Twins tout home-field edge against Astros, even without fans
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins were determined to defend their division title and start this unusual postseason at home, even if the audience at Target Field this week will be confined to family members and cardboard cutouts.
The ease and predictability of playing in their own ballpark during this virus-altered year, social distancing and all, clearly made a difference to the Twins. They had a 24-7 record at home, the best such mark in baseball.
“You want everything that you can possibly have in your favor,” manager Rocco Baldelli said, looking ahead to the best-of-three American League wild card series against the Houston Astros that starts on Tuesday afternoon (WABC-7, 2 p.m., ESPNradio.com) with no days off or site switches. “We're very comfortable. We've enjoyed playing here.”
The Astros were 9-23 on the road, the third-worst record in the major leagues. They're the No. 6 seed after finishing second in the AL West at 29-31, matching the worst mark of all 16 qualifiers for the playoffs following the 60-game schedule shrunken by the COVID-19 outbreak.
“It’s going to be a good series,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said, downplaying the potential of home-field advantage for No. 3 seed Minnesota. "We’re due to win, and they’re due to lose.”
For the Twins, this will be quite the contrast from a year ago, when their 101-win, 307-homer season won them the AL Central and sent them to New York for the division series.
The first playoff experience for most of the team came in daunting fashion at raucous Yankee Stadium, and the Twins were swept in three games by a total score of 23-7. That stretched the franchise's 16-year-old postseason losing streak to 16 consecutive games, the all-time MLB record that's also tied with the Chicago Blackhawks (1975-79) for the longest such skid in major North American professional sports.
“It toughened us up, definitely,” reliever Tyler Duffey said. "Obviously the crowd noise and things like that this postseason is going to be a lot different. Probably some guys will be able to focus better. Some guys maybe feed off that. It’s hard to know until these games start, but I’m sure everybody’s going to be fired up.”
Here are some key angles to follow for the series:
BANGED UP
The Twins rarely played with their optimal lineup this season, and just when they were on the verge of reaching full strength on offense, a pair of vital players — third baseman Josh Donaldson (calf) and center fielder Byron Buxton (concussion) — were injured on Friday. After being held out of the remaining two regular season games as a precaution, Donaldson and Buxton both participated in a workout at Target Field on Monday, raising optimism they'll be ready for the series.
“We just want to learn as much as we can before we move forward and put anything in stone, but it was a relatively good day for both guys,” Baldelli said.
FOR STARTERS
Donaldson was the biggest offseason catch for the Twins, who signed the 2015 AL MVP award winner to a four-year, $92 million contract, but the acquisition of starting pitcher Kenta Maeda in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers proved to make the biggest impact.
The Dodgers used the Japanese right-hander carefully, sending him back and forth from the rotation to the bullpen, but the 32-year-old who has long desired to be a full-time starter found his niche in Minnesota by going 6-1 with a 2.70 ERA and 80 strikeouts over 66 2/3 innings in 11 turns.
“He’s been everything that we’re looking for. He’s been the guy that keeps us balanced. Every time we need a good start or a win, he shows up,” designated hitter Nelson Cruz said.
PLAYOFF PAYBACK?
The Astros became the scourge of the sport this winter when their sign-stealing system was revealed, resulting in the firing of general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch and the tainting of their 2017 World Series championship. That storyline has long been overshadowed by the pandemic, but players around the game haven't forgotten.
“I wasn’t involved in any of that. For me, it’s another series,” Cruz said. “I’m focused on what I can control as a player and also putting the team in a winning situation.”
BIG BURDEN
With Gerrit Cole now with the Yankees and Justin Verlander done for the season due to an elbow injury, Zack Greinke will have to carry the load for a Houston pitching staff that's not as intimidating as the last three years while the Astros went to two World Series and three AL Championship Series. Greinke will pitch Game 1.
Verlander's is far from the only key absence. Designated hitter Yordan Alvarez is done for the year after knee surgery. Closer Roberto Osuna hasn't pitched since Aug. 1 due to elbow trouble.
After all the injuries and substandard seasons by several hitters, the Astros will try to hit the reset button against the Twins.
