Minnesota Twins Daily Clips Wednesday, September 27, 2017

 Brian Dozier's home gives Twins a win, reduces magic number to 1 over Angels. Star Tribune (Neal) p. 1  Twins, Indians both have postseason goals within reach. Star Tribune (Neal) p. 2  Bullpen picks up Colon after he gets sick, other notes. Star Tribune (Neal) p. 3  Magic of 2017 was on full display Tuesday for Twins. Star Tribune (Rand) p. 4  Scoggins: New Twins regime's patience pays off, now and in future. Star Tribune (Scoggins) p. 4  Molitor's 1982 Brewers provide cautionary tale for Molitor's 2017 Twins. Star Tribune (Rand) p. 5  Late Brian Dozier homer lifts Twins to 8-6 win over . Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 6  Max Kepler returns to lineup, plays through bruised lower back. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 7  Twins’ ByungHo Park plans to stay in Twin Cities this offseason. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 8  Twins' magic number 1 thanks to Doz, Bux. MLB.com (Bollinger & Kosileski) p. 9  Twins thrilling! Byron, Brian topple Tribe. MLB.com (Bollinger) p. 11  Dozier lifts Twins one step closer to WC. MLB.com (Bollinger) p. 11  Good news for Twins as Kepler back in action. MLB.com (Bollinger) p. 12  Zulgad: Twins write another winning chapter in the Summer of Resilience. 1500 ESPN (Zulgad) p. 13  Wetmore’s 5 thoughts: Close to clinching, some thoughts on Twins postseason roster. ESPN 1500 (Wetmore) p. 14  Dozier, Twins inch closer to postseason with resilient win over Indians. Associated Press p. 16  Twins would wrap up playoff spot with win over Indians. STATS p. 17

Brian Dozier's gives Twins a win, reduces magic number to 1 over Angels La Velle E. Neal III | Star Tribune | September 27, 2017

CLEVELAND - The Indians are the hottest team in baseball with one of the best bullpens in the game, and they had a lead in the eighth .

That did not matter to the Twins.

"The momentum can shift, just like that," Byron Buxton said. "With just one ."

Brian Dozier turned to be right man at the right time with the right swing.

Dozier launched Bryan Shaw's cut fastball over the right field wall for a three-run homer in the eighth inning to bring the Twins back from a two- run deficit. Buxton added an RBI single in the ninth, and the Twins toppled the Indians 8-6 at Progressive Field for their fifth consecutive victory.

They were ready to party if they had clinched a wild-card berth, so they retreated to the clubhouse to watch the end of the White Sox-Angels game in . Alas, the Angels won 9-3. So the Twins' magic number to clinch the second wild-card spot is down to one. A victory over Cleveland on Wednesday — or an Angels loss to Chicago — and the Twins are back to the postseason for the first time since 2010.

"We still have work to do," Dozier said. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves."

Dozier's homer slowed down Cleveland's 29-2 rampage through the league heading into Tuesday. And the Indians bullpen was 87-4 when leading after seven .

The Twins won a game in which starting righthander Bartolo Colon left after one inning because of illness, leading to use a club-record 10 pitchers in a nine-inning game. It also was a relief after the Twins were 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position before Dozier faced Shaw in the eighth.

With five games left to play, the Twins already have improved by 24 victories from last season, the biggest turnaround in club history. Part of the reason is the young core of hitters continuing to produce. In addition to Buxton's insurance run, was 4-for-5 with a home run and three RBI.

"Just because we are close to the playoffs, we didn't go out there and change anything or try to be something we're not," Buxton said. "We stayed within ourselves."

Jason Castro singled with one out in the eighth and was replaced by pinch runner Niko Goodrum. Robbie Grossman singled, with Goodrum advancing to third, and Zack Granite pinch ran for Grossman. Dozier was 3-for-23 against Shaw, but knew one thing: He was getting a cut fastball.

The 0-1 pitch was 96 miles per hour, but broke down and over the middle of the plate. Dozier swatted it out to right, then threw his right fist into the air as he rounded first base.

"That was probably as explosive as our dugout has been all year, when that ball cleared the right field wall," Molitor said. "That was quite a moment."

The Twins scored two runs in both the first and third innings, only for the Indians to tie the score in the bottom of each inning. Then the Twins began leaving runners in scoring position. Francisco Lindor gave Cleveland a 5-4 with a sacrifice fly in the sixth, and Edwin Encarnacion added a solo homer in the seventh off Ryan Pressly to make it 6-4.

But those runs only set up the Twins' 38th come-from-behind victory, putting them one game away from a celebration.

"The magic number is one," Dozier said. "We control our own destiny. We can win [Wednesday]. And then there will be a party.

"I probably won't see you guys for a day and a half."

Twins, Indians both have postseason goals within reach La Velle E. Neal | Star Tribune | September 27, 2017

CLEVELAND – Who knew, when Cleveland was sweeping the Twins at and the Twins were winning five out of six at Progressive Field, that it would come to this?

Both teams have something to play for during the final week of the regular season. The Twins are trying to clinch the AL’s second wild card, while the Indians are after baseball’s best record.

And it all goes down this week at Progressive Field.

Cleveland entered Tuesday 10-6 against the Twins, but the Twins have gained confidence from their success in the Indians’ park. This should still be a test, as the Twins arrive in the middle of the Indians’ run of dominance. Manager Paul Molitor doesn’t expect his team to back down, especially since they have played well here.

“I’m not going to be overly concerned how these games go other than I want to win,” he said. “You just keep looking for your team to keep doing what it has been doing. We have played well in this park, and we have matched up fairly well.”

Cleveland entered the series having won a ridiculous 29 of their past 31 games, putting them in the running with the Astros and Dodgers for the best record in the majors.

Indians manager Terry Francona feels much like Molitor, given his response when asked about the Twins’ ability to score in different ways.

“Well, I don’t really sit around and think of that because what I care about is trying to beat them [Tuesday],” Francona said. “The philosophy of how they got good is — I just care about how we’re going to beat [Bartolo] Colon [Tuesday] and how we’re going to move on to [Wednesday].

“I mean they’ve been a fun team to watch because they’ve scratched and clawed so much, so when you think they’re down and out, now all of a sudden their [magic] number is two. Anyone who knows [Twins Chief Baseball Office and former Indians exec] Derek Falvey is thrilled for them. Guess my hope is while they’re here, they clinch that spot but they clinch it by the other team losing.” 2

Still won’t go there

Before the game, Molitor continued to avoid directly answering questions about clinching the wild-card spot.

He has not forgotten about his 1982 Brewers team that led by four games with five to play and ended up needing to win on the final day of the regular season to reach the playoffs.

“I happen to have personal experience in watching a comfortable lead squandered in the last four days of a regular season,” Molitor said. “It was real. It happened.”

He grimaces when the postseason logistical questions come up in the clubhouse, as well as the media inquiries. He knows it’s part of being in the race the last week of the season.

“They had to have a [playoff] shares meeting, and MLB demands they do that,” Molitor said. “We had one two years ago, and no one got a penny.”

Kepler back in lineup

Outfielder Max Kepler was back in the starting lineup after missing Sunday because of a sore left hip suffered while he fielded a ball a night before.

“Talked to the trainers, watched him work out,” Molitor said. “… We think it is more like a bruise than any type of pain, so our risk is relatively nonexistent.”

Kepler, batting .243 with 19 home run and 68 RBI, is one player Molitor would like to see heat up during the final week.

“He is excited to be back, and he should be,” Molitor said. “And I’m glad to put his name down.”

