It’s not quite the Curse of the Bambino, but the Twins are well aware of their Yankees horrors heading into next week’s ALDS.

“We understand the history,” team president Dave St. Peter told SKOR North radio earlier this week, before the matchup became official Friday with Houston claiming the top seed. “That’s my history — it isn’t [manager] Rocco Baldelli’s history, it certainly isn’t [slugging outfielder] Nelson Cruz’s history. So I think that’ll be overblown. Organizationally, I just say it’s time to slay the dragon, right?”

This isn’t the same Twins team that has seen its postseason dreams demolished by the Yankees five times since 2003, with their last defeat coming in the 2017 wild-card game. While St. Peter has held the same position for 17 years, Baldelli and the Cruz are in their first year with the ballclub.

Minnesota is also much more powerful than in years past, its 303 home runs with two games remaining trailing only the 305 by the Yankees.

“We look forward to the challenge. I know people will look at our pitching staff and point to certain deficiencies,” St. Peter said, referring to the drop off behind top starters Jake Ordorizzi and Jose Berrios, but, “I mean, you frankly could argue the same thing about the Yankees. They’re going to arguably go with two openers in the postseason. So it’ll likely be high-scoring, particularly at Yankee Stadium. I think it’ll be fun. And I think this team’s offense has been not only resilient all year but it’s also been pretty consistent.”

The series begins next Friday in The Bronx.

“Let’s go. Bring ‘em on,” St. Peter said. “We don’t get to pick who we play. No time like the present to break that curse, so to speak.”