Minnesota Twins Final Stand…?

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Rocco Baldelli
Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

It didn’t have to be like this. The Minnesota Twins didn’t need to come into the final week of the regular season on the outside looking in. Rocco Baldelli shouldn’t have had to implore his players to play competent baseball. That’s where things stand though, and Minnesota has just six games to figure it out.

Can the Minnesota Twins work their way in?

With six games left the Minnesota Twins are a game out of the final wild card spot. They trail both the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals by the same deficit. Rocco Baldelli’s team holds the tiebreaker over both teams. There is no longer a game 163, so Minnesota would vault both clubs should they finish with the same record.

Courtesy: Fangraphs

As things stand prior to first pitch on Tuesday, Minnesota’s playoff odds sit at just 51.2%. The club has tumbled down the standings with a horrid hitting stretch in the month of September. Despite not having a losing month all season, Minnesota could put up their first as they sit 8-13 in September. A perfect 6-0 to finish the season is required to a void that first losing month.

Related: Twins Love Analytics but Refuse to Admit Pinch Hitting is Dumb

It stands to reason that anything less than 4-2 will end the Twins year without a trip to the postseason. Following their deepest postseason run in decades during 2023, that would be a catastrophic failure.

What in front of the Twins this week?

A three game series with the Miami Marlins rolls into a three game series with the Baltimore Orioles. The Marlins aren’t the Chicago White Sox, but they aren’t much better either. At 57-99, they will finish with more than 100 losses, and the Twins should be eyeing a sweep in the first series. Bailey Ober takes the ball in game one, and is followed by rookies Simeon Woods Richardson and David Festa.

The Baltimore Orioles are a different beast entirely. They currently hold the top wild card spot and have battled for the AL East crown with the New York Yankees all season. Baltimore is unlikely to make up the six game deficit to win the division, and their four game lead in the wild card should have them feeling safe as well. There is a possibility they could rest players during the final series of the season.

Related: Minnesota Twins Trying to Get Reinforcements Back on the Field

Brandon Hyde’s squad hosts the Yankees for three games prior to their Target Field trip. With stakes higher in those games, Zach Eflin and Corbin Burnes are scheduled to start the second and third games. That would make both unavailable to work against the Twins.

The Minnesota Twins were in control of their own destiny for the vast majority of the second half. That is no longer the case, but they can put their best foot forward. The Tigers finish with home series against Tampa Bay and the White Sox. Kansas City closes out the year with road series against Washington and Atlanta. A statement sweep of Miami would put Minnesota in a good place.

Related: Pitching is Obvious Problem… but Minnesota Twins Bats Might be Worse

There is a path back to the postseason for Minnesota this week, but they are going to have to earn every bit of it.

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