Etc. • Molitor did not receive an update on third baseman Miguel Sano which, to him, means that nothing has changed. Sano is still undergoing treatment for a stress reaction in his left shin and has not recently attempted any baseball-related activities.

Bullpen picks up Colon after he gets sick, other notes La Velle E. Neal | Star Tribune | September 26, 2017

COLON GETS SICK: Twins manager Paul Molitor said that he received word that Bartolo Colon was not feeling well but was willing to make his start and see if he can fight through it. That fight lasted one inning, in which Colon gave up two runs. Molitor said he thanked Colon for trying to gut things out, but wanted to make a change. That led to nine relievers being used, 10 pitchers in all, a club record. "We had to go through quite a few people to get through the game," Molitor said. Molitor went to Tyler Duffey first, and not Dillon Gee. Molitor felt that Gee has been used in shorter stints lately, and that Duffey was better equipped to pitch longer. Duffey threw 38 pitches, Gee 35. But it worked out.

MOLITOR'S BLUNDER: Molitor went to the mound in the third inning after Duffey fell behind Jay Bruce 2-0, including a wild pitch. He wanted to make a pitching change. But he was stopped by home plate umpire Todd Tichenor. Why? Neil Allen went to the mound before the at-bat started, and Duffey had to face that batter. "I messed up," Molitor said. "It wasn't one of my shining moments. It won't be the last time. It's a little easier to laugh it off when you win. I wanted Duffey to get through Santana (the next batter) then after the wild pitch and the open base I was going to make a change and I just reacted to a the wild pitch. I should have known we had made the visit at the start of the at-bat. I try to be calm but sometimes you get excited, and I reacted too quickly there." Now, I read the complaints on twitter about how Molitor mishandles the bullpen, and I disagree, given what he's had to work with this season. But mistakes like the one on Tuesday don't help his case.

BUXTON'S DAY: Byron Buxton swiped his 23rd consecutive base on Tuesday, establishing a new Twins record while showing how much progress he's made in stealing bases. "It's something to cherish but it's something I know I have to get better over there, pick the right counts and stay aggressive. I also have to cover his great catch in the eighth when he stole a leadoff hit from Jason Kipnis. He didn't like his chances when the ball came off the bat. "I thought it was in the gap," he said. Buxton took a couple steps toward the gap before changing his mind. "Once it got to shortstop, I said, "oh, this ball is sinking." Buxton adjusted, went for the ball and made the diving catch with not much air between the ball and the ground. He said it helped that Eddie Rosario, the leftfielder, let him know he was backing him up, so he could go for the ball. The latest great play in the outfield by Buxton." 3

Magic of 2017 was on full display Tuesday for Twins Michael Rand | Star Tribune | September 27, 2017

The Twins might be the first wild card team in history to reach the postseason in a 162-game season with fewer than 86 victories. Given that simple fact about the 2017 Twins, who are currently 83-74, it's not quite right to say yet that this is a great team.

But while these Twins may not be great yet, they sure have some magic in them.

Further evidence came Tuesday in an 8-6 victory over Cleveland that was dramatic, important and so very much a microcosm of everything good about the 2017 Twins.

Drama? Well, a team that had back-to-back walk-off wins earlier this month as it pushed toward a playoff spot might have outdone itself Tuesday. Brian Dozier's two-out, three-run home run that made it 7-6 in the eighth inning wasn't a walk-off but it felt every bit as thrilling as Eddie Rosario and Byron Buxton's game-ending home runs.

Important? Let's start here: The victory reduced the Twins' magic number to one with five games to play, clinching a tie for the second wild card spot. On a night when the Angels routed the White Sox, it kept Los Angeles from getting any ideas about or gaining any momentum toward a final week comeback. The Twins probably would have been fine even without that win in the big picture of the wild card race, but winning lets everyone breathe a little easier. Plus, the sooner they clinch outright, the sooner they can move on to fully preparing for the playoffs — resting players, definitively setting a pitching rotation, etc.

In addition, the Twins beat a very good Cleveland team that they could end up facing in the American League Division Series. After last week's disappointment against the Yankees, getting a quality victory had some added weight.

A microcosm of 2017 as a whole? The two key themes to emerge from this Twins season are resilience and the dramatic evolution of several key players.

These Twins started the year with zero expectations after losing 103 games last season. They were written off countless times — most recently right at the nonwaiver deadline, when their playoff odds were around five percent and they traded away two veteran contributors. And yet here they are, on the cusp of becoming the first team in MLB history to make the playoffs a year after losing 100 games. That they clinched at least a tie in a game in which they had to use 10 pitchers because their 44-year-old starter got sick is pretty much perfect.

And that they got four hits from Eddie Rosario (perhaps the biggest breakout performer on a team full of them) … and that Dozier's home run went to the opposite field, something he rarely did in the past … and that Dozier's homer was followed by another amazing Byron Buxton catch, which was followed by a clutch Buxton single to add a massive insurance run … it speaks to what 2017 has been all about. The Twins haven't fully arrived, but the arrival is very much in progress.

The magic of 2017 was in full display Tuesday. And now the magic number is one.

Scoggins: New Twins regime's patience pays off, now and in future Chip Scoggins | Star Tribune | September 26, 2017

Front-office shakeups in pro sports usually inspire visions of ruthless makeovers. That especially holds true when new bosses arrive in the aftermath of a historically rotten season.

Blow it all up! Strip it down to the studs!

Derek Falvey and Thad Levine inherited a smoldering mess at 1 Twins Way and pushed pause. The new Twins brain trust didn’t blow up the roster, didn’t strip it to its studs, didn’t do anything considered bold, which was a surprising response to crisis.

Fans wanted blood following a 103-loss season. Many of us howled with disgust when owner Jim Pohlad mandated that the new regime keep manager Paul Molitor for at least one season after a “Total System Failure” debacle.

Hello, is anyone home?

Wholesale change might have produced desirable results, but this season has reinforced that patience also can be rewarded with unexpected success. The Twins enter the final week of their improbable season with a clear view of the American League’s second wild-card spot. 4

The Twins hold a comfortable lead over their pursuers, but comfort is a fleeting notion for a team that has had its obituary written at least a half-dozen times already this season.

Twins players can’t assume anything right now, not even with their cushion in the standings. They still have to work to finish.

This collection of players and staff has proved to be plucky, so any pressure they might feel — or should feel — probably doesn’t exist because they seem oblivious to external factors.

Whether by design or luck, the decision by Falvey and Levine to evaluate the roster with their own eyes rather than commence a massive overhaul has set up the organization for a bright future.

They wisely didn’t trade Ervin Santana for young assets. They resisted the urge to deal Brian Dozier to the , knowing they wouldn’t get fair compensation in return.

They showed faith in Jorge Polanco to prove that, defensively, he can handle being an everyday shortstop. They didn’t grow impatient with free- swinging Eddie Rosario and trade him out of frustration or with the idea that they had better options in the minors. They didn’t demote Byron Buxton when he started July batting .195.

Yes, Falvey and Levine appeared to wave a white flag in moving All-Star closer Brandon Kintzler and rental starter Jaime Garcia at the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline, decisions that showed they underestimated the resolve inside the clubhouse as much as many of us did.

Postseason or not, the organizational plan finally makes sense after years of waiting and wondering whether a youth movement would ever pay dividends.

Assuming Molitor returns as manager — which should be a given if the Twins indeed secure a wild-card berth — he can write down his lineup for 2018 Opening Day in ink right now.

There will be no questions about his everyday lineup, which should rank among MLB’s best in terms of offense and defense, provided they don’t experience mass regression statistically from what their young core produced this season.

