The Twins' main mission this week is finishing the White Sox, and if they can avoid a sweep at U.S. Cellular Field, the Twins can start putting the champagne on ice.
But there's another important goal that is suddenly well within their reach -- finishing with the American League's best record, which would ensure home-field advantage for the first two rounds of the postseason.
Psychologically, this would be huge, especially if the Twins faced the Yankees. Their struggles at Yankee Stadium -- old and new -- have been well-chronicled, though Jason Kubel's May 16 grand slam off Mariano Rivera is a highlight worth replaying if this matchup takes shape again.
But beyond the AL Central standings, these are worth following, too:
AL'S BEST RECORD
Yankees -- 87-56 0 GB
Rays -- 86-56 0.5 GB
Twins -- 85-58 2 GB
Rangers -- 80-63 7 GB
* Note -- The Yankees and Rays both hold tiebreakers over the Twins. It's based on the season series, which the Twins lost to New York (4-2) and to Tampa Bay (5-3).
The Yankees and Rays play seven times over the next two weeks (starting tonight with CC Sabathia vs. David Price) and neither wants to settle for the wild card. The wild card winner likely will play Games 1 and 2 of the Division Series at Target Field, where the Twins have built the AL's best home record, at 48-23. Here are the remaining schedules:
