Twins vs Yankees | Preview, Odds & Pick

2010 ALDS Game 1 Preview – Minnesota vs New York

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Minnesota Twins (94-68) vs. New York Yankees (95-67)
Wednesday 8:30 PM ET on TBS

Starting Pitchers
NY: CC Sabathia 21-7, 3.18
MINN: Francisco Liriano 14-10, 3.62

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The New York Yankees face off against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday at 8:30 pm. The Yankees finally look human after making the playoffs as a wildcard. They lost to Boston Sunday 8-4, while Tampa Bay beat Kansas City for sole possession of first place. The Yankees have stopped the Twins in their tracks in the three division series since 2003. That included last October, but this time the Twins have home field advantage.

Taking the mound for New York will be CC Sabathia. He has been everything the Yankees expected him to be since signing as a free agent, with two nearly identical seasons. In his last 10 games, he has given up 59 hits in 71 innings, for a 7-2 record and 66 strikeouts. Sabathia is 13-8 in his career against Minnesota with an era of 3.05.

The Yanks’ offense was strong but their Achilles is the strikeout; six starters struck out 100 times and Jorge Posada just missed being number seven with 99.

The Yanks always have a trick up their sleeve and despite struggles by the usual hero’s, Robinson Cano was red hot the first half to pick up the slack. He did cool in the second half, and hit only .262 in September. Mark Teixeira found his usual power numbers for the year but struggled and only hit .256 this season. Late season pickup Lance Berkman was supposed to find his power stroke in a pennant chase, but since coming over from the Astros he has only one homerun in over 100 at bats. A-Rod is on fire in September hitting nine homeruns with 26 RBIs, finishing with 125 RBIs for the year.

On the mound for the Twins will be Francisco Liriano who is a strikeout pitcher, and hopes he can find the holes in the Yankee bats. It’s his first postseason start. He has not found success against the Yankees yet, losing both of his career decisions with a 3.12 era. Liriano is no stranger to adversity- he regained his arm strength after Tommy John Surgery and struck out 201 in 191 innings. He did look a bit tired down the stretch, giving up 60 hits in 55 innings in his last ten starts. That amounted to a 4.69 era but 55 strikeouts. The Twins will monitor him closely and go to the pen if necessary, as it is strength.

The Twins offense isn’t the power threat of the Yanks, but has its pieces. Joe Mauer didn’t find the dimensions of the new park to his liking, regressing to nine homeruns, but hitting his usual .327 with 43 doubles. If the series ends up in New York, the short porch could be in his sight.

Delmon Young lived up to the potential tag and broke out with 21 homeruns and 112 RBIs, but faded in September with a .257 average, but did manage 18 RBIs. Jason Kubel is recovered after missing games in September with a wrist injury, and his power will be needed.

Prediction: Yankees–It’s hard to bet against the Yankees and their track record, and I won’t for the first game. Sabathia is a proven commodity, but the Yankees have more chinks in the armor and have lost a step as age is creeping up on many of the starters. As the series go on, the young and hungry Twins may be able to dethrone the kings.

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