There are just a handful of games left in the 2020 MLB season before playoffs, and both teams with Aussies on their 40-man rosters have made the playoffs.
Victorian Lewis Thorpe has appeared in seven games for the Minnesota Twins so far while West Australian Liam Hendriks now has 14 saves with the Oakland Athletics, the AL West Champions.
LEWIS THORPE
Lewis Thorpe is in his second season with the Twins after making his MLB debut on 30 June 2019.
Thorpe's last appearance for Minnesota came in game one of a doubleheader against Detroit on Saturday, 29 August.
The left-handed pitcher, who has the full support of his hometown clubs Doncaster and Greenhills Montmorency, has pitched 16.1 innings across seven outings this season, with 4.2 scoreless innings in his first two games. He has given up a total of 24 hits for 11 earned runs with an ERA of 6.06 and 10 strikeouts.
After slipping to second in the American League Central standings, the Twins have won the last four games to regain the lead with a 35-22 record. They have already clinched a playoff berth and if their final home series vs. the Cincinnati Reds goes well, the Twins could come away with back-to-back division crowns after winning the AL Central last year.
For up-to-date schedules, scores and live action from the Twins, visit the official MLB website here.
LIAM HENDRIKS
Liam Hendriks and the Oakland A's have won the American League West and will be a force to be reckoned with come playoff time.
The MLB Reliever of the Month for August 2020 has notched yet another save, taking his total to 14 on the season after a scoreless outing to shut down the L.A. Dodgers on Wednesday, 23 September.
This was a big 6-4 win at Dodger Stadium as Oakland beat the holders of the best record in baseball.
The Dodgers tied it up on a solo shot by Edwin Ríos in the eighth, but Ramón Laureano followed up in the ninth with a clutch go-ahead two-run homer off former A’s teammate Blake Treinen.
Hendriks came in for the final three outs, getting AJ Pollock to line out before striking out Cody Bellinger. Hendriks retired Chris Taylor to complete the win. He is currently second in MLB pitchers on number of saves, with Cleveland's Brand Hand just ahead at 15.
Oakland plays Seattle in the last regular season series before the playoffs.
Follow the rest of Oakland’s season on the official MLB website here.
MLB ON KAYO
Don’t forget you can get your MLB fix on Kayo, with the Australian sports streaming service bringing you some of the biggest games streamed live each week. Kayo will bring you the New York Yankees v Miami Marlins game on Saturday, 26 September at 3:30 PM AEST, as well as Wild Card games as the playoffs get started next week.
Click HERE to check out Kayo and follow along with the MLB action live. New to Kayo? Sign up for a free 14-day trial HERE.