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Twins likely to face Rays or Red Sox in ALDS

Posted at 10:18 AM on September 9, 2008 by Steve Rudolph

If Ron Gardenhire can find the magic elixir for his bullpen and/or the Chicago White Sox implode, the Twins will open the playoffs on the road in either St. Petersburg, Fla. or Boston.

Based on their current records, the winner of the Central Division appears destined to received the third seed in the four-team playoff. Since the fourth-seeded wild card entrant is likely to come from the East and division opponents cannot face each other in the ALDS, the Angels will get the wild card winner regardless of whether they finish with the best record in the League. That means the Central Division champion will likely open the playoffs inside Tropicana Field.

Let's hope the Twins are still in the race when they take on the Rays in a four-game series in Florida next week. It could provide a preview of postseason baseball and possibly spark a budding rivalry.