EVERYTHING on paper suggests NY should easily win this game.

Santana is 6-10 with a 5.66 ERA lifetime vs. NY. He started once against them this season, losing 2-1, on Sept. 18th at the Stadium ... 5 ²/₃ innings, gave up two runs on seven hits, one of those hits was a Judge HR in the first inning. He is also winless lifetime in the Bronx ... 0-5 with a 6.43 ERA in 6 career starts at Yankee Stadium

The Yankees and Twins' postseason past has been about as one-sided as possible. In four previous meetings, all Division Series, the Yankees won 12 of 14 games taking all four series. This will be the Twins’ first postseason appearance since they were swept three games by the Yankees in 2009 and 2010.

Season series ... Yankees, 4-2. The Yankees lost two of three in Minnesota in July in their second series after the break, then sweep the Twins three games in September at the Stadium. The Yankees are 21-9 in the regular season and 3-0 in the playoffs against the Twins at new Yankee Stadium.

Also worth noting ... Twins are 5-21 in their last 26 playoff games ... 17-50 in the last 67 meetings and 14-42 in the last 56 meetings in New York.

Two reasons why I like the Dog Tuesday night ... #1. Gaudy / eye popping trends have been an excellent fade this entire season and #2. All the pressure in the world is on the Yankees, Twins have absolutely nothing to lose.

Nerves could get to Severino, who will be pitching in his first postseason game. Playoff baseball is nothing new to Santana, he has appeared in eight postseason games and made two starts.

Minnesota doesn't have the big names like the Yankees do but they have been getting the job done with a lot of young kids who have had a really good season. Twins are one of the best fielding teams in baseball, their .987 fielding percentage is tied for the best in the AL and on the flip side their .260 batting average is fifth best in the AL.

With all the terrible numbers and horrible history Minnesota has had in the playoffs and against NY, i'll still back them in a game "they already lost"


[931] Minnesota Twins +225