Tigers' Carpenter Sits Out Twins Matchup

Manager cites illness in lineup decision for star hitter

Apr. 7, 2026 at 12:00am

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A fragmented, multi-perspective painting in bold, angular shapes and vibrant colors, representing a baseball game between the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins in a cubist style.A cubist interpretation of the Tigers-Twins matchup, with the star hitter's absence creating a fractured, geometric visual metaphor for the team's challenge.Minneapolis Today

Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter, who has dominated Minnesota Twins pitching in his career, will not be in the lineup for the team's series opener against the Twins and pitcher Joe Ryan. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch cited an illness affecting the team as the reason for Carpenter's absence.

Why it matters

Carpenter has been a thorn in the side of the Twins, posting a 1.076 OPS in 33 career games against the division rival. His absence from the lineup is a significant blow to the Tigers' chances of winning the series opener against one of the American League's top pitchers in Ryan.

The details

Hinch explained that a bug has been going through the Tigers' clubhouse, affecting both players and their family members. As a result, the team is taking a cautious approach with Carpenter to ensure he is fully healthy before returning to the lineup.

  • The Tigers are set to open a series against the Twins on April 7, 2026.

The players

Kerry Carpenter

A Detroit Tigers outfielder who has dominated Minnesota Twins pitching in his career, posting a 1.076 OPS in 33 games against the division rival.

A.J. Hinch

The manager of the Detroit Tigers, who cited an illness affecting the team as the reason for Carpenter's absence from the lineup.

Joe Ryan

A pitcher for the Minnesota Twins, who Carpenter will not be facing in the series opener due to his illness.

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What they’re saying

“There's been a bug [going] through our team and some family members of our team,”

— A.J. Hinch, Detroit Tigers Manager

What’s next

The Tigers and Twins will continue their series on April 8 and 9, 2026. It remains to be seen if Carpenter will be able to return to the lineup for those games.

The takeaway

The absence of Carpenter, one of the Tigers' most productive hitters, is a significant blow to their chances of winning the series opener against the Twins. However, the team is prioritizing the health and safety of its players, which is the right decision in the long run.