Falvey and Levine should be judged more closely on how they bolster the pitching staff moving forward. Expectations will be exponentially higher, so they must act accordingly this offseason. They should view themselves in a different light now, as contenders.

The front office must find two starters — either from within their own system or outside the organization — to complement Santana and Jose Berrios. And they need to bolster their bullpen with flamethrowers who can induce .

Funny how a season like this changes perspective. Constant losing makes fans irritable and tired of being told to exhibit patience. The cries to trade anyone with any value last offseason wasn’t an irrational overreaction. Losing 103 games sandblasts remaining hope.

But patience sometimes becomes an appropriate course. Doing so allowed Buxton to fix his hitting mechanics at the big-league level, Rosario to learn more plate discipline, Dozier to remain a leader on and off the field and Santana to anchor a rotation on a team that finds itself in prime position to earn a playoff berth.

Nobody predicted this outcome, likely not even Falvey and Levine. Thankfully they didn’t blow it all up before giving this thing a chance.

Molitor's 1982 Brewers provide cautionary tale for Molitor's 2017 Twins Michael Rand | Star Tribune | September 26, 2017

The Twins collectively woke up Tuesday morning with a five-game lead in the American League Wild Card race with six games to play.

Regardless of what source you choose, the Twins’ chances of reaching the playoffs are tantalizingly close to 100 percent. Baseball Prospectus has them at 99.6 percent. FanGraphs is a little more couched at 97.7 percent.

Either way, it’s an amazing climb from Aug. 1. On the day after the nonwaiver trade deadline, the Twins were given about a 5 percent chance of reaching the postseason. Now their magic number is two. They’re so close.

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But as close as they are, they’re not in yet. And if anyone is going to remind the Twins of that, it’s manager Paul Molitor. Now, he’d probably be doing it regardless of his past experience because it’s a manager’s job to keep his team focused on the tasks at hand.

Molitor, though, can add a personal cautionary tale to his message to players.

Molitor was a standout on a loaded 1982 Brewers team that also featured AL MVP Robin Yount and several thumping power hitters. Starting on Aug. 1, Milwaukee was either tied for the AL East lead (back when the Brewers were in that division) or leading it outright. By the final week of the season, they had pulled ahead of Baltimore by four games — with five left to play.

I’m not sure they calculated playoff odds in 1982, but you would imagine the Brewers’ odds were pretty good — maybe not quite as good as the Twins’ odds because of circumstances I’ll get to in a moment, but certainly 90 percent or better. Remember, this was back when only the two division winners in each league made the playoffs.

And then things got dicey. The Brewers lost at Boston on a Thursday (attendance in that great baseball city for what was the Red Sox home finale at Fenway Park: 21,268). Baltimore won, cutting the lead to three games.

Milwaukee then had to go to Baltimore for a four-game season-closing series spanning three days. The Brewers were swept in a doubleheader Friday, cutting their lead to one game. They were blown out Saturday, putting the teams into a tie. That set up a one-game, winner-take-the- division finale Sunday in Baltimore. A seemingly safe lead had evaporated quickly.

The finale was a matchup of future Hall of Fame pitchers: Don Sutton for the Brewers vs. Jim Palmer of the Orioles. Finally, Milwaukee at that point had lost five consecutive games to Baltimore that season by a combine scored of 40-11.

But in that finale, Milwaukee’s bats finally woke from their slumber. Sutton pitched eight strong innings. The Brewers won 10-2, giving them a record of 97-65 and the AL East title. They ended up reaching the , where they lost to the Cardinals in seven games. (The Orioles finished 96-66 and missed the playoffs, but they won the World Series the next year).

Now, Baltimore surely had a better chance of catching Milwaukee than the Angels have of catching the Twins since they had four head-to-head matchups with them.

But yeah, it’s never over until it’s over. Molitor will be sure to remind his team of that.

Late Brian Dozier homer lifts Twins to 8-6 win over Cleveland Indians Mike Berardino |Pioneer Press | September 26, 2017

CLEVELAND — The champagne celebration will have to wait for at least another day, but with one dramatic swing of his bat Brian Dozier brought the Twins close enough to taste it.

“That was probably as explosive as our dugout’s been all year, when that ball cleared the right-field wall,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said after Tuesday night’s 8-6 win over the Cleveland Indians. “That was quite a moment.”

Eddie Rosario’s four-hit night, including his 27th homer, helped the Twins build a pair of two-run leads that Edwin Encarnacion and the first- place Cleveland Indians wiped out by the seventh. That’s when Dozier came through with his 33rd homer an inning later: a three-run, go-ahead, opposite-field shot off right-hander Bryan Shaw.

Dozier entered 3 for 23 (.130) with seven strikeouts against Shaw, but one of those hits was a homer to left off a four-seam fastball. This time Dozier got enough of a one-strike cutter at 96 mph to send it over the wall.

As he rounded first, Dozier thrust his right fist into the air, a la in the 1991 World Series.

“There was a lot of emotion running through there,” Dozier said. “With our bullpen, I knew the game was ours, in my opinion. I was pretty pumped up, especially when I got back in the dugout with all my brothers. Pretty fun.”

In position to clinch their first postseason berth since 2010, the Twins cut their magic number for the second American League wild-card spot to one. They would have clinched with a Los Angeles Angels’ loss in Chicago, but the sputtering Angels ended a six-game losing streak.

Coming off a four-game road sweep of the in which they outscored their diminished opponent 39-12, the Twins won for the sixth 6 time in seven road tries this season against the Indians. It was just the third loss in 32 games for the Indians and just their second home loss since Aug. 23.

“The magic number is one,” Dozier kept repeating. “We’ve still got work to do. We can’t get ahead of ourselves. We control our own destiny. Win (Wednesday), and there will be a party.”

Dozier also lifted the Twins to a 4-2 victory here on June 24 with a go-ahead homer in the eighth off Indians closer Cody Allen.

No doubt Dozier recalled the game-winning homer Twins special assistant hit here off Shaw’s first-pitch cutter in a 10-9 win on Aug. 7, 2015 as Hunter was nearing retirement. That solo shot came with one down in the ninth inning.

Dozier scored three times, giving him 102 runs on the year and making him the only major leaguer to reach 100 runs in each of the past four seasons. Before he connected off Shaw, the Twins were 1 for 14 with runners in scoring position against starter Josh Tomlin and the majors’ best bullpen (2.84 earned run average).

With their 83rd win, the Twins have improved by a Minnesota-franchise record 24 wins over last year’s 59-103 season. The previous mark was 23 and had lasted since 1965.

Francisco Lindor delivered the go-ahead sacrifice fly in the sixth inning, and Encarnacion added his 38th homer an inning later off Ryan Pressly to complete a four-RBI night.

Center fielder Byron Buxton set a Twins record in the sixth with his 23rd consecutive . The record had been shared by (1994) and Matt Lawton (1999-2000).

Bartolo Colon, back where he started his career two decades ago, was lifted after just one inning and 18 pitches due to illness. The 44-year-old right-hander, slowed by problems with his sinuses and stomach, gave up hits to three of the first four batters he faced and saw his season ERA climb to 6.72.

Dillon Gee got six outs in relief of Tyler Duffey, pushing his streak of relief innings without an earned run to 13 over seven outings. That streak began after a rocky outing at Detroit on Aug. 12 and was interrupted by three spot starts.

Matt Belisle worked the ninth for his eighth save in 10 tries since the Twins traded all-star closer Brandon Kintzler. The Twins used 10 relievers, a Minnesota franchise record for a nine-inning game.

