mean, enough so, we’re we’re watching him go first to third. We put a safety squeeze on, with him on third base, and you know, there’s different things that he’s capable of right now.

He can help us on the bases, now. Before, you know, at the beginning of this playoff schedule, he probably wasn’t gonna be helping us too much on the bases. He was just gonna kind of, like I said, cruising speed. He’s improving so we’ll take that.”

Related: ALDS: How to watch the Minnesota Twins vs Houston Astros – Game 3

Lewis mimicked his manager, in the Twins clubhouse while talking to reporters, telling Darren Wolfson (KSTP) that his hamstring is feeling better and better. He talked about the baserunning he did in game 2 and got a huge smile on his face when he heard that Rocco gave him a possible green light to play defense, at some point in this series.

Some of my conversation with #MNTwins DH/3B Royce Lewis today. For his fantasy team sake tonight (and mine), go Davante Adams! #WeBelieveinTC pic.twitter.com/XmT3Deq2Q2

— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) October 10, 2023

How much does it make you feel good that Rocco isn’t ruling out you playing third base in this series?

“Yeah, I just explained to [Rocco Baldelli] that I feel a lot better, just running from 1st to 3rd a couple times, testing it out. It’s the playoffs. I’m not turning off my brain, in terms of trying to get us into a good position to score. If I’m hurting, I’m going to try and get there no matter what, either way. But, [my hamstring] felt way better.”

“That’s really cool. That’s nice of him to say. Get’s me excited, but you know, like I’ve told people in the past, whatever Rocco decides, ultimately, I have the most faith in him, so I’ll I’ll trust that decision and I just keep working and putting, you know, my best foot forward so that he can make good decisions.”

Moving Royce Lewis from DH to 3B, in the starting lineup, is a huge deal for the Minnesota Twins defense. With Lewis out, Rocco has played Eddie Julien at 2B and Jorge Polanco at 3B. Julien has been better at 2nd this postseason, than he was in the regular season, but he’s far from their best option there.

Related: Mr. October Carlos Correa Has Arrived and He is Beautiful

Polanco, on the other hand, has noticeably struggled at 3rd base. He’s only been credited with one error but he’s had at least two other balls that were very gettable, find their way through, including this one, which allowed for one of the best defensive plays in Twins postseason history by Carlos Correa.

Carlos Correa recovers it and gets the Twins out of the inning! pic.twitter.com/zLHMqDPxXE

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 3, 2023

But what Jorge Polanco lacks at 3rd base, he excels at 2B, going from a defensive liability to a defensive gold glove. And Royce Lewis has looked very above average at the hot corner all 2nd half of the season.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Twins

Minnesota Twins come out ready to play in game 2

After falling 6-4 in game 1, the Twins sent their ace, Pablo Lopez to the mound for game 2 and the bats came ready to fight for him. Carlos Correa is the hottest hitter in baseball, which shouldn’t surprise anyone, given he’s one of the best playoff hitters in MLB history. He went 3 for 3 tonight, including two doubles, a walk and 3 huge RBI.

Carlos Correa gives Minnesota the lead in Houston! pic.twitter.com/IHA2KQHnjL

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 9, 2023

Carlos Correa passes Derek Jeter and David Ortiz to move into a tie for third all-time on the playoff RBIs list with 63! pic.twitter.com/YSpKrRuOoH

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 9, 2023

Correa wasn’t the only offensive hero on the night. Kyle Farmer started his first game of the postseason and rewarded Rocco Baldelli & Co with a 2-run homer and Eddie Julien entered the game in the 6th as a pinch hitter and delivered with an RBI single.

When the dust settled on game 2, the Twins turned the table on the ALDS with a 6-2 road victory vs the defending World Series champs. The Twins’ bats, which have been shaky with runners in scoring position so far during the postseason, were ready.

Related: ALDS: How to watch the Minnesota Twins vs Houston Astros – Game 2

Pablo Lopez lights out again

But the story of game 3 was Twins starting pitcher, Pablo Lopez, who has now pitched 12.2 innings of 1-run postseason baseball in 2023. They say pitcher wins do not matter anymore in baseball. But in the playoffs, I can promise you, they do.

Because Lopez is 2-0 in the 2023 postseason and, if he can notch another one or two before it’s all over, it’ll be those wins that cement him into Minnesota Twins lore as one of the greatest to ever take the mound. Oh, he’s also just 27 years old and under a fresh new contract that will keep him in Minneapolis through 2027.

Pablo López, Filthy 90mph Changeup. 👌

7th K…and 7 Scoreless Innings. pic.twitter.com/fGcblKtPgW

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 9, 2023

Related: ALDS: How to watch the Minnesota Twins vs Houston Astros

Game 3 will be back at the weapon that is Target Field and the Twins will surely have the pitching matchup advantage, as they send Cy Young candidate, Sonny Gray, to the hill. He started game 2 of the AL Wildcard vs the Toronto Blue Jays, tossing 5 scoreless innings in the Twins win.

If Minnesota can pull out a game 3 victory, they’ll have a chance to clinch the series at home in game 4, before ever having to get on a plane and head south back to Houston.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Related: ALDS: Twins Name Bailey Ober as Game 1 Starter vs Astros

Twins strand runners early, Astros take advantage

Jose Altuve hit a leadoff home run in the bottom of the 1st inning, but that wasn’t the story early on. Yes, the Astros got out to an early lead that they added onto twice, including two runs in the 3rd and two more in the 5th.

