The Minnesota Twins pitchers are one shutout away from tying a team record

Friday’s 7-0 victory over Detroit marked the 17th shutout thrown by the Twins’ pitching staff, just one fewer than the 18 that Minnesota’s 1967 and 1973 teams managed. It’s tied for the most in the American League, an odd achievement for a team that, entering Saturday, owned a collective 4.00 ERA, only 10th-best in the American League.

“It shows the upside of what our group here is capable of,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “Seventeen shutouts, that’s a big number.”

StarTribune.com

It’s a big year for shutouts period. Two shutouts so far on Saturday bring the major league total to 335, the third highest total in the 30 team era. Second place occurred in 2015 with 339, and first place was in 2014 with 353. The league should get to 340, but 353 seems out of reach at the moment.