Minnesota Twins 2020 Schedule Released

[Cody Christie]

There have been plenty of question marks surrounding the 2020 MLB season and there are some that still wonder if sports should be happening at all during a pandemic. However, MLB is going to continue moving forward with their plan for each team to have a 60-game schedule with Opening Day slated for July 23-24. Every team’s full schedule was released on Monday night and here is what that means for the Twins.Here’s a breakdown of what was known about the schedule going into Monday’s release:

• All teams will play 10 games against each team in their division, so 2/3rds of their schedule will be against division opponents.
• The other 20 games will be played against the corresponding regional division in the National League. For the Twins, this means playing teams from the NL Central.
• Out of those 20 games, six will be with the closest natural rival. For the Twins, this means playing the Brewers six times.
• Every team has six total off-days throughout the season.

Before the full schedule was released, fans learned the Twins would be opening the 2020 season on the north side of Chicago against the White Sox. This likely means a pitching match-up of Jose Berrios versus Lucas Giolito starting at 7:10 Central. Chicago is expected to be better this season after adding some key pieces, but most prognosticators have them slated to finish third in the AL Central.

After three games in Chicago, the Twins have an eight-game home-stand that includes two games with the Cardinals, four games against Cleveland, and two games versus the Pirates. Minnesota’s next eight games are on the road with two games at Pittsburgh, three games in Kansas City, and three game in Milwaukee.

 

Next on the schedule is seven home games against the Royals (4 games) and Brewers (3 games). From there, the club goes on the road for 10-games with three in Kansas City, three games in Cleveland, and four games in Detroit. Following this, the club heads home for seven games with three against the White Sox and four against the Tigers.

 

Also included in Minnesota’s final month of the schedule is two games in St. Louis, before coming home to face Cleveland in what could be a pivotal series in deciding the division winner. Minnesota’s last road trip includes four games against the White Sox and three games against the Cubs. This allows the team to end the year at Target Field with two games versus Detroit and three games versus Cincinnati.

 

Notes on the schedule:

• The Twins get seven home games against Cleveland which means the Twins will only play in Cleveland for three games.
• Minnesota’s inter-league schedule includes six games against Milwaukee, four against Pittsburgh, four against St. Louis, three against the Cubs, and three against the Reds.
• In September, 15 of their 23 games are against AL Central opponents.
• August might be their easiest month with 18 of their 29 games against the Pirates, Tigers, and Royals.

What are your thoughts on the team’s 60-game schedule? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

 

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[Joey P]

I have no thoughts other than pure joy that there is in fact a schedule!

[bighat]

Good: wow what a break against Cleveland, 7 home games vs just 3 away.

 

Bad: Six against the Brewers, arguably the best team in the NL Central.

 

Thoughts: How much does home field matter when there are no fans? Surely it will still make a difference, but not as much this year?

[Minny505]

That 37 games in 38 day stretch looks rough.

 

But if this actually goes down, it's going to be super fun for the rest of us!!!

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Play ball.

[mikelink45]

What thoughts can you have for 60 games except - Play Ball!

 

[notoriousgod71]

The team that lets their top pitchers pitch the most games will have an advantage. A throw away game with Smeltzer or someone to try and steal an extra day of rest for a starting pitcher could be a killer.

[IndianaTwin]

It’s also a plus that Pittsburgh is one of their four-game opponents. 

 

Cleveland also doesn’t have an off day in the first week, so their rotation would set up to be starters 2-5 on the second weekend, whereas we would go 1-4. 

 

Living in EDT, it’s a major plus to have no PDT games. 

[IndianaTwin]

 

Good: wow what a break against Cleveland, 7 home games vs just 3 away.

Bad: Six against the Brewers, arguably the best team in the NL Central.

Thoughts: How much does home field matter when there are no fans? Surely it will still make a difference, but not as much this year?

 

In terms of strategery, it seems like the home-field advantage might be more significant with the extra-innings rules.

[VivaBomboRivera!]

One off day in August, four in September?!?!

[Hawkeye12]

 

One off day in August, four in September?!?!

 

Probably have to leave some room for any makeup games since every game could be three times as important.  Unfortunately, the rain isn't going to have any extra sympathy when it comes to trying to squeeze the season into it's already tight schedule.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

I don't suppose they have made it known whether fans will be in attendance, and if so, how that will play out?

 

No? oh well.

[Channing1964]

am i the only one that doesn't understand why the 7/3, 3/7 disparity in divisional home/road games. At this point I know it doesnt matter but jeeze, travel isnt a factor. So what is?

[James Rivah Twins Fan]

10 games with KC in August--let's hope we've got their number. Is that first game against the Cubs on Wednesday night just a warm-up preseason game? Hope it is televised or viewable in some way . . . sooner is better!    

