MINNEAPOLIS -- On the one hand, the Astros will enter the Wild Card Series two games below .500 with an underperforming offense and without ace Justin Verlander. On the other hand, the postseason is a completely different animal, and few groups in baseball have seen more meaningful action in October than the Astros.

The Twins saw that firsthand last year, when they followed up a 101-win regular season and a MLB home run record with a first-round exit in a sweep by the Yankees. Minnesota hasn't won a playoff series since 2002. The Astros, on the other hand, have played in the last three American League Championship Series.

Much of the core of that Houston lineup is still present on this 2020 squad. George Springer (50 playoff appearances), Jose Altuve (50), Carlos Correa (50), Alex Bregman (44) and Yuli Gurriel (44) have all appeared in at least as many postseason games as the Twins' leader, Nelson Cruz (44). There's something to be said for that.

"We know who we¡¯re up against," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. "The Astros have a tremendous team. They have an excellent track record. They¡¯ve played in big games. This will not be a game that for a lot of those guys in that dugout that¡¯s gonna be new experience-wise and energy-wise. They¡¯ve seen this before, really, up and down their lineup."

Many of the Twins' younger players saw that environment in full swing for the first time in 2017, when the club squandered a first-inning lead in the AL Wild Card Game at Yankee Stadium. Others got their first exposure in last season's AL Division Series -- again, in the Bronx.

It made an impression.

"Going into that environment, there¡¯s nowhere to go but up from there," Tyler Duffey said. "Even in that series, I don¡¯t feel like you could get much louder. I kind of compared it to when you get off an airplane and you realize how loud the plane¡¯s been the whole time, once the game was over. It was just kind of deafening at times, and it toughened us up, definitely, I think."

That experience toughened up the younger members of the Twins' roster, but president of baseball operations Derek Falvey and general manager Thad Levine also added plenty of playoff experience this offseason in an effort to bridge that gap. It's no coincidence that five of the eight players with the most postseason experience on the Twins' roster are newcomers: Josh Donaldson (39 playoff games), Alex Avila (35), Kenta Maeda (24), Tyler Clippard (14) and Rich Hill (13).

It's fair to wonder, though, if that will be as significant in this unusual 2020 season without fans in the stands.

That raucous din that Duffey described at Yankee Stadium? That won't be a factor in this postseason, which will begin at Target Field but relocate to MLB's Southern California bubble at Dodger Stadium and Petco Park if the Twins advance. It's that raucous crowd energy, that sense of heightened importance from the roar and the packed stadium and the bright lights, that can create a larger-than-life environment in the playoffs.

But this season, Game 1 will just be another game in front of empty stands -- just like the 60 that preceded it. That could help close the experience gap.

"I think the fact there's a lack of fans in the stadium will kind of get rid of that gap," Duffey said. "Maybe the experience matters because handling the energy of a crowd, that won't be as valuable. Being focused on the task at hand, I guess, is going to be the goal."

Another factor that could play in the Twins' favor is that they've been playing close, competitive games throughout the season as part of a tight, three-team division race that came down to the final day of the regular season. The Astros haven't necessarily had that, since Oakland ran away with the AL West title.

The Twins played in only 12 blowout games (decided by five or more runs) out of their 60 this season (20 percent), as opposed to 48 of their 162 (30 percent) last season.

"We have been playing tough games the last two weeks," Duffey said. "We have been in a race, and every game we have played has meant something. I think that is valuable as well. Would we have liked a nice cushy lead going into this and just hanging out? Sure. It also gave us an opportunity to really test our mettle and play some tough games here to finish up."

The final thing that could help the Twins close the experience gap is Target Field. The Twins were an MLB-best 24-7 at home this season and are accustomed to the clubhouses, batter's eye, environment and sounds of their home park.

In a three-game sprint where the other side's lineup won't be daunted by the stage, any little factor matters.

"We¡¯ve played very well at Target Field this year," Baldelli said. "2020 is a very different season than any other season that we¡¯ve seen in a lot of ways. It¡¯s one less thing to have to deal with. To be able to be here, playing in the home confines, I think everyone will look around and acknowledge it¡¯s something we were playing for, something we wanted, and now something we¡¯ve got.

"Now, we have to take advantage of it."