Bradley K's 10, outduels Skubal as Twins win second straight

Twins' Taj Bradley continues dominant start to 2026 season with 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball against Tigers

Apr. 8, 2026 at 2:36am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting depicting the motion and delivery of a baseball pitcher, with the player's body and the ball broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in a cubist style, using a color palette of deep blues, earthy browns, and flashes of bright white.A cubist interpretation of Twins ace Taj Bradley's dominant pitching performance against the Tigers' Tarik Skubal.Jeffers Today

Twins pitcher Taj Bradley continued his brilliant start to the 2026 season, striking out a season-high 10 batters and allowing just one run over 6 1/3 innings as Minnesota defeated the Tigers 4-2 at Target Field. Bradley outdueled Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, who had not lost to the Twins since 2022. The Twins broke through against Skubal in the fifth inning, with Luke Keaschall, Ryan Jeffers, and Josh Bell driving in runs to give Minnesota a lead they would not relinquish.

Why it matters

Bradley has emerged as one of the top pitchers in the American League Central early in the 2026 season, and this dominant performance against a tough Tigers lineup further cements his status as an ace. The Twins' ability to solve Skubal, the reigning Cy Young winner, is also an important early-season win for a Minnesota team looking to challenge for the division title.

The details

Taj Bradley struck out a season-high 10 batters and allowed just one run over 6 1/3 innings, continuing his brilliant start to the 2026 campaign. He kept the Tigers off the board through the first six innings, relying on his four-seam fastball and a dominant splitter that generated nine whiffs on 15 swings. Meanwhile, the Twins offense broke through against Skubal in the fifth inning, with Luke Keaschall, Ryan Jeffers, and Josh Bell driving in runs to give Minnesota a lead they would not relinquish.

  • The game took place on Tuesday, April 8, 2026 at Target Field in Minneapolis.

The players

Taj Bradley

The Twins' starting pitcher who continued his dominant start to the 2026 season, striking out 10 batters and allowing just one run over 6 1/3 innings.

Tarik Skubal

The Tigers' starting pitcher and reigning Cy Young award winner, who was outdueled by Bradley on this night.

Luke Keaschall

The Twins' outfielder who drove in a run in the fifth inning to help Minnesota take the lead.

Ryan Jeffers

The Twins' catcher who also drove in a run in the fifth inning to extend Minnesota's lead.

Josh Bell

The Twins' first baseman who drove in a run in the fifth inning as part of Minnesota's rally against Skubal.

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What they’re saying

“Taj was just dominant tonight. His stuff was electric and he really set the tone for us against a tough lineup.”

— Rocco Baldelli, Twins Manager

What’s next

The Twins and Tigers will continue their four-game series on Wednesday night at Target Field.

The takeaway

Taj Bradley has emerged as one of the top pitchers in the American League Central, and this dominant performance against the reigning Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal further cements his status as an ace. The Twins' ability to solve Skubal and take the second straight game in the series is an important early-season win as they look to challenge for the division title.