The outlook is bleak for the Twins.

The Yankees have won 13 straight games against Minnesota since their last loss on May 10, 2001. New York outscored the Twins 49-13 this season, although all the games were in April. Mussina, still looking for his first World Series ring, is 20-2 in 24 career starts against the Twins. Clemens is 23-12, including 11-5 at the Metrodome. Wells is 18-6 against Minnesota, and Pettitte is 7-5. Joe Torre hasn't committed to Wells for Game 4, even though he's 8-2 lifetime in the postseason. Wells has struggled at times this season with a creaky back. Should Torre decide against Wells he would more than likely go to Contreras. He has been solid in his last starts but was sidelined for most of the season with injuries. This is also his first year in the major leagues so the playoff atmosphere will be new for him as well.

Guzman, a former Yankees prospect, went 1-for-18 (.056) against New York this year. Rivas was 2-for-20 (.100), Koskie was 2-for-19 (.105), Hunter was 4-for-23 (.174) and Mientkiewicz was 4-for-22 (.182). Lohse was 0-2 with a 7.15 ERA in two starts against the Yankees. Radke allowed three homers and seven earned runs in five innings vs. New York. Minnesota's rotation rebounded in the second half.

Santana, Radke and Lohse combined to go 25-5. Radke and Lohse combined to serve up 60 homers in 66 starts, and the Yankees hit 230 homers, the second-most in franchise history behind the Mickey Mantle/Roger Maris team that hit 240 in 1961.

This all looks good on paper, but lets not forget the beat-down the Yankees got at the hands of the Angels last year, a light hitting team that plays a similar game to this Twins team. The Yankees have extra motivation behind them this year, however. If Steinbrenner's team doesn't at least make it to the World Series this year he's going to blow an O-ring.

Here are the game 1 starters:

Twins

Johan Santana

The 24-year-old left-hander has vaulted himself from the role of reliever to Game 1 starter with a sensational second half. As a starter, Santana went 11-2 with a 2.20 ERA. That included a 5-0, 1.07 ERA in August, which earned AL Pitcher of the Month honors. Despite not joining Minnesota's rotation full time until July 11, Santana is among league leaders with 169 strikeouts, including 88 since the All-Star break, over 158 1/3 innings. He made two relief appearances against the Yankees this season, tossing 5 2/3 scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts.

Yankees

Mike Mussina

Mussina gets the call in the playoff opener for the first time as a Yankee, having pitched Game 3 for New York in each of the past two Division Series. Mussina's history against the Twins is overwhelming, as he boasts a 20-2 record with a 2.78 ERA in 24 career starts against Minnesota. This season, Mussina is 2-0 with a 1.20 ERA against the Twins, winning at both Yankee Stadium and the Metrodome.

For me, Santana is a wild card in this series. He has really been the ace of Minnesota's staff down the stretch. If anybody can get the Twins a win in the Bronx, its this guy. Mussina has proven in the past, however, that he does not lose to Minnesota. The Twinkies better bring their A-game, because I have a feeling Mussina means business.