Tonight the Minnesota Twins take on the Chicago White Sox for a three-game series that could determine the winner of the Central Division. The Twins are 2.5 games behind the Sox and must win one game of this series to at least be mathematically in contention for the Central Division title. A sweep by the Sox and the Twins are done. However, if the Twins sweep the Sox, the Twins will be in first place by a half game.
The Twins are 5-1 against the Sox at the Metrodome and have the fourth best home record in the American League (including a better home record than the best team in baseball-the Angels). Contrast to that, the Sox are 35-43 on the road. Tonight we get to see how the Twins will respond to the playoff race. Will they rise to the challenge or fold under the pressure? I hope the Twins sweep the series and extend the race for the division title.
After this series the Twins are at home against the KC Royals and the Sox are at home against the Cleveland Indians. There’s a little twist with this schedule though. If the Sox do not wrap up the division by the end of this coming weekend, they will play a make-up game against the Detroit Tigers next Monday.
It was only in 2006 that the Twins took the division title away from the Tigers on the last day of the regular season. Wouldn’t it be fitting if the Twins were leading by a half game next Monday and the Tigers beat the Sox? Thus giving the Twins the division title. This scenario can come true but it will require the Twins rising to the challenge. They need to use that home field advantage and play their best baseball of the season to make their 5th playoff appearance in the last 7 years. If nothing else, it has been an exciting playoff race.
Filed under: Baseball, Uncategorized Tagged: | AL Central Division, American League Central Division, Minnesota Twins, playoffs, Sox, Twins, White Sox