Rosario is now hitting .343 in 172 career at-bats against the Indians. In 47 games against the division rival, he has nine homers, eight doubles, three triples and 23 RBIs.

Sixteen of his homers overall have come since Aug. 1.

Max Kepler returns to lineup, plays through bruised lower back Mike Berardino |Pioneer Press | September 26, 2017

CLEVELAND — Twins Max Kepler, who bruised his lower back/hip area while making a throw home over the weekend in Detroit, was back in the starting lineup for Tuesday’s series opener against the Cleveland Indians.

Kepler took three rounds of early batting practice at Progressive Field, where he has six of his 18 career road homers. He also did some running to prove to assistant athletic trainer Tony Leo and Twins manager Paul Molitor that he was ready to play again after sitting out Sunday’s game at Comerica Park, where Kepler has homered four times.

“I think he has a little bit of pain,” Molitor said. “We think it’s more a bruise than any type of pull or anything like that. We feel our risk is relatively nonexistent. He’s excited to be back in there and he should be, and I’m glad to put his name down.”

Kepler, 24, has played in all but 14 games this season, hitting .244 with 19 homers, 30 doubles and 68 runs batted in. His numbers have ticked up across the board despite season-long troubles against left-handed pitching.

No additional treatment was needed on Monday’s off day, Kepler said.

7

“I just rested,” he said. “They told me just to rest and take it easy.”

Like fellow Byron Buxton and Robbie Grossman, Kepler was able to shake off a late-season injury and keep playing.

“Dings are a part of baseball,” he said. “It’s a long season. Luckily we just came down with something we can manage and work through and hopefully keep it at that.”

Is the Twins’ relative youth an advantage when it comes to staying on the field?

“I’d like to say so,” Kepler said. “Obviously it depends on what kind of injury it is, but if it’s just a ding, yeah, the younger the body the better.”

AUTOMATIC ROGERS

After struggling to a 22.50 earned run average with three homers allowed in a two-week, six-outing span on either side of the July 31 trade deadline, lefty Taylor Rogers has slowly been working back into form.

Rogers has made 19 total outings covering 13½ innings over the past two months after leading the team with 47 appearances (40 1/3 innings) over the first four months.

“He was just having a little trouble finding that curveball,” Molitor said. “He used to be able to throw that pitch over with his eyes closed, and it just wasn’t there for a while.”

Rogers’ ERA since Aug. 6 is 0.71, and he has handled back-to-back outings four times in September.

“He’s a big part of our bullpen,” Molitor said. “He’s my best left-handed option when the game’s on the line. He’s pretty icy. I don’t think too much fazes that guy. That’s why I call him ‘Rog-a-matic.’”

BRIEFLY

Molitor said he hadn’t heard any news Tuesday on injured third baseman Miguel Sano, out for the past 38 days with a stress reaction in his left tibia. “When I don’t hear things, I assume things haven’t changed much,” Molitor said.

With his next homer, Kepler will give the Twins five 20-homer seasons for just the third time in Minnesota history. Kepler would join Brian Dozier (32), Miguel Sano (28), Eddie Rosario (27) and Eduardo Escobar (20). The 1986 Twins (Gary Gaetti, Kirby Puckett, Kent Hrbek, Tom Brunansky and Roy Smalley) and 1964 Twins (Harmon Killebrew, Bob Allison, Tony Oliva, Jimmie Hall, Don Mincher and Zoilo Versalles) also spread the power around.

Twins’ ByungHo Park plans to stay in Twin Cities this offseason Mike Berardino |Pioneer Press | September 26, 2017

CLEVELAND — Coming off a disappointing season at -A Rochester, South Korean first baseman ByungHo Park has decided to remain in the Twin Cities for the bulk of this offseason in hopes of righting his major league career.

“As I understand it, he is going to work out stateside for the offseason,” Twins chief baseball officer Derek Falvey said. “He’ll be here for the entirety of the offseason.”

Park, 31, has not been back to Target Field since ending his Red Wings season with park-adjusted production that was right at league average for the International League. After missing a month early in the year with a strained hamstring, Park hit .253 with a .308 on-base percentage and a .415 slugging percentage.

He hit just 14 home runs in 111 games while striking out 28.6 percent of the time.

How has Park handled this adversity after signing a four-year, $12 million deal to leave the Korea Baseball Organization after 2015?

“Incredibly professionally,” Falvey said. “He’s a guy who’s obviously had a lot of success (in the KBO). He’s had some ups and downs now in his career over here. I think he knows that. I view it similarly. He needs to focus and grow in different spaces and control what he can control, which is play and be the best he can be. 8

“What he can’t control are the opportunities here. That’s something we want to make sure he understands. If the time presents or the opportunity presents, we want him to be ready when the time comes.”

Toward that end, the Twins have discussed having Park travel to Fort Myers, Fla., to stay ready for a potential postseason opportunity should injuries strike the Twins in October. Left off the 40-man roster since early February, Park would be postseason-eligible but well down the list of prospective options.

“That’s a doomsday scenario, I would guess,” Falvey said. “Anyone who’s going there would be in the best position. We’re not going to play games. It will be more traditional instructional league, but we could potentially use anybody down there at that point.”

While working in the Cleveland Indians front office, Falvey saw the benefits of keeping extra players close to home. Simulated games were scheduled between rounds in order to keep reserves sharp in case of an injury on the postseason roster.

“It was easier to keep them with you for the most part,” Falvey said. “That way you didn’t have to worry about travel issues if there was an injury. I think, by and large, most of them are here. We need to trim down what we have here to go to 25. Beyond that, I wouldn’t anticipate any.”

As for Park, who has two years and $6.5 million left on his contract (plus a club option for 2020), the Twins have no reason to believe he’s ready to throw in the towel on his transition to North American baseball.

“We have every expectation he’ll remain at this point,” Falvey said. “With him working out in the Twin Cities this offseason, we think it’s likely he’ll use our facility for some of that, but nothing in the short term.”

Twins' magic number 1 thanks to Doz, Bux Rhett Bollinger & William Kosileski | MLB.com | September 27, 2017

CLEVELAND -- In a potential American League Division Series preview, the Indians and Twins did not disappoint in their series opener on Tuesday night at Progressive Field. It was the Twins, however, that came out on top, as Brian Dozier's go-ahead three-run homer in the eighth led Minnesota to an 8-6 victory over Cleveland.

The win for the Twins drops their magic number to clinch an AL Wild Card berth to one with five games remaining. They hold a five-game lead over the Angels, who defeated the White Sox on Tuesday. If the Twins clinch the second Wild Card spot, they are likely to face the Yankees, who clinched home-field advantage in the AL Wild Card Game with their win over the Rays.

Minnesota can clinch its AL Wild Card berth on Wednesday with either a win over Cleveland or an Angels loss.

Dozier's shot -- No. 33 on the season for the -- came against Indians reliever Bryan Shaw. Per Statcast™, the homer had an exit velocity of 99 mph and traveled an estimated 376 feet to right.

As Dozier rounded first, he raised his right arm skyward before pumping his fist repeatedly in celebration. It also allowed him to reach 100 runs scored in four consecutive seasons.

"The job there was to try to get the ball in the air and hopefully it splits the gap, but the last result is what happened when the ball snuck over the fence," Dozier said. "There was a lot of emotion running through there. The game was ours, in my opinion. I was pretty pumped up."

"When a guy hits a 97-mph cutter down for a home run to right, you kind of tip your hat," Indians manager Terry Francona said of Dozier's home run.

The Twins scored all of their other runs against Indians starter Josh Tomlin, who was credited with a no-decision after allowing eight hits and striking out three in 3 2/3 innings.

