Fansided

25 most important stars for MLB playoffs

By Joshua Sadlock

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 21: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees follows through on a sixth inning home run against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on September 21, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 21: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees follows through on a sixth inning home run against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on September 21, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – SEPTEMBER 27: Starting pitcher Jose Berrios #17 of the Minnesota Twins throws in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on September 27, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – SEPTEMBER 27: Starting pitcher Jose Berrios #17 of the Minnesota Twins throws in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on September 27, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /

9. Jose Berrios

The Yankees and Twins matched up frequently in the ALDS in the early 2000s, with the Yankees dispatching with the Twins like a pesky younger brother every time. Minnesota just could never quite pull off a stunning upset of the Yankees during the peak years of their dynasty. This year’s Twins team has a different feel, however, and all of those previous defeats are squarely in the past.

If the Twins are going to take down the Yankees, it will have to be with their pitching staff. Both teams will roll out dominant offenses that put up record-breaking home run totals. The Yankees and Twins both hit over 300 homers this year, which is uncharted territory in MLB history and finished one-two in runs scored.

With both offenses so closely matched, this series will come down to which team’s ace pitches better. For the Yankees, Luis Severino is still not at full strength and the rest of the staff is questionable. That makes Twins ace Jose Berrios the number-one starter in the series.

The 25-year-old right-hander earned his second All-Star nod in a row this year and won 14 games. He has the type of arsenal that should play well against the Yankees power hitters. Working the strike zone and finishing hitters off with his breaking pitches will have to be the formula for Berrios. He struggled in his playoff debut against the Yankees in the 2017 Wild Card Game, but will be more ready to handle the pressure this time.

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