Resting Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa almost cost the Minnesota Twins a win yesterday. Also, Trevor Larnach went 0-5 with three strikeouts while Royce Lewis gets playing time in St. Paul—but I digress. Thankfully the Twins rallied for the win the miserable Royals stepped up and blew a 6-0 lead. Kyle Garlick’s eighth-inning homer and Gio Urshela’s go-ahead single in the ninth gave the Twins a win and the sweep. Here are the good parts:
The season is a quarter finished, and Minnesota is 25-16—first place in the Central Division. Tonight the Twins start a seven-game home stand, part of 15 straight games against Detroit and Kansas City. It would behoove Minnesota to not fuck around against the two worst teams in the league, because after this stretch Minnesota plays nine straight against Toronto, New York, and Tampa Bay.
But other than those three consecutive AL East opponents, the Twins twins won’t face a winning team until July. And even then, it’s seven against the White Sox, who are only a game over .500. Minnesota hosts Milwaukee for a two-game Interleague series a week before the All-Star break, but that’s it. Get these easy wins now, Rocco, because have you seen your second-half schedule? Hoo boy: Brewers, Angels, Dodgers, Astros, Giants, Red Sox, Yankees, Blue Jays. Better feast on the cupcakes now, because the gauntlet is coming.