Some Minnesota Twins supporters, particularly their rivals, have dismissed the team’s 10-game winning streak. It’s true that they’ve been playing bad opponents over the past week and half. Then again, that is the schedule. If the Twins had lost half of those games, the narrative would be how horrible they are. So, as they return home to face the Red Sox, it will be an opportunity to silence the critics and demonstrate that they have the tools to make the playoffs. The Twins have only two days off in May, one of which is Thursday. They then go on a 13-game streak with no days off in between. The grind starts with a visit from the Red Sox, who are surprisingly strong challengers in the AL East.
Boston hasn’t had a particularly difficult season, but they have battled against teams such as the Guardians and the Orioles, mirroring the Twins’ troubles. They have injuries, but they also have underappreciated depth from which to draw, and their hitting and pitching are currently on fire. The Red Sox’s pitching staff has experienced some injuries, including Brayan Bello, Garrett Whitlock, and Nick Pivetta, but it has not prevented them from acquiring excellent starting pitching. Their surviving employees all have a.589 winning percentage. Tanner Houck is having the season of his life, with a 1.60 ERA in 39 innings. He may be the most productive starter, but their bullpen is difficult to attack. To beat this team, the Twins’ pitching staff must control the strike zone and the batters.
The Twins’ pitching staff has been sufficient in the last three series, but the first two starters in the series raise some worries. Chris Paddack, due to start Friday, and Pablo López, set to start Saturday, both experienced some velocity difficulties in their previous starts, which can range from a slight blip to a red flag for injury. The starters will need to establish the tone for the series.
