Sonny Gray Seeks Bounce-Back as Red Sox Visit Twins

Boston looks to even series after 13-6 loss in opener

Apr. 14, 2026 at 12:36pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the action and energy of a baseball game, with players and the field broken down into overlapping planes of color and shape.A cubist interpretation of the high-stakes pitching matchup between the Red Sox's Sonny Gray and the Twins' Mick Abel.Minneapolis Today

Coming off a 13-6 thrashing in the series opener, the Boston Red Sox send their ace Sonny Gray to Target Field in a must-win spot, while the surging Minnesota Twins look to extend their momentum at home.

Why it matters

The Red Sox enter the game at 6-10, in the bottom half of the AL East standings, and desperately need a bounce-back performance from Gray to avoid falling further behind in the division race. Meanwhile, the Twins are 10-7 and riding high after their offensive explosion in the series opener.

The details

Sonny Gray (2-0, 2.76 ERA) takes the mound for the Red Sox, looking to rebound after the team's pitching staff was shelled for 13 runs in the series opener. The Twins will counter with the struggling Mick Abel (0-2, 6.08 ERA), providing an opportunity for Gray to get the Red Sox back on track.

  • The series opener was played on Monday, April 14, 2026.
  • Tuesday's game is the second game of the series.

The players

Sonny Gray

The Red Sox's ace pitcher, who has a 2-0 record and 2.76 ERA so far this season.

Mick Abel

The Twins' young right-hander, who has struggled with a 6.08 ERA and 2.100 WHIP in his early starts.

Byron Buxton

The Twins' leadoff hitter, who provides explosive energy at the top of the order.

Josh Bell

The Twins' cleanup hitter, who has been one of the most productive bats in the AL Central with three home runs.

Ryan Jeffers

The Twins' catcher, who is batting .317 with two home runs and a .440 on-base percentage.

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What they’re saying

“Sonny Gray has been the best story on the Red Sox pitching staff to this point of the season. His 2-0 record and 2.76 ERA are backed by a WHIP of 0.980, which means he is absolutely limiting baserunners and forcing the opposition to work for every run.”

— Adam Hutchinson, Author

“This is an offense that can absolutely score in bunches again Tuesday, even against a more capable pitcher than Crochet was Monday night.”

— Adam Hutchinson, Author

What’s next

If Gray can deliver a strong outing and the Red Sox offense can bounce back, they will have a chance to even the series on Wednesday.

The takeaway

This game represents a crucial bounce-back opportunity for the Red Sox, who need Sonny Gray to regain his dominant form and lead the team to a much-needed win against the surging Twins.