The Twins became the first team to clinch a playoff spot and their division, after rallying to beat the Indians in the eighth inning and then witnessing the White Sox lose to the A's.While the Twins will continue to chase the Yankees, whom they trail by one game, for best record in the league and homefield advantage in the playoffs, wrapping up the AL Central with a week and a half left in the season gives manager Ron Gardenhire the luxury of juggling his rotation to his ideal order. He tipped his hand earlier this week, implying that Francisco Liriano, Carl Pavano, Brian Duensing and Nick Blackburn would be his four starters in October.
Duening has been a revelation for the Twins in 2010. He has pitched so well that he was promoted from long relief to likely postseason starter by virtue of his 10-2 record, 2.19 ERA and 1.13 WHIP -- the latter two and his winning percentage are all the best among Minnesota's six primary starters.
Whether the Twins edge the Yankees for the AL's top seed or not, they are likely to draw the Rays in the first round -- as the top seed, they'd draw the wild card anyway, but even as the No. 2 seed they'd draw the wild card because two teams from the same division can't play in the ALDS. If indeed Minnesota plays Tampa Bay, Gardenhire might want to at leas think about starting righthander Scott Baker over the lefty Duensing.
Of the Twins' likely playoff opponents, the Rays are the only team who fares better against lefty starters, going 34-17 (.667) against southpaws and 55-44 (.556) against righties. Baker -- who allowed one earned run and struck out seven over five innings against Cleveland on Tuesday -- has been brilliant against the Rays this year, yielding just one earned run in 15 innings over two starts.
Duensing, however, remains the clear favorite to start over Baker in a possible ALCS with New York or Texas. The Yankees are 31-23 (.574) against lefty starters and 61-36 (.629) against righties; the Rangers' split is even more lopsided, 24-22 (.522) against lefties and 59-45 (.628) against righties. Read more:http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/joe_lemire/09/22/five.cuts/index.html?hpt=T2##ixzz10GoWEhrP