18-game playoff skid bedevils Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS — Pablo López is a newcomer to the Minnesota Twins who was just an 8-year-old in Venezuela when this record postseason losing streak began.
He’s heard all about it, and he’s eager to help make it disappear.
“I feel like, just like anything in life, nothing lasts forever,” said López, who will start Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series for the Twins on Tuesday afternoon at Target Field against the Toronto Blue Jays. “This group is as good as any to go out there and give the team, the fans, the community the opportunity to celebrate something.”
With 18 consecutive losses in the playoffs, the Twins have the longest skid in major North American professional sports history. Their last postseason victory was over the New York Yankees on Oct. 5, 2004, and it’s been 21 years since they won a series.
“The majority of us have not been a part of that unfortunate streak, but I know our fans have,” López said. “We’re embracing that, and we’re going to use it as motivation.”
The AL Central champion Twins get to play the entire best-of-three series at home. This club, led by López and Game 2 starter Sonny Gray, also has the All-Star starting pitching that has largely been lacking for the Twins in October since Johan Santana and Brad Radke fronted the rotation at the start of this dubious streak in 2004.
That’s why president of baseball operations Derek Falvey was willing to trade the 2022 AL batting champion, Luis Arraez, to the Miami Marlins last winter to acquire López. The righthander tied for third in Major League Baseball with a career-high 234 strikeouts in 194 innings that were the most logged by a Twins pitcher since José Berríos in 2019.
“He’s ready for this nod.
There will be a lot of adrenaline running for him tomorrow,” Falvey said Monday. “But we’re really proud of what he’s accomplished this year and ultimately what we’ll have with him for a lot of years to come.”
This is by many measures the most even of the four series in the first round, with the Blue Jays boasting starting pitching that’s just as strong. Twins starters had a collective 3.82 ERA, second-best in the majors behind the San Diego Padres. The Blue Jays (3.85) were third.
“Our defense is amazing and pitching’s been amazing, and I still think we’re a pretty good offense, too,” Toronto shortstop Bo Bichette said. “I know you need to do everything well in the playoffs to win, and I look forward to seeing what we’re capable of.”
The Blue Jays will gladly send righthander Kevin Gausman to the mound Tuesday, despite the 11-year veteran’s rough track record in 11 career starts against the Twins. He’s 1-4 with a 6.35 ERA and an opponent batting average of .286.
“I’m definitely excited to right the ship,” said Gausman, who lost his AL Wild Card Series start to the Seattle Mariners last season.
The Twins set a singleseason record with 1,654 strikeouts, an average of 10.2 per game. Gausman was second in the big leagues with 237 strikeouts this year.
“It just looks like he doesn’t have a heartbeat,” teammate George Springer said. “He’s always so calm. He’s always so collected.”