New York @ Minnesota preview
Target Field
Last Meeting ( May 27, 2010 ) NY Yankees 2, Minnesota 8
Maybe the fourth time will finally be the charm for the Minnesota Twins.
Minnesota has faced the New York Yankees three times in the American League Division Series. The Twins have gone in with high hopes on each occasion, only to see the Yankees cruise past them on their way to bigger and better things.
Even worse for Twins' fans is the fact their team hasn't been competitive against the Bronx Bombers. Minnesota was swept in three games last season and is 2-9 in the three series with the Yankees, falling in four games in 2003 and 2004.
Maybe this time will be different. The Twins have some things going in their favor. Minnesota has been dominant at home in its first year at Target Field. The Twins had the best home record in the league at 53-28, where the first two games, and possibly the fifth, of the series will be played.
The Yankees took four of six against the Twins this season. New York won two of three at home from May 14-16 and took two of three again at Target Field from May 25-27.
If the Twins are going to succeed this time, they need to take advantage of playing at home, and that will begin tonight with Game 1 starter Francisco Liriano (14-10).
The left-hander is Minnesota's ace and has had the best season of his career with 14 wins. However, Liriano will be making his first playoff start. It will be interesting to see how he handles the playoff pressure, particularly against the defending World Series champions.
Liriano is tough to beat when he's on his game. He struck out 201 batters in 191 2/3 innings while allowing only 184 hits. Liriano, helped out by Target Field's big dimensions, allowed only nine home runs all season.
Liriano was 0-1 in two starts against the Yankees this season. He lost at Yankee Stadium on May 15, allowing three runs and nine hits in six innings. Liriano got a no-decision on May 26 at Target Field, when he gave up two runs and eight hits in seven innings in a game the Twins lost 3-2. He recorded 14 strikeouts and only walked two in 13 innings.
The Yankees are sending Cy Young Award candidate CC Sabathia (21-7) to the mound. After continued failures to pitch up to his ace status in previous playoff starts with Cleveland and Milwaukee, Sabathia finally looked like a true No. 1 in the postseason after joining the Yankees, where he has several other superstars to help him shoulder the load.
The big left-hander was dominating in the 2009 postseason, going 3-1 with a 1.98 ERA in five starts. Sabathia started Game 1 in all three series.
Sabathia continued to pitch like an ace this season, allowing 209 hits and striking out 197 in 237 innings. Sabathia didn't start against Minnesota this season.