The Twins’ magic number to win the American League Central Division is down to nine, meaning they need any combination of wins and Cleveland losses to reach nine and they’ll secure their first division championship since 2010.
Here’s a more fun way to look at the powerful grip the Twins have on the division after sweeping Saturday’s doubleheader. For starters, the Twins have the advantage because they lead the division by 5.5 games entering play Sunday, and they have 14 games to go compared to 13 for Cleveland.
Let’s play the “If the Twins go” game
If the Twins go 0-14, the Indians need to go at least 6-7 to win the division.
If the Twins go 1-13, the Indians need to go at least 7-6 to win the division.
If the Twins go 2-12, the Indians need to go at least 8-5 to win the division.
If the Twins go 3-11, the Indians need to go at least 9-4 to win the division.
If the Twins go 4-10, the Indians need to go at least 10-3 to win the division.
If the Twins go 5-9, the Indians need to go at least 11-2 to win the division.
If the Twins go 6-8, the Indians need to go at least 12-1 to win the division.
If the Twins go 7-7, the Indians need to go 13-0 to win the division.
If the Twins go 8-6, the Indians need to go 13-0 to tie for the division lead.
If the Twins go 9-5, the Indians cannot tie nor win the division.
Twins’ ALDS opponent likely Houston or New York
It’s probably going to go down to the wire before the Twins find out where they’ll be headed for the best-of-five American League Divisional Series, but it’s a all but certain they’ll be going to Houston or New York.
If the playoffs started today (Sunday), the wild-card game would be between the Athletics and Rays, with the winner of that game going to New York for a best-of-five series against the Yankees. The Twins would go to Houston for a best-of-five series.
Bottom line: Barring a miraculous meltdown, the Twins will face the team that finishes second in the AL.
Cleveland? Oh, yeah. Getting swept in a doubleheader also hit them hard in the wild-card race because both the A’s and Rays won, meaning the Indians are now 2.5 games out of the second wild-card spot.
A win Sunday over the Indians will knock Minnesota’s magic number down to seven, while a loss will keep it at nine.
