If there was an American League All-Star roster for the month of August, the Twins would have two starters and probably two or three reserves.
Brian Dozier and Eddie Rosario have been the best in the AL at second base and left field, respectively, while Jorge Polanco and Byron Buxton have been among the two best at shortstop and center field, respectively.
Here’s how the Twins stack up at each position against the best from the AL in August.
Catcher
- Gary Sanchez, Yankees: .304 avg., 9 HR, 18 RBI, 1.114 OPS
- Jason Castro, Twins: .233avg., 1 HR, 4 RBI, .707 OPS
This is clearly a pretty big hole, offensively anyway, for the Twins.
First Base
- Jose Abreu, White Sox: .318 avg., 6 HR, 9 RBI, .936 OPS
- Joe Mauer, Twins: .303 avg., 1 HR, 11 RBI, .774 OPS
This has been a rather weak position in the AL in August. Mauer’s numbers stack up really well against almost every other AL starter.
Second Base
- Brian Dozier, Twins: .333 avg., 9 HR, 19 RBI, 1.131 OPS
The next best is probably Jose Altuve or Eduardo Nunez (ex-Twin), but their numbers aren’t close to Dozier’s.
Shortstop
- Tim Beckham, Orioles: .416 avg., 5 HR, 12 RBI, 1.154 OPS
- Jorge Polanco, Twins: .382 avg., 3 HR, 16 RBI, 1.064 OPS
Polanco is clearly No. 2 at this position this month. The big difference here is that Polanco was signed as an amateur free agent while Beckham is a former No. 1 overall pick.
Third Base
- Manny Machado, Orioles: .341 avg., 9 HR, 30 RBI, 1.055 OPS
- Miguel Sano, Twins: .267 avg., 4 HR, 7 RBI, .843 OPS
Sano is on the 10-day DL.
Left Field
- Eddie Rosario, Twins: .346 avg., 7 HR, 19 RBI, 1.054 OPS
Detroit’s Justin Upton (9 HR, 23 RBI) and Boston’s Andrew Benintendi (.362 avg., 6 HR, 17 RBI) are right up there with Rosario.
Center Field
- Mike Trout, Angels: .338 avg., 7 HR, 16 RBI, 1.135 OPS
- Byron Buxton, Twins: .316 avg., 4 HR, 13 RBI, .915 OPS
Buxton is probably the third-best in center field this month. Baltimore’s Adam Jones (.325 avg., 5 HR, 12 RBI) has been very good, too.
Right Field
- Nomar Mazara, Rangers: .324 avg., 3 HR, 19 RBI, .863 OPS
- Max Kepler, Twins: .232 avg., 6 HR, 14 RBI, .796 OPS
Despite his low batting average, Kepler leads all AL right fielders with 6 home runs this month, and he’s third with 14 RBI.
Minnesota, currently a half-game ahead of the Angels for the second Wild Card, should be heavy favorites in each of their next three games with Ervin Santana and Jose Berrios starting against the White Sox Wednesday and Thursday.
Bartolo Colon, who’s averaged just under 7 innings in four August starts, takes the mound Saturday in Toronto against ex-Twins righty Nick Tepesch.