"Uncharacteristically, [Tomlin] wasn't commanding like he can," Francona said. "He threw some pitches just in the wrong area, where he wasn't trying to. And then after that, I thought he was having a harder time putting guys away. He was getting ahead, he just couldn't put them away."

Eddie Rosario went 4-for-5 and finished with three RBIs, including his 27th home run of the season. Jorge Polanco added an RBI groundout, and Byron Buxton connected for an RBI single in the 9th. 9

The Indians' loss is only their third in their last 32 games. Their lead over the Astros for the top spot in the AL is now one game following Houston's win over Texas.

Twins starter Bartolo Colon left the game after the first inning due to an illness, forcing the Twins to use 10 pitchers, a club record for a nine- inning contest. Colon allowed two runs on three hits with one in the first inning. He has a 9.64 ERA in five September starts, making his addition to a potential postseason roster unlikely.

Indians designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion finished with three hits and four RBIs, including his 38th home run. Francisco Lindor added a sacrifice fly and Jay Bruce drove in a run with an RBI single.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Kepler's cannon: The Indians tied the score at 4 in the bottom of the third with two runs, but it could have been more. With runners on second and third and the Twins clinging to a one-run lead, Bruce lined a single to right off Twins reliever Tyler Duffey to easily score Jose Ramirez to tie it up. But Encarnacion ran through the stop sign by third-base Mike Sarbaugh and was nabbed at the plate by a strong throw from right fielder Max Kepler, who made his return after missing a game with a bruised left hip, sustained on a throw home on Saturday.

"I think Edwin saw the throw," Francona said. "He looked over his shoulder and saw the throw, and I think he thought it was a bad throw and kept going. And there was enough to get him."

Picking up Bartolo: After Colon's early exit, Twins manager Paul Molitor was forced to turn to his bullpen early -- and often. Molitor used nine relievers after Colon was removed, and they picked up the slack, working the final eight innings. In those eight frames, Minnesota's bullpen allowed four runs on eight hits while striking out five and only walking two. Matt Belisle closed out the game with a 1-2-3 ninth inning to earn his eighth save of the season.

"The bullpen, for the most part, got us through," Molitor said. "The Indians did what they do. They came back twice in the first three innings. They got up late, but we found a way to get it done. I give the guys a lot of credit."

QUOTABLE

"They can do a lot of things. They have some guys in that lineup that can pop the ball out of the ballpark at any time, and they've got some guys that can take first to third, and steal some bases and do the little things that make them good. I feel like that's why they're in the position they are now, to be in the position to go to the postseason." -- Tomlin, on the Twins

"I think that was as explosive as our dugout has been all year, when that ball went over the right-field wall. That was quite a moment." -- Molitor, on Dozier's homer

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS

With his two-run single in the first inning, Encarnacion became only the third right-handed hitter in Indians' history with more than 100 walks and 100 RBIs in a single season, following Andre Thornton (1982) and Al Rosen (1950).

"As long as he's healthy, he's going to do that," Francona said. "Fun to watch. He's not done."

With his stolen base in the sixth, Buxton set the Twins record for consecutive steals without getting caught, with 23. He broke the previous mark of 22, set by Matt Lawton (1999-2000) and Chuck Knoblauch (1994). The MLB record is 50, set by Vince Coleman (1988-89).

BUXTON WITH FIVE-STAR CATCH

Buxton showed off his defensive prowess with an incredible diving catch in shallow left-center field to rob Jason Kipnis of a hit to open the bottom of the eighth. It had a catch probability of 24 percent, as he had to cover 56 feet in 3.6 seconds. It was Buxton's third five-star catch of the season, per Statcast™.

"Off the bat, I took a route where I thought it was going to travel farther than it did," Buxton said. "Once I saw it die down, I kind of got a good judgment on it. I just took a chance and tried to play it aggressively."

WHAT'S NEXT 10

Twins Rookie left-hander Adalberto Mejia (4-6, 4.48 ERA) is set to start the second game of the series on Wednesday at 6:10 p.m. CT. Mejia has posted a 4.70 ERA in two starts since missing more than a month with a strained left biceps, but he isn't expected to be on a pitch count this time out.

Indians Right-hander Danny Salazar (5-6, 4.48 ERA) will take the mound for Wednesday's 7:10 p.m. ET tilt against the Twins at Progressive Field. His last outing -- on Thursday against the Angels -- was his first start since Sept. 5; he was on a pitch count in that start, as he was removed after 2 2/3 innings, allowing one run and striking out four.

Twins thrilling! Byron, Brian topple Tribe Rhett Bollinger| MLB.com | September 27, 2017

CLEVELAND -- Byron Buxton continues to do it all for the Twins. He set the club record for consecutive stolen bases without getting caught, with 23; made a five-star catch in center field; and gave the Twins an insurance run with an RBI single in the ninth in a crucial 8-6 win over the Indians in the series opener on Tuesday night at Progressive Field.

With the victory, the Twins reduced their magic number to 1 and can clinch the final postseason berth in the American League with a win here on Wednesday or an Angels loss to the White Sox in Chicago. It would be Minnesota's first postseason berth since 2010 and send it to New York or Boston to play the AL Wild Card Game next Tuesday. The Red Sox's magic number to clinch the AL East is 3, and the second-place team has already secured home-field advantage in the Wild Card Game.

Buxton, who went 2-for-5, singled in the sixth and promptly stole second, breaking Minnesota's previous record of 22 straight stolen bases, set by Matt Lawton (1999-2000) and Chuck Knoblauch (1994). The swipe helped Buxton improve to 28-for-29 in stolen-base opportunities this season.

"It means a lot," Buxton said. "It's a lot of hard work coming from the coaches and people like that. It's something to cherish. But I know I still have to get better over there, pick better counts and stay aggressive."

But Buxton wasn't done showing off his elite speed, robbing Jason Kipnis of a hit in the eighth with a spectacular diving catch in shallow left- center. Buxton needed to cover 56 feet in 3.6 seconds for the play, which had a catch probability of 24 percent and was his third five-star catch of the season, per Statcast™.

"I thought it was going to be in the gap," Buxton said. "Off the bat, it looked like he squared it up. Once it got past the shortstop, I was kind of looking and read it. I didn't want to not make that play, but once I took those first couple steps, I wanted to be aggressive. I knew it was going to be a tough play, and once I heard [Eddie Rosario] say that he had my back, I went for it."

Buxton still wasn't done. With the Twins up by a run after Brian Dozier's three-run homer in the eighth, Buxton gave Minnesota some breathing room with an RBI single in the ninth.

Dozier lifts Twins one step closer to WC Rhett Bollinger | MLB.com | September 27, 2017

CLEVELAND -- It was career homer No. 150 for Twins second baseman Brian Dozier, but he couldn't recall a bigger one in his six-year career.

With the Twins trailing by two runs with one out in the eighth, Dozier lifted a fly ball from Indians reliever Bryan Shaw that carried just over the right-field fence to help give the Twins a critical 8-6 win on Tuesday night at Progressive Field. The victory lowered Minnesota's magic number to one for the second American League Wild Card spot with five games remaining.

Dozier couldn't contain himself as he rounded first base, raising his right hand high in the air, a gesture that was reminiscent of Kirby Puckett's famous celebration during his walk-off homer in Game 6 of the 1991 World Series.

"I think that was as explosive as our dugout has been all year when that ball went over the right-field wall," manager Paul Molitor said. "That was quite a moment."

