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Minnesota Twins Must Hit 1 Key Benchmark to Show They're True Contenders
TL;DR
The Minnesota Twins are currently half a game behind the Tampa Bay Rays with an 11-9 record. Their status as true contenders hinges on their performance by Memorial Day, May 25.
Key points
- Minnesota Twins are 11-9, half a game behind Tampa Bay Rays
- Twins need to perform well by Memorial Day to be considered contenders
- They have 33 games left before May 25
Minnesota TwinsTampa Bay RaysCincinnati RedsChicago White Sox
Minnesota Twins Must Hit 1 Key Benchmark to Show They're True Contenders
The Minnesota Twins are a half-game behind the Tampa Bay Rays atop the AL at 11-9 after losing 2-1 to the Cincinnati Reds on Friday, which is a better start than expected. However, it's not enough to anoint the squad as contenders.
Put simply, the Twins haven't played enough games to be considered a "win-now" team. That will change if they're still in the upper echelon of the AL by Memorial Day (May 25).
Minnesota has 33 games left before its matchup with the Chicago White Sox on May 25. By then, it will have played 53 contests, nearly a third of the regular season. That's a large enough sample size to take seriously, as it gives enough time to show which teams are contenders and pretenders early on.
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Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton (25). © Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
Minnesota entered the season in no man's land, as it had one of the AL's worst rosters on paper but hadn't committed to a full rebuild. After starting pitcher Pablo Lopez (elbow) was ruled out for the year, the team's only above-average players were fellow starting pitcher and center fielder Byron Buxton.
Q&A
What is the Minnesota Twins' current record?
The Minnesota Twins have an 11-9 record.
When is the key date for the Twins to prove they are contenders?
The key date for the Twins to prove their contender status is Memorial Day, May 25.
How many games do the Twins have left before May 25?
The Twins have 33 games left before their matchup on May 25.
