Twins Take Two of Three in Toronto, Return Home in First Place

Minnesota Twins sweep four from Detroit, then take two of three from the Toronto Blue Jays.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 1:25pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a Twins baseball game, with sharp overlapping planes of navy blue, red, and white, capturing the dynamic energy of the team's recent success.The Twins' red-hot start has them tied for first in the AL Central, with their offense firing on all cylinders.Boston Today

The Minnesota Twins have surged to the top of the AL Central standings, taking two of three games from the Toronto Blue Jays on the road. Tristan Gray hit a three-run home run, Kody Clemens added a solo shot, and the Twins roughed up three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer in an 8-2 victory on Sunday. The Twins have now won six of their last seven games and are tied for first place in the division.

Why it matters

The Twins' strong start to the season has exceeded many preseason expectations, as the team has climbed to the top of the AL Central standings. Their success on the road against tough opponents like the Blue Jays demonstrates the team's ability to win close games and feed off each other's energy, which could bode well for their chances of making the playoffs.

The details

In Sunday's game, Twins starter Taj Bradley allowed just one run and five hits in five innings to earn the win, his third straight. The Twins offense broke through against Scherzer in the second and third innings, with Gray and Clemens both hitting home runs. Victor Caratini added a sacrifice fly and Brooks Lee a two-run double as the Twins built an 8-1 lead.

  • The Twins swept four games from the Detroit Tigers before heading to Toronto.
  • On Sunday, April 13, 2026, the Twins defeated the Blue Jays 8-2 to take two of three games in the series.
  • The Twins are now tied for first place in the AL Central division.

The players

Tristan Gray

Twins outfielder who hit a three-run home run in Sunday's game.

Kody Clemens

Twins infielder who hit a solo home run in Sunday's game.

Taj Bradley

Twins starting pitcher who earned the win, allowing one run in five innings.

Max Scherzer

Three-time Cy Young Award winning pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, who was roughed up by the Twins offense.

Derek Shelton

Manager of the Minnesota Twins, who praised his team's ability to feed off each other's success.

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What they’re saying

“I think it's very high in a sense of we're just playing our game. We're not too focused on trying to get ahead of ourselves. It's trying to win every single day, be in every single ball game, and if we can do that, we're going to put ourselves in a position to win.”

— Tristan Gray, Twins Outfielder

“I think they're definitely feeding off each other. I mean, if we continue to hit 3-run homers, I think that would be very good for me. But we're grinding through at-bats and we got to a first ballot Hall of Famer today. We made them work. Whether it was a base hit, a walk, a hit by pitch, then we scattered in a homer or two. But overall, very pleased, with this short road trip.”

— Derek Shelton, Twins Manager

What’s next

The Twins will return home to Target Field for a six-game homestand, hosting the Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds.

The takeaway

The Twins' strong start to the season, including their series win over the Blue Jays, has them tied for first place in the AL Central. Their ability to win close games against tough opponents and feed off each other's energy suggests they could be a team to watch in the playoff race this year.