The fact that the Minnesota Twins (7-2) bring the American League’s best record into this week’s four-game home-and-home series with the Pirates (2-7) should come as no surprise to anyone.
The Twins, who host the punchless (.177 batting average) Pirates tonight and Tuesday afternoon at Target Field and then travel to PNC Park for games Wednesday and Thursday – COVID-19 permitting — won last year’s AL Central title and finished with 101 wins. That was third best in the league behind the AL champion Astros (107 wins) and the AL East king Yankees (103). Ultimately, the Twins were eliminated from postseason play by the Yankees, who swept their divisional series in three games.