The Twins might not want to go back to the team hotel in Cleveland tonight if they’re able to beat the Indians, because they could be popping champagne bottles in the clubhouse soon after the game.
A win over Cleveland tonight coupled with an Angels loss to the White Sox will seal the deal for the Twins, clinching the second Wild Card in the American League playoff race.
The Twins’ game starts an hour earlier than the Angels and White Sox, so the wait would likely be about an hour barring either game going to extra innings.
The Angels lost 4-2 in Chicago last night – their seventh loss in their last eight games, dropping them 5 games behind Minnesota. The Rangers, Rays and Royals are all six games back, meaning they’re eliminated as soon as the Twins win once or they lose once.
Minnesota can still catch the Yankees for the first Wild Card, but New York needs just one win or a Twins loss to clinch home-field advantage in next Tuesday’s Wild Card game.
The Yankees made a strategic move Monday by pushing ace right-hander Luis Severino’s start to Wednesday, putting him in line to start against the Twins in the Wild Card game.
