Twins Aim to Capture Series Against Rays in Finale

Minnesota looks to win its first series of the season against Tampa Bay on Sunday.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 12:22pm

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The Minnesota Twins have a chance to win their first series of the 2026 season when they face the Tampa Bay Rays in the rubber match of their three-game set on Sunday afternoon. The Twins won the series opener 10-4 on Friday before the Rays evened things up with a 7-1 victory on Saturday. Minnesota manager Derek Shelton acknowledged his team's left-handed heavy lineup may present some challenges, but the Twins will look to their lefty bats to get the job done against Rays right-hander Nick Martinez.

Why it matters

The Twins have struggled to win series early in the season, so capturing this matchup against the Rays would be an important step in building momentum. Minnesota's left-handed dominant lineup could give them an advantage against the right-handed Martinez, but Shelton noted it may also limit their flexibility with pitching matchups.

The details

The Twins will start right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson, who is making his second start of the season after allowing two runs over five innings against the Royals. The Rays will counter with Martinez, who has faced the Twins seven times in his career, going 1-2 with a 7.20 ERA. Twins outfielder Byron Buxton, who was hit on the right forearm on Friday, is day-to-day but could return to the lineup. Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson has been swinging a hot bat, hitting .414 on the season, though manager Kevin Cash says he is not ready to move him to the leadoff spot just yet.

  • The series finale is scheduled for Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis.
  • The Twins won the series opener 10-4 on Friday night.
  • The Rays evened the series with a 7-1 victory on Saturday evening.

The players

Derek Shelton

Manager of the Minnesota Twins.

Nick Martinez

Right-handed starting pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Simeon Woods Richardson

Right-handed starting pitcher for the Minnesota Twins.

Byron Buxton

Outfielder for the Minnesota Twins who is day-to-day with a bruised right forearm.

Chandler Simpson

Outfielder for the Tampa Bay Rays who is hitting .414 on the season.

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What they’re saying

“The fact we're a little left-handed heavy may be something we have to look at as we get farther down the road.”

— Derek Shelton, Manager, Minnesota Twins

“He's available, and he initiates conversation. He initiates support. He's actively having conversations with position players and pitchers alike. It's easy to talk to your buddies about pitching, but I'm watching him interact with our position group.”

— Kevin Cash, Manager, Tampa Bay Rays

“We didn't get a lot of hittable pitches, and we probably left the zone a little bit too much.”

— Luke Keaschall, Infielder, Minnesota Twins

What’s next

If Byron Buxton is able to return to the lineup, he will look to break out of an early-season slump where he is hitting just .154 with one RBI.

The takeaway

This series finale represents an important opportunity for the Twins to capture their first series win of the season and build some early-season momentum, though their left-handed heavy lineup could present some challenges against the right-handed Martinez.