OAKLAND, Calif. -- Two second-place teams that enter the final 10 days of the regular season worlds apart in the playoff picture go head-to-head when the Minnesota Twins and Oakland Athletics open a three-game series on Friday night.
The Twins (71-81) are the hotter of the two teams, having won four straight, but all it has accomplished is allow them to clinch second place in the American League Central behind the front-running Cleveland Indians.
Minnesota has been formally eliminated from postseason consideration.
The A's (92-61), meanwhile, are coming off a 21-3 romp over the Los Angeles Angels that allowed them to win two of three in the home series.