Dozier, who was 3-for-23 off Shaw entering the at-bat, said Shaw likes to try to beat him away with his cutter "99 percent of the time." So after Shaw threw a cutter for strike one, he came back with the same pitch and Dozier went with it, getting just enough of it for his 33rd blast of the season. The ball left the bat at 99.2 mph and went a projected 376 feet, per Statcast™. 11

"It's pretty much all he throws," Dozier said. "He threw a good first pitch, but I think it was the exact same pitch. Early in my career, I used to try to pull Shaw, but as I've gotten older, I've tried to let the ball travel and try to get it in the air. He left one over the middle."

Dozier has matured as a hitter this season, showing increased power to right field after being pull-happy early in his career, including his 42- homer season in 2016. Only one of his 42 homers was hit to right field in 2016, but this year he's hit five, improving his average on balls hit to the right side from .246 to .348.

"He's had a handful of those over there, more than he ever has," Molitor said. "I think it shows the continuation of him becoming a better hitter."

It was simply a clutch moment from one of the club's leaders, a moment that left his teammates impressed and jubilant in the dugout, as they knew they were in great position with the way relievers Trevor Hildenberger and Matt Belisle have thrown.

"It was incredible," Byron Buxton said. "Once he did that, you could see the momentum shift to our side. We told ourselves to keep the foot on the pedal and keep going."

Dozier, though, doesn't want to look too far ahead, considering the Twins haven't clinched just yet, but he knows they're in prime position to make the postseason for the first time in his career.

"We can control our own destiny and win tomorrow and have a party," he said. "And then you guys won't see me for probably a day and a half."

Good news for Twins as Kepler back in action Rhett Bollinger | MLB.com | September 26, 2017

CLEVELAND -- The Twins received good news for their postseason push and potential American League Wild Card Game appearance, as the injury to right fielder Max Kepler's left hip/lower back was confirmed as minor, and he returned to the lineup against the Indians on Tuesday.

The Twins were hopeful that Kepler could return after Monday's off-day, but he had to get through a pregame workout on Tuesday as a test. He injured himself on Saturday on a throw home during the first inning against the Tigers when he fell awkwardly on his left side; he left the game early and was held out of the lineup on Sunday. There were initial fears that he sustained a minor sprain when he twisted the hip, but it turned out to only be a bruise.

"I talked to the trainers and watched him work out today, and he looked good," manager Paul Molitor said. "We think it's more bruised than any type of pull or anything like that. We feel our risk is relatively nonexistent. He's excited to be back in there, and he should be. I was happy to write his name down."

Kepler, 24, provides a boost for the Twins, as he ranks as one of the best defensive right fielders in baseball. He's tied for 12th in the Majors in Statcast™'s Outs Above Average Metric. The only right fielders who rank higher are Mookie Betts, Jason Heyward and Steven Souza Jr. Kepler also entered Tuesday hitting .244/.315/.430 with 19 homers, 30 doubles and 68 RBIs in 142 games.

Worth noting • Although Molitor had positive news on Kepler, third baseman Miguel Sano continues to be sidelined by the stress reaction in his left shin and hasn't been running or taking batting practice at Target Field. Sano, who has been out since Aug. 19, has been receiving treatment, but without being able to run or hit, there's virtually no chance he'll return during the regular season; an appearance in the AL Wild Card Game on Oct. 3, should the Twins earn a berth, is highly unlikely.

"I haven't heard any news today on Miguel," Molitor said. "When I don't hear things, I assume things haven't changed much."

• With the Twins pushing up Ervin Santana a day to start on Thursday to keep him in line to possibly start the Wild Card Game on Oct. 3, right- hander Kyle Gibson is expected to be pushed back to start Friday's series opener against the Tigers. Gibson, who is 7-2 with a 3.36 ERA over his last 11 starts, will be starting on six days' rest because of Monday's off-day, but he hasn't been throwing bullpen sessions between outings to stay fresh, and said the change doesn't really change his routine.

"I played a good game of long-toss today, and it's a program that I've learned from Ervin and [Bartolo Colon]," Gibson said. "No bullpens, just long-toss to keep your arm strength. I feel pretty good."

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Zulgad: Twins write another winning chapter in the Summer of Resilience Judd Zulgad | 1500 ESPN | September 26, 2017

The Twins didn’t clinch a playoff berth on Tuesday night, but there likely wasn’t any disappointment in the visitor’s clubhouse at Progressive Field.

Not after the Twins’ Summer of Resilience continued with a come-from-behind 8-6 victory over the Cleveland Indians that cut Minnesota’s magic number to one. The only thing that kept the Twins from securing the second wild card spot in the American League was the fact the Los Angeles Angels remained on life support with a 9-3 victory over the .

Another chance to qualify for next Tuesday’s one-game playoff at Yankee Stadium will come Wednesday night when the Twins play the second game of their series in Cleveland. The Angels and White Sox also will meet again in Chicago and a Twins win or Los Angeles loss will make Minnesota the first team to go from a 100-loss season to being in the playoffs.

That means there have been many surprising, improbable and memorable moments for the Twins this season. Tuesday’s victory has to be near the top of that list given the circumstances.

The Indians entered having won 29 of their past 31 and having pulled clear of the Twins by 16 games in the American League Central. Cleveland also continues to have plenty to play for given it wants to finish with the best record in the American League and all of baseball.

Minnesota starter Bartolo Colon attempted to pitch despite being ill but lasted only one inning before manager Paul Molitor made a change. The Twins had taken a 2-0 lead in the first inning, thanks in part to Eddie Rosario’s solo home run to right field, but Cleveland had a two-run lead by the time Brian Dozier came to bat with one out and two on in the eighth inning.

The Twins were 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position at that point and had left the bases loaded in the fourth. Rosario led off the fifth with a but his base running blunder on Eduardo Escobar’s ground ball to shortstop had gotten him thrown out at third and killed the Twins’ chances in that inning.

Now, Dozier was facing one of Cleveland’s best relievers, Bryan Shaw, and the Twins were down to their final five outs.

Dozier took a 97-mile-per-hour cutter from Shaw for strike one. Shaw decided to come back with the same pitch. This time Dozier lofted the 96- mile-per-hour cutter to the opposite field and out of the park. Progressive Field went silent; the Twins’ dugout went crazy.

“That was probably as explosive as our dugout has been all year when that ball cleared the right-field wall,” manager Paul Molitor said. “That was quite a moment.”

The victory was the Twins’ fifth in a row and improved their record in Cleveland this season to 6-1.

Molitor used nine relievers on Tuesday, none for more than two innings, after Colon departed. Trevor Hildenberger was brought in in the bottom of the eighth to protect the lead Dozier had given the Twins and got a huge from Byron Buxton.

Jason Kipnis led off the Indians eighth by lining a ball toward left-center. Buxton raced over from center field and made a diving backhand catch that was just the latest phenomenal grab by the soon-to-be Gold Glove winner.

The Twins finished 3-for-16 with runners in scoring position and left nine runners on base but still managed to get eight runs as they pounded out17 hits. The Indians hadn’t given up that many runs since Boston scored nine against them on Aug. 22. That was 32 games ago.

The Twins continued to do this without slugging third baseman Miguel Sano, whose season might be finished. The absence of a bat like Sano’s would be a big deal for many teams. Not for these Twins. Not right now. Not during the Summer of Resilience.

“I know the Angels are winning and all that,” Molitor said shortly before L.A. closed out Chicago, “but we’re trying to take care of business ourselves and tonight was a really good step in the right direction.”

