Red Sox 9, Twins 3: Uh-oh

Well, if my preview was “vibes-based,” then so too is the recap.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA—

For weeks now, despite Minnesota’s perpetual slide into oblivion, the saving grace was that the rest of the American League was playing at enough distance that the Wild Card was always safely secure. But now the needle has moved dramatically, from “is this team capable of making any noise in the playoffs, anyway?” to “is this team capable of making the playoffs, anyway?”

We’ve reached a point where recapping the ins, outs, odds, and ends of a 9-3 drubbing (a drubbing, mind you, that completed a doubleheader sweep) feels meaningless. Now, with the Twins officially out of playoff position with only six games remaining to reclaim their spot, all focus turns to the week ahead.

The Twins resume their schedule on Tuesday, with three games against the last-place Miami Marlins (57-99), and three more against the 86-70 Baltimore Orioles, who still lay claim to the top Wild Card.

All six games will be at Target Field.

Bailey Ober is lined up to be the last Twin to start twice, with a Tuesday outing on the docket and a Sunday outing in the pocket should Minnesota still need to win that game.

So, uh...

See you then?

STUDS:

Detroit Tigers

DUDS:

Kansas City Royals

Minnesota Twins