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MLB: The franchise all-time bracket, AL edition

By Bill Felber

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 9: Brock Holt #12 and Andrew Benintendi #16 of the Boston Red Sox look at their rings during a 2018 World Series championship ring ceremony before the Opening Day game against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 9, 2019 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 9: Brock Holt #12 and Andrew Benintendi #16 of the Boston Red Sox look at their rings during a 2018 World Series championship ring ceremony before the Opening Day game against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 9, 2019 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
(Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

MLB: The Franchise All-Time Bracket (AL Edition)

2019 Astros vs. 1991 Twins

The most current Astros team, the 2019 model, featured all the familiar every-day faces plus pitchers Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole and Zack Greinke. Verlander put together a 21-6 record, Cole was 20-5, and they combined to strike out 626 opponents. Verlander won the Cy Young Award, Cole finishing second.

Among the regulars, outfielder  Michael Brantley and DH Yordan Alvarez both topped .300, while third baseman Alex Bregman drove in 112 runs and first baseman Yuli Gurriel 104. Bregman also added 41 home runs.

The 2019  Astros won the franchise bracket by defeating the 1980 team in four games, the 2018 team in five, and the 1998 Astros in four.

The 1991 Twins capped a thrilling season with a seven-game World Series victory over the Atlanta Braves, winning the seventh game 1-0 behind Jack Morris’ 10-inning shutout. It was one of the classic games in baseball history.

During the regular season, Puckett hit .319 to lead the team while DH Chili Davis added 29 home runs and 93 RBIs.

Morris was 18-12 in the regular season but went 4-0 in that post-season with a 2.23 ERA. Scott Erickson was 20-8.

The 1991 Twins won the franchise bracket by defeating the 1970 Twins in six games, the 1933 Senators in five, and the 1924 Senators in six.

light. Related Story. The MLB all-time bracket challenge: Part 1

Game 1: The 1991 Twins had a .586 regular-season percentage, well behind 2019 Houston’s .660.

Game 2: The 2019 Astros only played .556 ball in post-season. The Twins dominated their post-season, taking out the Toronto Blue jays in five games before defeating Atlanta in a seven-game World Series. The series is even at one game each.

Game 3: The 2019 Astros pummeled opposing pitchers for a 119 team OPS+. The 1991 Twins come up well short of that at 107.

Game 4: Again it’s the 2019 Astros in dominant fashion. Cole, Verlander, and Greinke lead a 127 staff ERA+, 11 points better than Minnesota’s.

Game 5: The 2019 Astros had a 67.0 WAR. The 1991 Twins could only get to 50.5.

Result: 2019 Astros in five games. They play the 2001 Mariners in the second round.

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