Twins, Rays Aim to Shake Off Slow Starts

Minnesota and Tampa Bay look to turn things around in weekend series

Apr. 3, 2026 at 9:22am

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A cubist, multi-angled painting in shades of blue, green, and orange, breaking down a baseball game into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes, conveying the competitive tension and energy of the Twins-Rays matchup.A fractured, geometric depiction of the Twins and Rays battling it out on the diamond as both teams seek to overcome their early-season struggles.Kansas City Today

The Minnesota Twins and Tampa Bay Rays, both off to 2-4 starts this season, will meet for a three-game series starting Friday at Target Field. The Twins are coming off a 5-1 win over the Royals, while the Rays have struggled defensively, committing nine errors in their first six games. Twins manager Derek Shelton sees reason for optimism, saying 'the one thing we're learning about this club is they fight.' The Rays' star slugger Junior Caminero has also gotten off to a slow start at the plate, hitting .238 with no homers or RBIs.

Why it matters

Both the Twins and Rays were playoff teams in 2025 and are looking to bounce back from subpar starts to the 2026 season. The series will be an early-season test for two teams with high expectations, as they try to get their seasons on track and avoid falling too far behind in their respective divisions.

The details

The Twins will send right-hander Bailey Ober to the mound in the series opener, while the Rays counter with 6-foot-8 righty Joe Boyle. Twins star Byron Buxton has struggled at the plate so far, hitting just .174 with no homers and one RBI. The Rays have been plagued by defensive miscues, committing a league-high nine errors through six games. Rays manager Kevin Cash is confident his team will improve on defense, saying 'it's going to be good, we just haven't been as good or as crisp as the standard so far.'

  • The Twins are playing their home opener on Friday, April 3, 2026.
  • The Twins and Rays played six times in the 2025 season, with each team winning three games.

The players

Derek Shelton

Manager of the Minnesota Twins.

Junior Caminero

Star slugger for the Tampa Bay Rays who had a breakout 2025 season with 45 home runs and 110 RBIs.

Byron Buxton

Star outfielder for the Minnesota Twins who hit 35 home runs and stole 24 bases in 2025.

Bailey Ober

Right-handed starting pitcher for the Minnesota Twins.

Joe Boyle

Right-handed starting pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays who stands 6-foot-8.

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What they’re saying

“'The one thing we're learning about this club is they fight.'”

— Derek Shelton, Manager

“'It's going to be good. We just haven't been as good or as crisp as the standard so far.'”

— Kevin Cash, Manager

“'I want to make perfect throws, I want to get the out. Just right now, it's not working.'”

— Junior Caminero

What’s next

The Twins and Rays will play the second and third games of their series on Saturday, April 4 and Sunday, April 5, 2026.

The takeaway

This early-season matchup between the Twins and Rays will be an important test for two teams looking to bounce back from subpar starts and regain their footing as playoff contenders in 2026.