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Wetmore’s 5 thoughts: Close to clinching, some thoughts on Twins postseason roster Derek Wetmore | 1500 ESPN | September 26, 2017

With the Twins on the verge of clinching a postseason berth, they’ve got some housekeeping to take care of. They’re already on track to have Ervin Santana pitch the Wild Card game next Tuesday, so that’s the first order of business already handled. They should also give a breather to guys like Brian Dozier, Joe Mauer, Byron Buxton and Max Kepler. Clinch first, then figure out rest schedules after that.

They’ll also have to finalize their postseason roster, which makes for a fun time of year. Not for everyone, of course. Inevitably, somebody who believes he should be on the postseason roster will be left off as a preferential decision over strategy.

Here are a few of my thoughts on the postseason roster for the .

1. What did other teams do?

I wanted to let recent history inform me a little bit here. After studying the current makeup of the club, I had my hunch as to how I’d assemble a roster for the Wild Card game. I wanted to make sure I wasn’t way off, though, so I looked toward the 2015 and 2016 American League Wild Card teams and how they built their one-game roster. (Note: Teams that win the Wild Card game can reset their roster for the Division Series.)

The 2016 Blue Jays had 10 pitchers (including 3 starters and a long guy) and 15 position players , including 2 . The Orioles that year had 10 pitchers (2 reserve starters: Ubaldo Jimenez and Dylan Bundy) and 15 position players (2 catchers). Don’t remind O’s manager Buck Showalter that one of those pitchers was one of the best relievers in baseball, Zach Britton, who went unused as the Orioles lost a game in .

The 2015 Astros had 9 pitchers (2 starters) and 16 position players (2 catchers, including Jason Castro). The Yankees that year had 9 pitchers (3 starters, including Masahiro Tanaka and Luis Severino) and 16 position players (3 catchers, including John Ryan Murphy).

The basic lesson from these four teams is about what I’d expected. You don’t need to bring all of your starters along for the ride. With the luxury of 25 roster spots, though, you want to make sure you have enough pitching in reserve so that you don’t get in trouble in the case of a short start or an extra-inning game.

2. Let’s start with the starters.

For position players, this should be fairly simple.

Catcher- Jason Castro First Base- Joe Mauer Second Base- Brian Dozier Shortstop- Jorge Polanco Third Base- Eduardo Escobar Designated Hitter- Robbie Grossman Left Field- Eddie Rosario Center Field- Byron Buxton Right Field- Max Kepler

Locked-in backups:

C- Chris Gimenez 1B/DH- Kennys Vargas IF- Ehire Adrianza OF- Zach Granite

I’ve heard people debating the merit of guys like Vargas and Granite, but to me it’s really simple. The size of the roster allows you to have a guy like Vargas, who can pinch hit and hit a home run, as well as a guy like Granite, who can pinch-run late in games, and whom you should trust to back up all three outfield positions.

Total so far: 13.

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3. Which pitchers are you definitely bringing?

Well, let’s start with Tuesday’s likely starter, Ervin Santana. You’re obviously counting on some innings from him. You also have to build the rest of your one-game pitching staff to protect against the risk that he might not go deep into the game. So I think the right call is to have at least 3 starters on the roster, which is similar to each of the past 4 A.L. Wild Card teams mentioned earlier.

The locks, for me, would be Santana, J.O. Berrios and Kyle Gibson. Berrios and Gibson might not be on regular rest to pitch a full starter’s load of innings. But in an absolute pinch, I think you’d rather ask them to throw a couple of innings on a bullpen day, rather than turn to the 8th-most trusted reliever in an extra-inning game.

On the bullpen, it’s been clear for a little while that manager Paul Molitor has a pecking order of bullpen arms. Just look at the way he uses his relievers when the Twins are up by a run or two late in games—and look at the guys he asks to pitch when the Twins are down 5 in the middle innings. The way I read the situation, the Twins are high on Matt Belisle, Trevor Hildenberger, lefty Taylor Rogers and Alan Busenitz as the trusted late-game quartet. So let’s for sure start with those guys. And then I think the Twins likely would include the electric but sometimes erratic Ryan Pressly, as well as the next lefty in the bullpen, Buddy Boshers.

Total so far: 22.

4. No Sano.

One guy you probably won’t have to factor in for the Wild Card roster is Miguel Sano. His late-August stress reaction injury in his shin might turn out to be season-ending. There was some fear in the clubhouse of that reality at the time it happened, but from the front office and the manager’s chair, there was a sense of optimism that it was possible Sano – and the Twins — would catch a break and the big guy would be able to work his way back into the lineup.

At this point, that doesn’t appear likely to happen soon. The last I’ve heard, Sano has been unable to get through hitting and on-field running without experiencing some soreness and swelling the following day. And then there’s the uncomfortable reality that for a guy who already featured a great deal of swing-and-miss as part of his powerful offensive arsenal, how realistic is it to expect that he’ll be ready to face postseason pitching even with a leg at or near 100% healthy?

It’s a tough blow for the Twins, and for Sano. But it hasn’t slowed down Minnesota’s offense anywhere near as much as you might think. The Twins lost their best hitter, and yet they’ve still been one of the best offenses in baseball in the second half of the season. Eduardo Escobar won’t make you forget about Sano by any means, but his power surge has helped keep the offense humming, as stars like Joe Mauer and Brian Dozier, and young players like Byron Buxton, Eddie Rosario and Jorge Polanco have powered the team almost all the way to the postseason.

5. Borderline cases.

There were several players on the current roster that I eliminated almost immediately, at least for the one-game Wild Card scenario. I don’t think relievers Gabriel Moya or Michael Tonkin will pitch for the Twins in the postseason, and I don’t know what role you’d find this year for depth pitchers like Aaron Slegers and Nik Turley. And Niko Goodrum had a good season in the minor leagues and adds as much positional flexibility as anybody. I considered him for this roster, but chose instead to get another pitcher on the staff instead of a bench player that might not factor into the action.

So after picking the starters, relievers, and position players that I knew I’d want to include, I had 3 roster spots left to hand out.

I gave one spot to Mitch Garver, because he provides added insurance, and he could be a pinch-hitting option late in the game. He hasn’t been used much in the Majors, but his minor league numbers were strong and I think he has a future with this team.

With two spots left there are 5 players I haven’t mentioned yet: Adalberto Mejia, Bartolo Colon, Dillon Gee, Glen Perkins, John Curtiss and Tyler Duffey. I’m taking out Curtiss for this exercise, since the Twins haven’t really used him in big spots in the Majors this year. Gee has been a long reliever for the most part, except for when he briefly was a starter. He’s only pitched once after the 6th inning for the Twins this season, and since I’ve included extra starters as optional length, I left Gee off the roster. He hasn’t given up a run since Sept. 1, so I could see including him on a Division Series roster if you think you need the protection.

September wasn’t a great month for Duffey, but I think he’s a guy you could see on the Wild Card roster. 20 of his 53 appearances this year have come with the Twins holding a 1- or 2-run lead, or in tie games.

15

The final spot gave me some trouble. I tried to decide between Colon, Perkins, Mejia and Goodrum. If we followed the mold from the past 4 A.L. Wild Card teams, it would have been Goodrum. If the Twins wanted to reward a veteran who worked his way back from a significant surgery, Perkins would be the guy. If they wanted to reward Colon for his contributions to the postseason appearance, he could be a consideration. But I don’t think this should be about feel-good stories. Every decision should be made with winning one as the primary factor.

I think Mejia fits the bill here. Sure, it’s unconventional to have 4 starting pitchers on the roster for a one-game playoff. Some teams in the past have employed a lefty starter as bullpen insurance – like the Blue Jays with Francisco Liriano last year, who won the game against the Orioles in extra innings. I don’t know what to expect from Mejia in a short relief stint at this point in the season. But if you want three lefties on the Wild Card roster, I think he’s the next logical choice after Rogers and Boshers.

