Who Lines Up For Twins in Game 1?
Who can you count on in October? I’m not just talking about on the field, I’m talking about the ability to even get on the field. With the Twins’ top three offensive players all injured for various portions of the season - including the end - we’re counting on Carlos Correa to be back at full strength, Royce Lewis’ hamstring to at least allow him to DH and Byron Buxton to be limited to pinch-hitting and pinch-running in October (if he’s even healthy enough).
Much is still left to be determined, but right now the odds are that the Twins will host a wild card series with Houston, with the Astros likely rolling out three-time Cy Young winner Justin Verlander in a Game 1 that will be more compelling than the 12 p.m. first pitch time it’ll no doubt be given. I’ve come up with my Game 1 lineup, which may include a surprise or two, that gives the Twins the best chance to win against Verlander or any right-handed pitcher.
Twins’ Game 1 Starting Lineup:
Edouard Julien (2B)
Jorge Polanco (3B)
Carlos Correa (SS)
Royce Lewis (DH)
Max Kepler (RF)
Alex Kirilloff (1B)
Matt Wallner (LF)
Ryan Jeffers (C)
Michael A. Taylor (CF)
1 - Eddie Julien - 2B
I like Julien - a lot - and he came out of nowhere (18th round pick in 2019) to play a big role on this team. Even though he’s batting under .200 the last 30 games, where else do you go for a leadoff man in this lineup? He’s got the highest OPS this side of Ryan Jeffers, has some power (14 homers), doesn’t strike out (team-best 85 amongst regulars), and walks a lot. Assuming Royce Lewis is good to go but can’t play the field, Julien at 2B is a solid choice.
2 - Jorge Polanco - 3B
“Steady Jorge” had a slow start to an injured season, but he’s been one of the team’s most productive hitters the last month, swinging almost .300. He’s one of the least flashy players in the organization, but where would the Twins be this season without his 2B/3B flexibility especially with Lewis sidelined twice? He’s important in the two hole because he’s grounded into just ONE double play all season. It’s not like he’s a guy with great speed - four steals - but he’s more likely to move Julien a base than Carlos Correa, who’s the other option for the No. 2 spot.
3 - Carlos Correa - SS
It’s time to put up or shut up for Carlos “It’s My Time” Correa. Fifth in AL MVP voting for Houston two seasons ago, we thought his .291, 22 home run campaign in 2022 was underwhelming. Then there’s this season, when yet another slow start after last winter’s signing/bum ankle drama, led to a career-worst (by far) .230. Correa doesn’t perform at home either - .212 batting average. As the Twins’ highest paid and until June they’re most heralded player, Correa needs a breakout October.
4 - Royce Lewis - DH
We’re assuming that Lewis’ hamstring pull will be good enough for him to DH, but not play the field. Which isn’t the worst thing. If there’s a guy on this team who can one day (this year?) match Kirby Puckett’s post-season dramatics, it’s Lewis. He’s played just 58 games this year and 70 overall in the majors, yet he carries himself with the poise of a 10-year veteran. He’s hitting over .300 versus lefties, versus righties, at home and on the road. He’s hit .345 in Twins wins. Lewis has batted cleanup in only six games this season - but he’s slugged three homers in those games, to go along with 10 hits in 25 at bats. As Lewis goes in 2023 and beyond, the Twins go.
5 - Max Kepler (RF)
Among the Twins’ brass best moves in 2023 was not listening to its fan base (evergreen) and keeping Max Kepler. Only Correa has more plate appearances - and only one other Twin (Donovan Solano) is even close. A slow starter like most of his teammates, Kepler batted .291 in July and .314 in August as the Twins put the division away. He hit .207 before the All-Star break and darn near .300 after. If Lewis doesn’t get the top half of the order in, Kepler is a good bet to do it.
6 - Alex Kirilloff (1B)
Donovan Solano would have been this pick just off his totality of work in 2023, but we know Rocco likes to play the matchups and can’t resist Kirilloff’s lefty bat against Verlander etc. After three injury plagued seasons, I’m mostly ready to see what Kirilloff the Thrill can do in 2024. A good October 2023 could build that confidence heading into the winter.
7 - Matt Wallner (LF)
A solid stint in Minneapolis in May had Twins fans clamoring for Wallner to be an every day player in the majors. Patience paid off though, with some more Triple-A at bats before becoming a regular in August. Slow to start, he’s batting .288 in September to clearly move into the Twins starting spot.
8 - Ryan Jeffers (C)
Yes, Christian Vazquez has two World Series rings, including one last year (in a part-time role). He’s a better defensive catcher. But he and Ryan Jeffers have split time this year, and at least in Game 1, I need the better offensive option, and that’s Jeffers. Jeffers has hit seven of his 12 home runs since August 1, and given the Twins’ penchant for scoring three runs or less in games this season, I need the chance he’ll just hit a solo shot out in the seventh or eighth inning.
9 - Michael A. Taylor (CF)
Long a Make Glove not W.A.R. favorite, Taylor’s our CF even if Buxton is back. But we won’t count on that, anyways. Almost as good as Buxton in the OF, Taylor is third on the Twins this year with 20 home runs - hitting out of the nine hole!
Starting Rotation
Derek Falvey and Rocco Baldelli have already named Pablo Lopez and Sonny Gray as the Game 1 and Game 2 starters. That’s no surprise. Gray has a tendency to lose his mind a bit if things aren’t going his way, and you can’t afford that in Game 1 or Game 3. Hopefully Lopez will do what he does (one run, seven innings) in Game 1, and you can get six innings out of Gray and three good innints from the bullpen in Game 2.
It’s either Kenta Maeda or Joe Ryan in Game 3, but I’d fall over if the latter wasn’t the starter. He’s struggled at times the second half of the year, and Maeda has been better more times than not. But Ryan just has the “it” factor to me, I don’t know if it’s the hair of the moustache…I know he’s got the intestinal fortitude of a winner-take-all game. Not that they’ll need it, but then he can be your Game 1 starter in round 2.
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