With the start of the 2019 season rapidly approaching, I believe it’s time that we give you the ultimate breakdown of each division and predict their position in the standings come season’s end. It’s hard to predict record, so we’ll just give you their placement in the standings. Of course, this is coming from a fan’s perspective and what we think it could look like, not what it will. Today, we focus on the American League Central and the Minnesota Twins:
Minnesota Twins
2018 record: 78-84, 2nd in AL Central
Projected Lineup:
SS Jorge Polanco
RF Marwin Gonzalez
LF Eddie Rosario
DH Nelson Cruz
1B C.J. Cron
3B Miguel Sano
2B Jonathan Schoop
C Jason Castro
CF Byron Buxton
Starting Rotation:
RH Jose Berrios
RH Kyle Gibson
RH Jake Odorizzi
RH Michael Pineda
LH Adalberto Mejia
Key Bullpen Pieces:
RH Trevor May
RH Addison Reed
LH Taylor Rogers
Key Bench Pieces:
1B Tyler Austin
INF Ronald Torreyes
The post-Joe Mauer era in Minnesota has begun. The Twins made some pretty surprising moves this past offseason after an underwhelming 78 wins in 2018. Needing to add some bats in that order, Minnesota added slugger Nelson Cruz and the Human Swiss Army Knife, Marwin Gonzalez. With Cruz expected to continue his consistent power numbers in Target Field and Gonzalez getting his 500 at bats playing everywhere on the diamond, they will look to assist Eddie Rosario in the middle of that Twins order. Rosario was easily the Twins’ best player in 2018 where he hit .288 with 24 home runs and 31 doubles. His 2017 wasn’t much different: .290 average, 27 home runs and 33 doubles. Entering his age 27 season, Rosario will continue to be a key piece to that offense. The Twins do have two guys who need to step up in 2019, Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton. Sano, an All Star in 2017, appeared in just 71 games last year, hitting just .199 and striking out 115 times. He was at one point demoted all the way back down to Single-A. Although he’s expected to miss the first month of the season, he will need to have a bounce back year. Buxton, a former second overall draft pick, has disappointed Twins fans since his debut in 2015. A career .230 hitter with a career OBP of .285, Buxton needs to have a breakout 2019 entering his age 25 season.
Minnesota’s rotation will be led by Berrios, who is quickly becoming one of the top arms in the American League. In 32 starts last year, Berrios posted 202 strikeouts and a 1.144 WHIP. His ERA was a tad high at 3.84, but there is no denying that Berrios will be a guy to watch in 2019. After Berrios, the Twins will have Gibson and Odorizzi, both of whom also made 32 starts last year with 179 and 162 strikeouts, respectively. At least with these three, Twins fans know they will be making their 30 starts and will pitch with consistency. Of course, they don’t match up to the Indians’ rotation, but you gotta start somewhere; Berrios as your number one is a perfect starting point.
As far as the bullpen goes, Taylor Rogers was the primary guy last year. 72 games, 2.63 ERA, 75 strikeouts and a WHIP of 0.951. However, it’s Trevor May who is slated to take over as the 9th inning guy for the Twins. May appeared in just 24 games last year but pitched to a 3.20 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 25.1 innings.
The Twins are moving in the right steps to becoming contenders again. In what looks to be another weak AL Central with the Tribe winning the division, the Twins will finish behind them once again, looking to best their 78 win total of last year.
2019 prediction: 2nd in AL Central