This roster has 11 pitchers and 14 position players. That’s heavy on the pitching side, but given the starting lineup of position players for the Twins, and the capable backups at each position, I think it’s the right play for the current construction of their roster.

Dozier, Twins inch closer to postseason with resilient win over Indians Associated Press | September 27, 2017

CLEVELAND — When Brian Dozier’s home run cleared the right-field wall, Minnesota’s dugout burst into joyous celebration with players excitedly bouncing off each other.

The turn-around Twins are just one win from the playoffs.

Dozier’s three-run homer in the eighth inning pushed Minnesota to the brink of the postseason as the Twins, with manager Paul Molitor using a club record 10 pitchers, rallied for an 8-6 victory over Cleveland on Tuesday night, handing the Indians just their third loss in 32 games.

Dozier connected for his 33rd homer against Bryan Shaw (4-6) as the Twins, a 103-loss team in 2016, lowered their magic number for clinching a playoff berth to one.

As he rounded first, Dozier pumped his fist following a hit that resounded back to the Twin Cities.

“I couldn’t wait until I could get back to the dugout and celebrate with my brothers,” Dozier said.

Minnesota’s 38th come-from-behind win was symbolic of the club’s stunning role reversal.

“The willingness to never give up, never stop fighting, always competing in at-bats, that’s been our identity all year,” said center fielder Byron Buxton, who made a diving catch in the eighth. “Just because we’re so close to the playoffs, we didn’t go out there and try to be something we’re not.”

The Twins’ first trip to the postseason since 2010 will have to wait at least one more day as the Los Angeles Angels beat the Chicago White Sox 9-3.

One-out singles in the eighth by Jason Castro and Robbie Grossman set the table for Dozier, who drove an 0-1 pitch over the wall in right, touching off a manic celebration in Minnesota’s dugout.

“That was probably as explosive as our dugout’s been all year,” Molitor said. “That was quite a moment.”

Edwin Encarnacion hit his 38th homer and drove in four runs for the Indians, whose 29-3 mark over 32 games is the best in the majors since the 1947 did it.

After recently reeling off a record 22 straight wins, the Indians (98-59) are trying to hold onto the league’s best record as well as catch the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best overall mark.

Eddie Rosario homered and had three RBIs for the Twins, who won just 59 games last season and now are just a win away from extending a remarkable turnaround season.

“We’re proving people wrong,” catcher Chris Gimenez said. “We’re better than people think we are.”

Taylor Rogers (7-3), one of nine relievers Molitor had to use after starter Bartolo Colon got sick, got two outs in the seventh and Matt Belisle 16 worked the ninth for his eighth save.

Minnesota is on the cusp of unexpected history.

In addition to making the postseason for the first time since 2010, the Twins are close to becoming the first team to lose 100 games and make the playoffs the following year. Granted, the second wild-card berth has made that more of a possibility, but it doesn’t diminish the accomplishment.

Minnesota is also seeking to become the 13th team, and first since the 2009 , to go from 100-plus losses to a winning record the following season.

TO (NOT) CATCH A THIEF: Buxton set a club record with his 23rd straight stolen base.

Buxton swiped second with a headfirst dive in the sixth. He began his streak on May 24 and he’s been successful in 28 of 29 attempts, a .966 percentage that leads the majors. He broke the Twins’ mark of 22 straight successful steals shared by Chuck Knoblauch and Matt Lawton.

“It’s something to cherish,” Buxton said.

HOMER HAPPY: The Twins have 201 homers, third-most in franchise history. Minnesota hit 225 homers in 1963, and 221 in 1964.

EASY EE: Encarnacion broke the 100-RBI plateau in the first with a two-run single. The slugger has driven in at least 100 runs in five of the past six seasons, and in his first season with the Indians, he became just the fifth player in Cleveland history with at least 100 RBIs and 100 walks in the same season.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Twins: Molitor said 3B/DH Miguel Sano remains unlikely to play in the wild-card game if the Twins get there. He’s missed 36 games with a left shin injury.

Indians: Cleveland’s banged-up outfield is on the mend. LF Michael Brantley is expected to try and run later this week, an important step in his recovery from an ankle injury. At this point, Brantley’s chances of playing in the postseason appear slim. … RF Lonnie Chisenhall campaigned to play in the series opener after sitting out since Sept. 14 with a calf injury.

UP NEXT

Danny Salazar, whose spot on Cleveland’s postseason roster isn’t guaranteed, starts against Minnesota’s Adalberto Mejia.

Twins would wrap up playoff spot with win over Indians STATS| September 27, 2017

CLEVELAND -- The Minnesota Twins are so close to the postseason that they can't wait to play their next game.

Minnesota's magic number for claiming the American League's second wild-card spot is one. A win Wednesday night over the Cleveland Indians or a loss by the Los Angeles Angels to the Chicago White Sox would send the Twins to the postseason for the first time since 2010.

"It's all coming together for us," Twins center fielder Byron Buxton said. "We're playing great baseball. Now we've got to keep it going."

The Twins (83-74) have won five games in a row and are one of the few teams that have been able to consistently beat the Indians at home. Although Minnesota is 7-10 against Cleveland overall, the Twins are 6-1 vs. the Indians at Progressive Field.

"We know them pretty well, and I think that helps," Buxton said.

"We're just trying to take care of business," Twins manager Paul Molitor said.

So are the Indians. Although they have clinched the AL Central, they are trying to hold off the for the best record in the AL, and they haven't given up hope of catching the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in the majors.

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Cleveland (98-59) is one game ahead of Houston (97-60) and 2 1/2 games behind the Dodgers (101-57).

One of the ring leaders of the Indians' offense is designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion, who went 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs in an 8-6 loss to the Twins on Tuesday.

A free agent last winter, Encarnacion signed a three-year, $60 million contract with Cleveland, and he has delivered.

With less than a week left in the season, Encarnacion is hitting a modest .258, but he has belted 38 home runs with 103 RBIs and 101 walks. He is the fifth player in Indians history with 100 RBIs and 100 walks in the same season. The last to do it was Travis Hafner in 2007.

"As long as he's healthy, he'll do that. It's been fun to watch," Indians manager Terry Francona said.

Danny Salazar (5-6, 4.48 ERA), who has had an injury-plagued season for the second year in a row, will start for Cleveland on Wednesday night.

He has made two trips to the disabled list, once for a sore shoulder and the other for elbow inflammation. In 18 starts, he is 5-6 with a 4.66 ERA. In four relief appearances, he has a 1.59 ERA.

Because of his inconsistent performances and injury history this year, Salazar is probably on the bubble for a spot on the Indians' postseason roster.

He hasn't won a game since Aug. 15, but it was an 8-1 victory over the Twins in which Salazar pitched seven innings, gave up one run on three hits and struck out 10 with no walks. He is 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA in two starts against Minnesota this year and 5-3 with a 4.10 ERA in 12 career starts against the Twins.

Salazar started Thursday at Anaheim, and he gave up one run on two hits in 2 2/3 innings.

Rookie left-hander Adalberto Mejia (4-6, 4.48 ERA) will start for the Twins.

Mejia has made two career starts vs. Cleveland, and they were back-to-back on June 17 and 23. In those outings, Mejia was 1-1 with a 1.86 ERA, giving up two home runs, seven hits and eight walks in 9 2/3 innings.

In his most recent outing, Mejia last just 4 2/3 innings Thursday at Detroit. He yielded one run on four hits with a walk and five strikeouts.

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