With a fraction of the 2024 MLB regular season remaining, the Minnesota Twins have shifted their focus on the AL Central to the Wild Card. For months the Twins have been consistently milling around three to four games behind the first place Guardians but have never been able to string enough Twins wins and Guardian losses together to surpass them and claim the top spot in the division. So, they have set their sights on a more achievable goal with so little time remaining, securing the third and final Wild Card spot.
The MLB instituted the addition of the third Wild Card team in 2022 because, like every other league, more games equals more revenue. You will get mixed reviews on the whether or not the third WC team is necessary. I am of the viewpoint that the regular season is of less importance with another Wild Card team, as teams competing for the third and final spot in both the NL and AL are hovering around 12 games over .500. This means we will have mediocre teams in the playoffs no matter what and that doesn’t sit quite right with me. But, this is not about whether or not a third Wild Card team is necessary, this is about the barnburner race to the finish line that the Twins are caught up in.
The Twins have done themselves no favors in terms of their playoff eligibility, going 17-24 since sweeping the White Sox in early August. But, with the newest rendition of the playoffs, the Twins have been able to stick around and stay relevant. With a .5 game lead over the Tigers in the Wild Card, every game from here on out carries significant importance. And the Twins have no easy road coming in. The Twins wrap up their series with the Guardians today at 12:10, then fly to Boston for three with the 76-76 Red Sox. After that road trip they return home to play the lowly Marlins but have the 2nd place Orioles to finish the season.
If I had to predict, I imagine the Twins will still be included as one of the three Wild Card teams when the Orioles come to town and that series will define what the AL playoff picture looks like. It truly is exciting how 162-game seasons can all come down to just a couple. Sports rock.
Comments