Next 9
The next 9 games are going to be crucial for the Twins. 3 @ Cleveland, 3 @ Chicago, 3 against Detroit at home. The next 9 games are going to set the table for the rest of the season.
Cleveland by itself isn't a big deal, but rather it's the fact that it's on the road that worries me. In the Twins 3 big winning streaks lately, which combine for a total of 26 wins, realize that only 6 of them were on the road. Everything else was a win at home. Not to take anything away from their streaks, but one of the big places the Twins have struggled this year is on the road. In fact, save the Royals, the Twins have not defeated a division opponent on the road.
If the Twins want to prove their worth in this division, they need to go .500 or better on this road trip. In 1987 they were able to skip by with a winning record at home despite losing so much on the road. But this ain't 1987 (save the Tigers actually playing well). The Twins ain't gonna get by with this road record, and they certainly are not going to catch up to the Sox.
Speaking of which... 4 games. The Twins are only 4 games out of the Wild card. Despite going on a 20 game stretch making up no ground in June, the Twins have gained 5 games on the Sox in just over a week. If they keep struggling, the Twins might be able to make significant ground next week.
Now is the time. The Twins have not played a more important stretch than the next 9 games. They still have 68 games to play, but these first 9 are going to indicate which way the Twins are truly heading.
Cleveland by itself isn't a big deal, but rather it's the fact that it's on the road that worries me. In the Twins 3 big winning streaks lately, which combine for a total of 26 wins, realize that only 6 of them were on the road. Everything else was a win at home. Not to take anything away from their streaks, but one of the big places the Twins have struggled this year is on the road. In fact, save the Royals, the Twins have not defeated a division opponent on the road.
If the Twins want to prove their worth in this division, they need to go .500 or better on this road trip. In 1987 they were able to skip by with a winning record at home despite losing so much on the road. But this ain't 1987 (save the Tigers actually playing well). The Twins ain't gonna get by with this road record, and they certainly are not going to catch up to the Sox.
Speaking of which... 4 games. The Twins are only 4 games out of the Wild card. Despite going on a 20 game stretch making up no ground in June, the Twins have gained 5 games on the Sox in just over a week. If they keep struggling, the Twins might be able to make significant ground next week.
Now is the time. The Twins have not played a more important stretch than the next 9 games. They still have 68 games to play, but these first 9 are going to indicate which way the Twins are truly heading.
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