“The records mean nothing,” said Baker, the first major league manager to take five different teams to the postseason. “How you did means nothing. You can erase everything with a good series here.”
LAST HURRAH?
Four integral parts of Houston's offense — George Springer, Michael Brantley, Josh Reddick and Yuli Gurriel — are playing on expiring contracts. The Astros could look significantly different in 2021.
“It's on your mind,” Baker said. “This is an opportunity to not only shine for us in the city of Houston, but to shine for the world, and these guys have been on this stage many, many times.”
SERIES PREVIEW
A capsule look at the best-of-three playoff series between the Houston Astros and Minnesota Twins in Minneapolis beginning Tuesday:
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HOUSTON ASTROS
Record: 29-31.
Playoff Entry: second place, AL West.
Playoff Seed: No. 6.
Manager: Dusty Baker (first season).
Projected Rotation: RHP Zack Greinke (3-3, 4.03 ERA, 67 Ks), RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (3-3, 3.93, 56 Ks), RHP Jose Urquidy (1-1, 2.73, 17 Ks) or LHP Framber Valdez (5-3, 3.57, 76 Ks) or RHP Cristian Javier (5-2, 3.48, 54 Ks.)
Top Hitters: LF Michael Brantley (.300, 5 HRs, 22 RBIs, 15 doubles), CF George Springer (.265, 14, 32), RF Kyle Tucker (.268, 9, 42).
Top Relievers: RHP Ryan Pressly (1-3, 3.43 ERA, 12 saves), LHP Brooks Raley (0-1, 3.94, 1 save).
Series Summary: Last year’s American League champions limp into the playoffs as the only AL team to make the postseason with a losing record after dropping three straight and four of their last five. With ace Justin Verlander out due to Tommy John surgery, the Astros look for Greinke to get back on track in the series opener after the 36-year-old lost his last three decisions. Houston’s lineup isn’t nearly as potent as the one that reached the World Series last season, with designated hitter Yordan Alvarez out for the season and stars Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman having lackluster years. Houston’s outfielders, Brantley, Springer and Tucker, have paced the offense so far and will need to keep it going against the Twins for the Astros to reach the ALDS for the fourth straight season. Houston was 9-23 on the road, the third-worst record in the majors. Baker takes his fifth different team to the postseason.
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MINNESOTA TWINS
Record: 36-24.
Playoff Entry: AL Central champions.
Playoff Seed: No. 3.
Manager: Rocco Baldelli (second season).
Projected Rotation: RHP Kenta Maeda (6-1, 2.70 ERA, 80 Ks), RHP José Berríos (5-4, 4.00, 68 Ks), RHP Michael Pineda (2-0, 3.38, 25 Ks in 5 starts).
Top Hitters: DH Nelson Cruz (.303, 16 HRs, 33 RBIs, .992 OPS), 3B Josh Donaldson (.222, 6, 11 in 28 games), CF Byron Buxton (.254, 13, 27 in 39 games).
Top Relievers: LHP Taylor Rogers (2-4, 4.05 ERA, 9 saves), RHP Sergio Romo (1-2, 4.05, 5 saves).
Series Summary: The Twins haven’t won a playoff series since 2002, failing to advance in eight consecutive rounds. They’re carrying a 16-game postseason losing streak, the longest in major league history and tied for the longest in major North American professional sports with the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks (1975-79). This current team is only responsible for three of those defeats, a Division Series sweep by the New York Yankees last year that spoiled a 101-win season with an MLB-record 307 home runs. The Twins won their second straight AL Central title this year at a pace that projected to 97 wins over a full season, but they got there in a much different way. They finished sixth in baseball in homers, but after ranking second in team OPS last year they were just 15th in 2020. The arrival of Maeda in a winter trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers provided a big boost to the rotation, even with 2019 All-Star Jake Odorizzi missing most of the season with injuries. The bullpen was sharp and deep, too, helping the Twins rank fourth in MLB with a 3.58 staff ERA. Their biggest advantage in this series will be playing at Target Field, even without fans. Minnesota's 24-7 home record was the best in baseball. The greatest concern will be health, with injuries to Donaldson (calf) and Buxton (concussion) on Friday that raised questions about their availability for the series.