The Twins open the month of June with the best record in baseball having won 40 of 58 games (40-18).
Their offense is still thumping and their starting pitchers are giving them quality innings. Entering play on June 3, they have an 11.5 game lead on the White Sox and Indians in the AL Central
Sixteen of the Twins’ 25 games this month will be against divisional foes, so their grip will only tighten if they pick up more wins.
Here’s how their schedule shakes out for the rest of the month.
- June 4-6 at Cleveland
- June 7-9 at Detroit
- June 11-13 vs. Seattle
- June 14-16 vs. Kansas City
- June 17-19 vs. Boston
- June 20-23 at Kansas City
- June 25-27 vs. Tampa Bay
- June 28-30 at Chicago
Even though the first six games are away from Target Field, let’s assume the Twins win four of six against the Indians and Tigers.
Then the Twins return home for nine games against two more bottom feeders in Kansas City and Seattle, and a better Boston team. Minnesota should take care of business against the Royals and Mariners, winning five of six.
The Red Sox are currently a game above .500 (30-29) and their offense has scored the third most runs in all of baseball this season. Still, the Twins should still win that series too.
Seven of the final 10 games of the month will be played on the road, starting with a four-gamer in Kansas City. Sweeping a four-game series on the road is tough, but winning three of four against a Royals team that’s won just 19 games seems rational.
The Twins return home for a rematch against the Rays, after taking three of four at Tropicana Field closing out the month of May. Again, I think the Twins win that series as well as taking the final series of June against the White Sox.
That means the Twins would go 18-7 this month, add that to their current record of 58-25, and that’s a win pace at 110 games by season’s end.
Before you think, I’m sipping too much Kool-Aid (which I am), last month I predicted the Twins to be 34-22 on June 1, and they ended up being 38-18. Clearly, this team is for real and the rest of the division is already fading away.
Also, the Twins just activated Nelson Cruz from the injured list, giving the best offense in baseball another big-time slugger at their disposal.
If the Twins end up signing Craig Kimbrel, and/or bolster their bullpen via trade, they’re only going to tighten their stranglehold as the best team in baseball.