[goulik]

 

Probably have to leave some room for any makeup games since every game could be three times as important.  Unfortunately, the rain isn't going to have any extra sympathy when it comes to trying to squeeze the season into it's already tight schedule.

My understanding is the active Roster will be 30 in July, 28 in August and 26 in September. More active players to start to allow more games played but paired down as offseason approaches... I’m open to correction if I’m wrong

[theBOMisthebomb]

am i the only one that doesn't understand why the 7/3, 3/7 disparity in divisional home/road games. At this point I know it doesnt matter but jeeze, travel isnt a factor. So what is?

I am right there with you and don't understand. I assume they want to avoid 2 game series so couldn't do 5 home/5 away equally across the AL Central. I guess it "evened out" for the Twins with unbalanced against their top two (perceived) competitors the Sox and Cleveland. If the Twins had 7 on the road against both the Sox and Cleveland I'd be screaming at the top of my lungs. It should be 5/5 home/away evenly.

[bighat]

 

I don't suppose they have made it known whether fans will be in attendance, and if so, how that will play out?

No? oh well.

Good question. Mixed messages and thoughts so far from various owners/teams:

 

AZ Diamondbacks: “My expectation and our expectation is we are going to be playing our games this year without fans in the ballpark,” he said on Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo Wednesday.

 

Chicago Cubs: “There was always a path to bring fans back into Wrigley — obviously a smaller group than would normally attend games,” Kenney said. “We do see that happening this year.”

 

Houston Astros: "The intent at some point is to get the fans into the ballpark,” Crane said.

 

St. Louis Cards: “I don’t know if fans will be able to go a baseball game in this abbreviated season. It seems unlikely today,” said St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson.

 

 

[twinfan]

A strange schedule in a strange season. We don't play Detroit until the 33rd game then 10 times. Then we end up with Cincy rather than an AL team. I figure 37 wins but lots will depend on COVID-19. The Cubs and Cardinals will be toughest in the NL but anyone can get hot in a sprint. And then the bunt comes back into play in extra innings. I don't agree with the head jocks. I think teams will (try to) bunt the runner over from 2B in the extras but it depends on who is at bat. There also will be lots of split starter games early and some pitchers may pitch in 45 games in relief. Then there are the youngsters who should get a shot with the weaker teams. It will be interesting.

[theBOMisthebomb]

A strange schedule in a strange season. We don't play Detroit until the 33rd game then 10 times. Then we end up with Cincy rather than an AL team. I figure 37 wins but lots will depend on COVID-19. The Cubs and Cardinals will be toughest in the NL but anyone can get hot in a sprint. And then the bunt comes back into play in extra innings. I don't agree with the head jocks. I think teams will (try to) bunt the runner over from 2B in the extras but it depends on who is at bat. There also will be lots of split starter games early and some pitchers may pitch in 45 games in relief. Then there are the youngsters who should get a shot with the weaker teams. It will be interesting.

Not to mention 10 games with Kansas City between August 7 and August 23.

[Nine of twelve]

The aspect of the 2020 schedule that is the most favorable for the Twins is having no travel to Arizona, California, Florida, or Texas.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cases.html

[yarnivek1972]

So, we have now hit the 60,000 new case per day threshold in the US 3 times in the last 4 days.

 

I gotta say, I think this plan is going to collapse even before games start. The health situation in this country is literally twice as worse as it was two months ago. It looks increasingly likely that college fall sports aren’t going to happen. Many locations are likely to be in complete lockdown soon, including places where teams are supposed to play. Notably Florida, Arizona, California and Texas. Given that the spread is so rampant in the sun belt, even the once touted plan of playing all games in the deep south is going to be a non-starter.

 

If they hit 80,000 new cases per day in the US before games are scheduled to start (which seems very likely), I think they will be pressured to put the brakes on. Maybe not by the federal government, but by enough states to make it matter (New York, California, Washington, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Georgia, and perhaps others).

[yarnivek1972]

California just shut down bars and restaurants again. I’m not sure if the governor has the authority to prevent MLB games from being played in California. I suspect he does, or at least thinks he does. That would force four teams to relocate. As a matter of practicality, if any state that hosts a MLB team says “no” that will end this experiment.

[Nine of twelve]

 

California just shut down bars and restaurants again. I’m not sure if the governor has the authority to prevent MLB games from being played in California. I suspect he does, or at least thinks he does. That would force four teams to relocate. As a matter of practicality, if any state that hosts a MLB team says “no” that will end this experiment.

Five teams.

[howeda7]

Apparently Buxton has suffered a significant leg injury tonight. Can't catch a break.

[yarnivek1972]

Five teams.

Damn math.