AL Playoff Picture: 3 pretenders that have no chance at a World Series

3) AL playoff picture: The Minnesota Twins aren’t good enough to go far in October

The Minnesota Twins might not even make the postseason but they do have two paths to get there. They can settle for a wild card or retake the American League Central from the Guardians. It’s good to have at least two options.

Unfortunately, with the way they’ve played, Minnesota is falling further away. They just don’t have the pitching even the Rays or Guardians can put on the mound. Their lineup, while arguably better than those two clubs, doesn’t compare to what the better AL playoff clubs can put in the batter’s box.

Pitting the Twins up against teams like the Seattle Mariners or Toronto Blue Jays, it’s Minnesota that falls third in line. There is no one clear path toward victory for them. It’s a big reason why they’re slipping right now.

As for one of their division rivals, the Chicago White Sox, let’s not dismiss them quite yet. That is a team many expected to be contending for a World Series this year. If Tony La Russa can stay out of the way, they’d be a sneaky pick to surprise everyone. The healthier and hotter they are, the better their chances.

Sadly, the Twins don’t quite have the same allure as the White Sox. They can win the division and even take a series or two. A World Series win, however, feels way too far out of their reach.