Twins Host Struggling Rays in Saturday Showdown

Minnesota looks to bounce back at home against Tampa Bay's pitching woes.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 3:57pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball game between the Tampa Bay Rays and Minnesota Twins, with overlapping planes of vibrant team colors representing the dynamic action on the field.A cubist interpretation of the Rays and Twins battling it out on the diamond, reflecting the fractured nature of their early-season struggles.Minneapolis Today

The Minnesota Twins (1-4) will host the Tampa Bay Rays (2-4) on Saturday at Target Field in Minneapolis. The Rays come in as -132 favorites, but the Twins are looking to turn things around at home after a slow start to the season.

Why it matters

Both teams have struggled out of the gate, with the Rays' pitching staff ranking near the bottom of the league in several key metrics. The Twins will look to capitalize on Tampa Bay's early-season issues and pick up their second win of the year.

The details

The Rays have a team ERA of 5.44, which ranks 28th in MLB, and have allowed 9 home runs and 38 total runs so far this season. Meanwhile, the Twins' offense has sputtered, batting just .210 as a team. Rays starter Steven Matz will look to bounce back after a rough first outing, while the Twins counter with young righty Mick Abel.

  • The game is scheduled for Saturday, April 4, 2026.
  • First pitch is set for 7:40 PM local time in Minneapolis.

The players

Steven Matz

A veteran left-hander making his second start of the season for the Rays.

Mick Abel

A promising young right-hander making his third career MLB start for the Twins.

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What they’re saying

“We need to get our pitching straightened out if we want to turn this season around.”

— Kevin Cash, Rays Manager

“It's still early, but we have to start stringing some wins together at home if we want to get back in this thing.”

— Rocco Baldelli, Twins Manager

What’s next

The Twins and Rays will play the second game of their three-game series on Sunday afternoon at Target Field.

The takeaway

This early-season matchup between two struggling teams could set the tone for the rest of their respective seasons. The Twins will look to capitalize on the Rays' pitching woes, while Tampa Bay hopes to get their rotation back on track with a road win.