The Twins’ biggest strength is their offense. After leading the major leagues much of the season in home runs, the Twins finished with a major-league-record 307, one more than the Yankees this season. The Yankees had set the previous record for most home runs by a team in 2018, with 267.

Led by designated hitter Nelson Cruz ( 41 home runs ) and outfielder Max Kepler (36), the Twins had eight players hit at least 20 home runs this season. With a lineup made up mostly of right-handed batters, the Twins’ on-base plus slugging percentage against right-handed pitchers was fourth best in baseball. Their production against left-handed pitchers, however, was the best — which could be troublesome for the Yankees’ J.A. Happ and C. C. Sabathia. Both left-handed starting pitchers were hit hard by right-handed batters this season, and their roles in the first round of the playoffs could be different than they were during the regular season.

Sabathia may end up in the bullpen, a role he tried last week for the first time in his 19 regular seasons in the major leagues. Happ appeared in a game last week as the so-called bulk pitcher after an opener. Masahiro Tanaka, a right-handed pitcher, did the same on Sunday. Boone said such a move wasn’t necessarily a precursor for Tanaka’s role in October.

“It’s all hands on deck, and we’re still working through what that means and how we’re going to deploy it,” Cashman said, adding later, “We’re just trying to put ourselves in the position to keep our options open and allow this roster to be as flexible and adjustable as possible.”

Cashman and Boone insisted that Paxton, the team’s best starting pitcher, was fine despite some nerve irritation behind his left hip, which shortened his start to one inning on Friday. Cashman said the Yankees had been more cautious than usual because the playoffs were around the corner, and the medication given to Paxton was expected to help.

Although Boone has not yet announced who will start which games, Paxton appeared to be the most likely option for Game 1, at least until his injury. That would allow him to pitch a Game 5, if necessary, on at least regular rest.

Encarnacion was originally expected to test his oblique in the final series against the Rangers, but he didn’t feel quite ready. So he was expected to do so during the simulated games and workouts in New York.