Twins playoff schedule: Game times, tickets, watch parties and more
The Twins won their American League wild-card series against Toronto at Target Field and move on to an AL Division Series against the defending World Series champions, the Houston Astros.
Houston won the AL West and earned the No. 2 seed in the league, getting a first-round bye. The Twins won the AL Central and were the No. 3 seed.
ALDS
Game 1: Saturday, at Houston
3:45 p.m., FS1
Game 2: Sunday, at Houston
7:03 p.m., ESPN
Game 3: Tuesday, at Target Field
3:07 p.m., FOX
Game 4 (if necessary): Wednesday, at Target Field
Game time TBA
Game 5 (if necessary): Friday, October 13, at Houston
Game time TBA
Who's pitching for the Twins?
Saturday's starter is unknown. Joe Ryan (11-10, 4.51 ERA in the regular season) was scheduled to pitch Game 3 against Toronto, so it will be him, Kenta Maeda (6-8, 4.23) or Bailey Ober (8-6, 3.43). Pablo Lopez would pitch Sunday and Sonny Gray on Tuesday. They were the winning pitchers on Tuesday and Wednesday against the Jays.
Who's pitching for Houston?
Righthander Justin Verlander (7-3, 3.31) and lefthander Framber Valdez (12-11, 3.45 will start the first two games, with righthander Cristian Javier (10-5, 4.56) set for Game 3. Valdez and Javier were the winning pitchers in 2020 when the Astros swept a first-round series from the Twins.
If the Twins win
The winner of this ALDS will play the winner of the other ALDS — either No. 5 Texas or No. 1 Baltimore — in the American League Championship Series beginning Sunday, Oct. 15. That's a best-of-seven series that starts at the home of the higher seed. The ALCS winner advances to the World Series.
Sign up for our Twins Update newsletterTickets
Tickets for Game 3 and 4 at Target Field go on sale by the Twins at noon Friday. There are tickets available now on secondary markets from fans who bought tickets for all of the playoff series.
Minnesota Twins team website
Seat Geek | StubHub |Ticket King
Going to Houston? Here's the Astros' ticket web site.
Weekend watch parties
The Twins are opening Target Field for watch parties for Games 1 and 2 in Houston. Games will be shown on the video board in left field. Gates will open one hour before the first pitch. Tickets are free but need to be reserved here. A Game 5 watch party will be held if the series goes to a deciding game.
The Homer Hanky is back
Buy some at the Star Tribune Shop online or at the ballpark. Fans attending playoff games will receive one when entering Target Field.
October outdoor baseball ... uh-oh?
Game 3 will be at Target Field, and so will Game 4 if that game is necessary, next week: Tuesday and Wednesday. The forecast looks decent, if a little chilly: highs in the low 50s, dipping to high-30s lows. No rain. The afternoon start on Tuesday could be quite nice. If there is a Game 4 on Wednesday and it's a later start time, that's hoodie weather for sure.
Is the Twins roster finalized?
No, and it might not be until Saturday morning before ALDS Game 1. Fans will be watching to see if Byron Buxton, out for the wild-card series, makes a return to the active lineup.