But it was the Twins going 0-for-5 with RISP vs Houston starter, Justin Verlander, that lead to Houston’s early lead. Minnesota had runners on 1st and 2nd with less than two outs in the top of the 1st and 2nd innings, only to hit into 6-4-3 double plays both times.

Yordan Alvarez made it 3-0 in the 3rd, launching a missile into the right field stands [Hint:That wouldn’t be the last time]. Then, in the 5th, the Astros tacked on 2 more runs the old fashioned way, with back-to-back RBI singles from Jose Abreu and Chas McCormick.

Middle middle? He don't miss. pic.twitter.com/qlkZDAZ730

— Houston Astros (@astros) October 7, 2023

Minnesota Twins muster up some 7th inning magic

Heading into the 7th inning, the Minnesota Twins trailed the Houston Astros 5-0. Things can happen fast in baseball, however, and that’s exactly what we saw in game 1, as soon as Justin Verlander was lifted from the contest (6 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 93 P).

Related: How to watch Minnesota Twins Playoff Games in 2023

In the 7th, the Twins got their first two runners on (Wallner – HBP, Jeffers – 1B), before both Willi Castro (PH for Michael A. Taylor) and Eddie Julien struck out swinging. But just when you thought the Twins were going to leave 2 more runners in scoring positions, Jorge Polanco did this… before Royce Lewis did that.

We believe these are back-to-back jacks! 🎣🎣🎣🎣#WeBelieveinTC pic.twitter.com/GrghrQ9yoS

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) October 7, 2023

Yordan Alvarez stops Houston’s bleeding

The Twins failed to add anymore in that 7th inning, however, even after Max Kepler hit a check-swing double, and it would come back to bit them.

Remember that dude I mentioned earlier, Yordan Alvarez, and how he wasn’t done launching homers into the deep bleachers at Minute Maid Park. Yeah, his 2nd one was a solo shot that stopped the bleeding for Houston in the bottom of the 7th.

Lefty to face Yordan? When will they learn. pic.twitter.com/8tENnEC4Gg

— Houston Astros (@astros) October 7, 2023

Twins go away quietly

Unfortunately, the Twins’ 4-run 7th inning magic was all they could muster on Saturday night. Carlos Correa, who went 2/4 on the evening, lead off the 8th inning with a rope down the 3rd base line (he went 2/4 on the night) that he limped out for an easy double, but that would be Minnesota’s final hit of the night. The Astros got 6-straight outs and the game ended in non-dramatic 6-4 fashion.

Houston takes a 1-0 lead in the AL Divisional Series. Game 2 is Sunday at 7:03 PM. Take a look at the starting pitching matchup HERE. If the Twins had won this game, it would have put the Astros on the ropes, given who they have on the mound tomorrow.

Had Minnesota failed to fight back at all, I’d be very concerned with how the rest of this series will go. Instead, I expect them to punch back in a big way in game 2, with plenty of runs for their ace.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

The Twins opponent on Tuesday will be the 3rd and final Wildcard team in the American League (6-seed). Entering Sunday’s MLB regular season finale, just two teams — the Houston Astros or Toronto Blue Jays — still have a chance at landing the AL’s final seed.

Minnesota Twins Wildcard opponent — All Scenarios

The Astros are one game behind the Texas Rangers in the AL West and they are tied with the Blue Jays in the AL Wildcard race. The Astros own the AL West tiebreaker over the Rangers, but not the Wildcard tiebreaker over the Blue Jays. Hang with me. Sunday’s possible outcomes are actually pretty simple, I promise.

Related: Alex Rodriguez Will Call Minnesota Twins AL Wildcard Series

Keep it simple: The Twins 1st round playoff opponent will be the 3rd AL Wildcard team (6-seed) — If the Houston Astros lose Sunday, they will be 6-seed. That’s it, cut and dry. But, should Houston win and EITHER Toronto OR Texas lose, then the Toronto Blue Jays fall to the 6-seed.

Here are all of the possible scenarios:

The Blue Jays do not hold their own Wildcard destiny, though they can help their chances at keeping the 2nd wildcard with a victory. If both the Blue Jays and the Astros win, but Texas loses, then the Astros would jump the Rangers and be crowned AL West champs, bumping Texas down to a wildcard team, where they would hold the tiebreaker over the Blue Jays.

How we got here

The Seattle Mariners came into their regular season finale series this week vs the Texas Rangers needing a sweep to keep their playoff hopes alive. They won the first two games but lost on Saturday, extinguishing their final opportunity at the postseason.

Related: Royce Lewis Injury Could Cost Byron Buxton a Spot on Twins’ Wildcard Roster

What Minnesota Twins fans should be watching for.

Heading into the regular season finale, the Minnesota are most likely to draw the Houston Astros, but that is far from a guarantee. There’s nearly as good of a chance they land the Toronto Blue Jays, instead.

So if you are one of those Twins fans who is shaking in their boots at the thought of facing Houston in the 1st round then you need to pray they win on Sunday. Then, all you need is a Blue Jays OR Rangers loss to escape an opening round series vs the perennial World Series contenders.

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Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan