Minnesota Twins: 5 Reasons the Twins Can Play Spoilers for Playoff Contenders

Currently, the Minnesota Twins are eight games back in a tight wild-card race and 12.5 GB in the AL Central. Consequently, the Twins have a 0.3 chance of making the playoffs.  

What is a team to do?

Since the Twins are most likely not going to make the playoffs, they can either give up completely or destroy the playoff dreams of other teams. After Minnesota's 19-7 victory over Baltimore on July 16, they clearly have chosen the latter.

This article examines how the Twins can play spoilers for potential playoff teams.

Situation in the AL Central

Plain and simple, the AL Central is a mediocre division. Therefore, the last-place team can have a substantial impact on first-place team.

The Twins are currently 14-15 against AL Central teams. While the White Sox are leading the AL Central, the Tigers and Indians are still in the hunt for the division, or at least a Wild Card spot.

The Twins could definitely play spoilers to the Tigers and Indians, against whom the Twins are 6-8. As Minnesota continues to split series with them, it will be difficult for these two division foes to gain ground on the White Sox or other Wild Card teams.

All in all, it is tough for a team to advance in a division when the worst club continues to win two out of four games against them.

Record Against AL East

Despite a 7-12 record against the AL East, the Twins have won some key games against potentially playoff-bound teams.

This season, Minnesota is 2-2 against Toronto, who is the middle of a tight race for a Wild Card spot. Additionally, the Blue Jays' last series of the season is against the Twins and every win counts.  

The Twins are also 2-2 against the Yankees, who have a commanding lead over the AL East. However, split series and .500 ball against the AL's worst can catch up to any .600+ team—even the Yankees.

The Twins are 2-3 against the Orioles, including a 19-7 win on July 16 and a comeback victory on July 17. The O's swept the Twins earlier in the season and cannot afford lose their swagger right now, especially against the league's worst.

Record Against AL West

The Twins have gone 8-16 against AL West clubs in 2012. Despite that less-than-impressive record, the Twins do have a .500 record against the A's.  

Though they were recently swept by the Wild Card-contending A's in a three game series, the Twins did sweep the A's in an earlier series this season.

Why is this significant? It means that the Twins do have the potential to beat the A's. The Twins' next series against the A's is in late August, a point in the season when playoff-bubble teams cannot afford to be swept or even lose a series.

The Twins could pop that bubble.

Month-by-Month Improvement

With three full months in the books, one thing can be said about Minnesota's month-by-month record:

It's improving. Each month, the Twins have bettered themselves and their record.  

Despite starting the year with a 6-16 (.273) April, the Twins went 12-16 (.429) in May for a 18-32 (.360) record after two months.  

Yet, the Twins bounced back in June. They finished the month winning five of nine series with a 14-13 (.519) record. This helped improve their record to 32-45 (.416).

They are winning more games. Someone else has to be losing.

Never-Say-Die Baseball

The Twins have a history of playing "never-say-die" baseball.

From their scrappy 1987 season that concluded with a World Series title to their worst-to-first turnaround from 1990 to 1991; from their defiance against the threat of contraction in 2001 to their come-from-behind AL Central title wins in 2006 and 2009, the Minnesota Twins truly never say die.

Despite their current record, the 2012 season is no exception to this underlying concept rooted in Twins baseball. Games like their July 17 come-from-behind victory against Baltimore illustrate that Minnesota doesn't give up.

With this determination to play fundamentally sound baseball, the Twins will be spoilers for potential playoff teams.