Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 10.6.23
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Biggest weekend in Minnesota sports I can remember in a long time. Twins/Astros starts Saturday in Houston; Gophers host No. 2 Michigan on national TV; Vikings host Pat Mahomes, Travis Kelce and we’ll see about Taylor Swift Sunday at 3:30.
Twins/Astros Begin Saturday at 3:45
It’ll be Justin Verlander versus either Joe Ryan, Kenta Maeda or Bailey Ober in Game 1 of the best-of-five ALDS that begins Saturday in Houston at 3:45. Game 2 is Sunday at 7.
Verlander needs no introduction. Any of the Twins’ three will need an introduction to a national audience. Ryan has struggled the second half of the season, and was set to start Game 3 against the Blue Jays on Thursday. Maeda was moved to the bullpen in September, but has pitched well against Houston albeit a couple years ago. Ober was good in September. Pablo Lopez can start Game 2 on regular rest, as would Sonny Gray (he’d have an extra day) in Game 3.
Going to be tough for the Twins, who are facing two top of the line starters in a five-game series. Of course, they have two as well. Going to be another series where three runs wins a majority of the games.
Gophers Host No. 2 Michigan
The No. 2 Michigan Wolverines come into Minneapolis just shy of a three touchdown favorite against the Gophers in a primetime matchup on “Big Fox” from Huntington Bank Stadium.
It will be an uphill climb for the Gophers, but there’s something special about a night game at home as the weather turns cold and the lights shine off those maize and blue Wolverine helmets.
Vikings Try to Go Back-to-Back
The Chiefs opened a 6.5 point favorite against the 1-3 Vikings, but that’s dropped to 3.5 after they barely squeezed by the Jets the other night. Will Taylor Swift be there? Let’s not beg her, okay It’s a bad look.
The Vikings can’t rest on their laurels after Carolina took them to the wire on Sunday. The Chiefs are obviously a great team, and I’d expect this game to be a high scoring affair.
Wild Win Penultimate Pre-Season Game in Chicago
It was the opening night lineup - save for Marc-Andre Fleury in net - and the Wild came away with a 3-2 shootout win in Chicago last night in the penultimate pre-season game. Saturday the Wild hosts Dallas at 5 in the last one, with the home and season opener Thursday against Florida.
The Wild is in even more salary cap hell than last year. They’ll be carrying just one extra defenseman, and no extra forwards. You typically carry three extra players total.
Wolves Win Pre-Season Opener in Abu Dhabi
Playing without an injured Anthony Edwards, who traveled all the way to Abu Dhabi to turn his ankle in practice, the Wolves began the pre-season with a 111-99 win over Dallas. The same teams meet Saturday at 11 a.m. central in Abu Dhabi.
Karl Anthony Towns led Minnesota with 20 points in just 17 minutes.
Loons Host LA Saturday
In the third biggest game at Allianz Field this weekend (St. Paul Central versus Highland Park girls and boys in the Saint Paul Cup tonight - game is nearly a sellout), the Loons fight for their lives against the LA Galaxy on Saturday.
The Loons need some help even if they win out, but my math tells me it’s pretty darn difficult with tiebreakers even if they win Saturday.
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Fun Pulltab Sports preview of the Twins series (okay, I called it in three games) with John King and a former Twins farmhand who told us some great Kirby Puckett stories. Kinger's Royce-O-Lantern foreshadowed the rookie's two homer game in his playoff debut, plus how did Kirby Puckett’s old jockstrap end up at Kinger’s house. Give us a watch:
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