Why Twins should be concerned early record is a mirage

The Minnesota Twins enter Friday's game in the third and final wild card spot in the American League with a strong 41-34 record. It has been a promising start, and they have even more optimism with third baseman Royce Lewis back in the lineup and clubbing home runs at an astronomical rate.

But when you look at how the Twins have compiled that record, it does create some concerns as to whether or not they are capable of competing with the top teams in the American League.

That's mostly because they have not yet been able to compete with the top teams in the American League.

As of Friday the Twins have played 14 games against the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Guardians, the top three teams in the AL.

Their record in those games? A staggering 0-14. 

It is one thing to struggle against the league's best teams. That is understandable. But the Twins have not even been competitive in these games. Their run differential in those 14 games is minus-52. They have lost 10 of those 14 games by at least three runs and have finished within one run in just one of those games. 

If you combine their games against all of the current division leaders, they are only 5-18 in 23 games. 

On the other side of the equation, the Twins have absolutely feasted against the league's worst teams.

As of Friday, Minnesota has played 17 games against the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, Colorado Rockies and Oakland A's, four of the five worst teams in baseball.

Their record in those games is 16-1, with the only loss being a 5-4 decision to Colorado a week-and-a-half ago. 

They start a three-game weekend set with the A's on Friday night, giving them another opportunity to pad that record. 

The Twins were a playoff team a year ago and reached the ALDS, so it's not like they are a bad team. They also cannot control their schedule. There is also something to be said for beating the teams you are supposed to beat (and also dominating them). 

But their inability to beat the league's best teams, or even to be competitive with them, is definitely a little eye-opening and might limit their ceiling for the 2024 season.