The Minnesota Twins won their first AL Central title since 2010 following a 5-1 win over the Detroit Tigers & an 8-3 loss by the Cleveland Indians to the Chicago White Sox. Minnesota was in first place by mid-April & except for a brief tie with the Tribe in mid-August did not relinquish top spot
After earning an AL Wild Card berth in 2017, the Twins fell to 78-84 resulting in Paul Molitor's removal as manager. Molitor was replaced by longtime Tampa Bay Ray Rocco Baldelli. The Twins also added veterans like Nelson Cruz, C.J. Cron, Jonathan Schoop and Marwin Gonzalez.
The Twins have a hit a MLB record 299 home runs with five players launching 30 or more (Nelson Cruz, Max Kepler, Miguel Sano, Eddie Rosario and Mitch Garver). All five of their starting pitchers have at least 10 wins (Jose Berrios, Martin Perez, Kyle Gibson, Jake Odorizzi and Michael Pineda) and Taylor Rogers has come out of nowhere to save nearly 30 games. They have a chance to become the third AL team with 100 plus wins.
Minnesota will advance to the ALDS against either the New York Yankees or Houston Astros. The Twins won't be favored against either team especially the Yankees who have bested them in post-season play five times since 2003. But the Twins were my pick to win the AL pennant and remain my pick. They've come this far. I might as well as back them all the way to the World Series (which they will lose to the St. Louis Cardinals).
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