In a season that will likely see a historic number of home runs, it makes sense that perhaps the best team in baseball hits a ridiculous amount of them. The surprising part is just which team that is.

It isn’t the New York Yankees, who have led the sport in homers in each of the last two years. It isn’t the Houston Astros, with their turbocharged lineup and bandbox home stadium. It isn’t the Los Angeles Dodgers or Boston Red Sox or any of the other big-market clubs typically known for their ability to send balls into the stratosphere.

It’s the Minnesota Twins, and with the schedule approaching the halfway mark, it’s time to start treating them as what they are: legitimate World Series contenders.

“If people don’t take us seriously, that’s good for us,” Twins designated hitter Nelson Cruz said. “We’re going to go out there and kick their ass.”

Despite limited expectations coming out of spring training, the Twins have emerged as an unexpected force, on a pace to finish with a franchise-record 107 wins. They entered Tuesday holding a 10-game lead over the Cleveland Indians in the American League Central, putting them firmly en route to their first division title since 2010. Based on the current winning percentages of their opponents through Monday, they have the second-easiest schedule in the major leagues the rest of the way.