Braves (0-8) vs. Twins (0-8): Your 2017 World Series may be on deck

OK, Braves: I have a gift for you. I realize this isn't coming from your closest pal of late but this just shows that I have a heart.

You're going to the 2017 World Series.

The Braves' National League pennant next season is pretty much a lock, as is their World Series opponent: The Minnesota Twins. Sound familiar? It should. The Braves and Twins played one of the greatest World Series in baseball history in 1991, if you don't count the time when Kent Hrbek pulled Ron Gant off first base and somehow got away with it.

The Braves and Twins are each 0-8 today. They have the worst records in their respective leagues. But in 1990, each also finished last in their respective divisions. The Braves went 65-97, worst in the N.L. West (and worst in the majors). The Twins went 74-88, last in the A.L. West (second-worst in A.L., fourth-worst in the majors).

But the following season, the two teams won their divisions and later gave us baseball's "Worst To First" World Series. (Not that you need reminding but the Twins won the Series, 4-3, winning Game 7 in Minneapolis 1-0 in 10 innings.) Prior to the 1991 season, there had been 245 last-place teams in the National and American leagues and none had come back to finish in first the following season. (It's worth noting that while the Braves had been bad for several years, Minnesota had won the World Series in 1987, before a three-year fade).

With only eight of 162 games played, neither the Braves nor Twins have clinched last in their divisions yet. But they're off to a good start -- depending on how you define "good."

If the Braves put 2017 postseason tickets on sale, I'll let you know.