The Twins broke one streak, 18-straight postseason losses, in an electric Target Field victory Tuesday in game one of their Wild Card Series against Toronto. The best-of-three series now becomes a win-and-advance game for the Twins.
The good news is they're sending the guy who's been their best pitcher all season to the mound, Sonny Gray. He's been simply brilliant this season. The Blue Jays have a lot to overcome in order to get to game three Thursday.
Sonny Gray is Absolutely The Twins' Ace
Pablo Lopez was great this season after the Twins acquired him in a trade with Miami. They gave up a great hitter in Luis Arraez, but Lopez has been worth that steep price. And he was terrific in Game One, a pressure-packed game for the Twins and their fans.
But Sonny Gray has been their best pitcher this season and he brings much more postseason experience with him.
The Twins acquired Gray in a trade with Cincinnati in March of 2022. He pitched very well that season and the Twins picked up his option for 2023 and that has definitely paid off.
The 33-year old Gray was an All-Star for the Twins this season, and despite only having an 8-8 record, he sparkled with a 2.79 ERA in 32 starts. Gray’s 2.83 Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) led the majors. His 183 strikeouts are tied for the second-most in his career. And his 154 ERA+ was his second-highest, only to his All-Star season with the Cincinnati Reds in 2019. Gray was in Oakland the last time he pitched more than 180 innings.
He has some postseason experience with both Oakland in 2013, and the New York Yankees in 2017. He doesn't have a win, going 0-2 overall, but his 2.95 in four previous postseason starts is solid.
Along with Game One starter Pablo Lopez, Gray gives the Twins a solid one-two punch of starters and the team expects another quality start from their most consistent pitcher of 2023.
Former Twin José Berríos Will Need to Keep Toronto's Season Alive
That's a familiar name for Twins fans. Berríos pitched for the Twins from 2016-2020 before being traded to Toronto where he's continued to pitch well.
Now he'll face his former team, in a familiar ballpark, in a must-win for the Blue Jays. No pressure.
Berríos went 11-12 in 2023, with a 3.65 ERA over 32 starts.
He also has three postseason appearances, two of those starts, all during his time with the Twins. Those two starts, against New York in 2019 and Houston in 2020, were both losses. But Berríos didn't pitch poorly in either game, only giving up one earned run in each.
Twins Need to Hit Better in Big Situations
The reason José Berríos lost his two postseason starts are tied to 18-game losing streak for the Twins:
They didn't score enough runs.
Since that streak began in Game Two of their ALDS against the Yankees in 2004, the Twins have struggled to plate runs. Yes, it is tougher to score in the postseason. Starting pitchers are better. Bullpens are better.
But the Twins have scored more than 4 runs twice in the 19 games since 2004, including Tuesday's victory. Both of those were in losses to the Yankees in 2004 and both of those were extra-inning games.
And while the Twins broke the winless streak and took Game One on Tuesday in a 3-1 victory, again the bats were fairly quiet outside of Royce Lewis who drove in all three Twins runs on homers.
Minnesota didn't score another run and really threatened the Blue Jays only one other time outside of Lewis' heroics. In the bottom of the eighth, the Twins loaded the bases with two outs after Donovan Solano walked, Carlos Correa singled to center and Ryan Jeffers walked. Willi Castro then struck out looking. Minnesota went hitless with runners in scoring position and left a total of eight runners on base.
If the Twins are going to break another streak and actually win a playoff series (or more), the bats need to do more with runners on base. What drove Twins fans nuts during all those losses to the Yankees in the postseason was how they constantly came up with big hits when there was an opportunity to score runs.
It didn't cost them Tuesday thanks to Twins pitchers and defense, but to make a run the bats need to perform.
At some point, you'd think the Twins would have a great offensive day at the plate and win a postseason game. Pitching and defense wins in the playoffs. Former Twins manager Tom Kelly has taught Twins fans that since 1987 and still preaches it today. But it sure would be nice to score a few more runs.
Maybe today is that day. If it is, Houston awaits in the ALDS and that would make Twins fans very happy.
Twins Game Two Lineup
Julien 2B
Polanco 3B
Lewis DH
Kepler RF
Kirilloff 1B
Correa SS
Wallner LF
Jeffers C
Taylor CF
SP Sonny Gray
The Twins and Blue Jays Game Two can be heard on 830 WCCO, 102.9 FM The Wolf, and on the Audacy app (**in-market restrictions apply**)