That’s it: the division series are approaching in major baseball. Starting tomorrow, the Astros will receive a visit from the Minnesota Twins at 4:45 p.m. in the first game of a 3-of-5.
This season, the Houston Astros have not had an extraordinary campaign. However, you know what they say: experience can make a difference in the end.
Even though the Texas Rangers spent the majority of the season atop the division, the Astros found a way to win the division title and avoid playing the games wild card.
They also have essentially the same training as last year since they acquired, along the way, the Cy Young winner in the American, Justin Verlander.
The latter won the Cy Young and the World Series in Houston, in 2022, before leaving.
As for the Twins, they spent the season at the top of the American Central, the worst in major baseball, before qualifying for the playoffs.
From there, they played good baseball and took advantage of the fact that the Blue Jays did the exact opposite to easily win the wild card series in two short games.
But do they have what it takes to beat Houston now? We’re looking at that.
Starting pitchers
On paper, the Astros have a top rotation that is truly imposing. Justin Verlander and Framber Valdez are two premier pitchers.
Verlander will also start the first game.
That said, in the playoffs, Verlander tends to collapse. This is where the Twins could take advantage to cut into home field advantage.
Cristian Javier, like the first two pitchers in the Astros rotation, is not having the season of his career and I don’t know if I trust JP France at this point.
Anyway, the Astros rotation worries me a little.
Among the Twins, we saw how Pablo Lopez and Sonny Gray had a great season. They will start games #2 and #3.
The Twins can’t be super comfortable about sending Joe Ryan in Game 1, but the rotation in general (along with Bailey Ober) has been really dominant this season.
If the Twins are able to break through the Verlander wall in the first game, their rotation (one of the good ones in MLB in 2023) can give them an advantage in a series like this.
Relievers
The Houston Astros have some good relievers. Rafael Montero and Ryan Pressly haven’t looked as dominant as they have in the past, that said.
The fact that several pitchers did not have a great season is worrying.
Be careful: Houston still has a good bullpen and pitchers capable of dominating. That said, I’m not sure the staff will be as good as it will be in 2022.
But it’s on the ground that it’s played out.
The Twins don’t have the bullpen of the year, but the late season additions of Chris Paddack and Brock Stewart help quite a bit.
Ah, we also saw against Toronto that even if the closer Jhoan Duran is not 100%, he can dominate. Don’t bet against the Twins bullpen, even though I like Houston’s bullpen a little better on paper.
Hitters
Offensively speaking, the Twins don’t have the most incredible offense in major league baseball. That said, there are still some good elements.
Quebecer Édouard Julien, as the first hitter in his team’s lineup, manages to get on the trails quite often.
Max Kepler is having a great season. Alex Kirilloff can do very well. Ryan Jeffers is a great supporting piece in Minnesota.
But the Twins are mainly counting on the fact that the good Royce Lewis is healthy enough to make a difference as a hitter of choice and on the fact that their shortstop is healthy.
Because yes, Carlos Correa arranged to beat George Springer and the Blue Jays in order to have the right to face his former club. He is healthy and he was the leader the club needed.
And even if Dusty Baker knows he’s facing the Twins and not just Correa, it’s still a big story to watch in the coming days.
That said, if Correa wants to beat the Twins, he’ll have to get up early. After all, the team he gained postseason experience with is great at the plate.
Jeremy Pena, who replaced him at shortstop, is the reigning MVP of the Championship Series and the World Series. It should not be neglected.
Then, Alex Bregman, Jose Altuve, Kyle Tucker, Yordan Alvarez and others will ensure that the Astros will not be easy customers.
Can Jose Abreu make the difference? Probably not, but it can help. Will Michael Brantley be healthy enough to be a factor?
Defensive
The Houston Astros have veterans who know how to play defense in the infield. Can Jeremy Pena hold up, though?
But Martin Maldonado and Chas McCormick will really help the club in the center line. The catcher and center fielder are excellent.
With the Twins, Christian Vazquez will not play every day, but he will be able to help the young Jeffers, who will benefit from the advice of the one who won the 2022 World Series and who knows the Astros.
Carlos Correa and Michael A. Taylor are defensive stalwarts, but collectively the Twins make few mistakes. That said, we’re watching Jorge Polanco at third base…
Managers
Rocco Baldelli is a good manager for the Twins. He seems tailor-made to take this team to the next level.
That said, it’s difficult to compare a manager who has a few years of experience in major league baseball to Dusty Baker.
Baker obviously had a lot of success in his career and he won the World Series. His players love him and he knows how to lead a match.
And what’s more, he invented the high fivewhich gives it a little extra.
Imponderables
The Minnesota Twins aren’t the most experienced team in the playoffs, but the guys just took the monkey off their back and threw it into the stands.
Because yes, winning a first series in over 20 years and a first playoff game since 2004 did everyone good.
On the other hand, the Astros make the playoffs every year and the club is aiming for a seventh straight appearance in the championship series. Will fatigue take over?
It will be an excellent series, in any case.
