Yankees

Yankees vs. Twins Series Preview: October Is One Win Away

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Yankees vs. Twins Series Preview: October Is One Win Away

AI Overview

The Yankees open a three-game series against the Twins at Target Field with a postseason magic number of one. New York, 86-63, can clinch with a win Monday or a Toronto loss to Detroit, while its pitching matchups provide a major advantage. Will Warren, Max Fried and Carlos Rodón face Minnesota starters with higher ERAs, as the Yankees aim for at least two wins and potentially a sweep.

The Yankees have spent months fighting through injuries, lineup changes, ugly stretches and a division race that refused to go away.

Now they can officially punch their ticket to October.

New York opens a 3-game series against the Minnesota Twins on Monday night at Target Field with a postseason magic number of just 1.

Win the game, and they’re in.

If Toronto loses to Detroit, they’re in anyway.

The Yankees enter Minnesota at 86-63, sitting 2nd in the American League East and 4 games behind the Rays. Catching Tampa Bay is still possible, but before anybody starts scoreboard watching the division race, there is some business to finish.

Lock up October first.

And looking at these 3 pitching matchups, the Yankees couldn’t ask for a much better opportunity.

Game 1: Will Warren vs. Dean Kremer

Will Warren gets the baseball Monday night with a 10-6 record and 4.05 ERA.

The Yankees don’t need Warren to dominate.

They need innings.

Give them 5 or 6 solid frames against a Minnesota offense that has been struggling, and New York should have enough offense and bullpen depth to take care of the rest.

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The Twins counter with Dean Kremer, who enters at 3-5 with a 5.65 ERA and has struggled with hard contact lately.

That’s where the Yankees need to attack immediately.

No waiting until the 6th inning. No letting a struggling pitcher settle in and suddenly start looking comfortable.

Jump on him.

Ben Rice might be the guy who does it.

Rice enters the series with 38 home runs and 90 RBIs while riding a 2-game homer streak. He has looked locked in at the top of the lineup and continues to give the Yankees power without needing somebody else to create the offense for him.

Cody Bellinger has also been hot lately, Luis García Jr. has reached the 30-homer mark, and Spencer Jones continues adding another dangerous left-handed bat to the middle of the order.

That matters even more right now because Aaron Judge is still trying to find his timing after returning from the injured list.

Judge is just 3-for-17 since coming back.

Nobody should be panicking about Aaron Judge after 17 at-bats.

But October is getting close.

The Yankees don’t just need Judge healthy.

They need Judge looking like Judge again.

The Pitching Advantage Is Obvious

If the Yankees don’t like their chances in this series, they’re not going to find many better matchups.

After Warren, New York lines up Max Fried against Bailey Ober and Carlos Rodón against Zebby Matthews.

Fried owns a 2.73 ERA.

Rodón is sitting at 2.94.

Minnesota will answer with Ober at 4.28 and Matthews at 4.98.

That’s a serious advantage on paper.

The Yankees’ pitching staff enters the series with an MLB-best 3.24 ERA, and that has been the biggest reason New York has been able to keep winning even when the offense has gone quiet.

Cam Schlittler’s latest dominant outing only reinforces how strong this Yankees rotation has become heading toward October.

He just gave New York 6 one-hit innings in a 2-0 shutout over the Mets, another reminder that this team is going into the postseason with legitimate starting pitching.

But this series belongs to Warren, Fried and Rodón.

They have the matchup advantage.

Now they have to use it.

Minnesota Is Running Out of Time

The Twins enter at 70-79 and have dropped 7 of their last 10.

Their pitching staff carries a 4.69 ERA, Byron Buxton remains sidelined, and the offense has gone quiet at the worst possible time.

Kody Clemens has 26 homers. Brooks Lee has 23. Josh Bell has driven in 86 runs.

There is enough power there to hurt you if you get careless.

But this is a series the Yankees should win.

Actually, with the way the pitching matchups line up, this is a series they should be thinking about sweeping.

The minimum should be 2 out of 3.

Win Monday and the playoff celebration begins immediately.

Then the conversation changes.

Can they still put pressure on Tampa Bay?

Can they secure the best possible playoff position?

How much rest can they give their starters and key position players before October?

Can Judge get fully locked in before the postseason begins?

Those are the questions you want to be asking in the final weeks.

Not whether you’re going to make it.

The Yankees spent almost an entire season getting to this point.

Now they’re 1 win away from officially finishing the first part of the job.

Minnesota is where October can officially begin.

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