We are less than one week out of the Major League Baseball postseason and its first matchup, which is the American League Wild Card Game.
The Minnesota Twins are already slotted in this game after a remarkable turnaround in which they only won 59 games last season.
Entering Thursday night, the Twins are 83-75 and second in the AL Central behind the red-hot Cleveland Indians.
Second baseman Brian Dozier has led the way again with another big season. He answered a 42-home-run 2016 season with another 33 round trippers to go with 90 RBI.
But he’s had plenty of help this year as Miguel Sano and Eddie Rosario have chipped in 28 and 27 homers respectively.
Pitcher Ervin Santana has been a revelation on the hill, compiling a 16-8 record and a 3.36 ERA, which is tied for fourth-best in the American League.
They most likely will face the New York Yankees, who are still mathematically in the race for the American League East. With four games remaining, they are three games back of the Boston Red Sox, who should clinch the division with the next night or so.
The Yankees should like their chances if they are in fact playing in the one-game playoff. They were 4-2 against the Twins this season in six games.
However, it’s difficult to know what New York will get from its young stars like Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez and Luis Severino (who would likely pitch the AL Wild Card Game), on such a big, high-pressure stage.
Here is what we know about the AL Wild Card Game and how you can watch it:
American League Wild Card Game information
Teams: Minnesota Twins vs. AL East runner-up
Date: Tuesday, Oct. 3
Time: 8 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
