ALDS Twins (87-75) vs. Astros (90-72)

Game 1 - HOU RHP Verlander vs. MIN RHP Ober @ Minute Maid Park

Game 2 - HOU LHP Valdez vs. MIN RHP López  @ Minute Maid Park

Game 3 - MIN RHP Gray vs. HOU RHP Javier @ Target Field

Game 4 - MIN RHP Ryan vs. HOU RHP Urquidy @ Target Field

The Twins finally advanced in a playoff series for the first time since 2002, breaking an 18 game losing streak in the playoffs. Their reward… a date with the defending World Series Champions, the Astros. Rocco Baldelli’s pitching staff was excellent against the Blue Jays, but it will be a tall task to keep the potent Houston lineup at bay. The Twins will also need their star shortstop, former Astro Carlos Correa, to elevate his game on both sides of the ball, if they hope to take down his former teammates.

Dusty Baker’s squad is talented, experienced, and somehow still hungry after so much success. The top 4 in their lineup - Altuve, Bregman, Alvarez, and Tucker - are lethal when they’re rolling, and new edition José Abreu has been scorching hot the last month after an uncharacteristically poor year at the plate. As with many teams, the Astros will go as far as their pitching will take them. And with the arms they boast, that could be all the way to the World Series once again. Valdez and Javier are bonafide playoff starters. Pressly and Bryan Abreu are lockdown late-inning arms. Oh, and they got Justin Verlander back at the trade deadline. Can the ‘Stros make it to their 7th consecutive ALCS?

Audio clips from MLB.tv

MIN Radio TIBN - Cory Provus and Dan Gladden

HOU Radio BKME - Robert Ford and Steve Sparks

FOX/FS1 - Adam Amin, AJ Pierzyński, Adam Wainwright

Catch you next time,

P.C.O.