The Twins and Orioles are set to begin their seasons against each other, both aiming to improve after missing the postseason last year. Only one of these American League teams will start the season with a 1-0 record.
New Managers at the Helm
Both squads will have a new manager in the dugout this season. Derek Shelton has returned to the Twins, following a six-season stint as Pittsburgh’s skipper. He was Minnesota’s bench coach in 2018 and ‘19. Craig Albernaz is entering his first season as an MLB manager for Baltimore.
Pitching Matchup
Joe Ryan is slated to make his second career Opening Day start for the Twins. Ryan is coming off his first All-Star appearance. Trevor Rogers will start for the Orioles, marking his first career Opening Day start in his seventh MLB season. Rogers had a tremendous turnaround in 2025.
Rogers’ performance earned him the Most Valuable Oriole Award and a ninth-place finish in AL Cy Young Award voting. The 28-year-old left-hander had a 1.81 ERA in 18 starts last season. It will be Rogers’ first start against the Twins, despite 103 big league starts.
Twins’ Lineup Questions
The Twins’ lineup has a lot of potential with some uncertainty. Beyond star Byron Buxton, it consists largely of promising hitters who either need to rebound or take a step forward. They’re basically at full strength healthwise. It will be interesting to see how Shelton puts the pieces together.
How to Watch
- First pitch is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. ET on Thursday.
- The game will be available to stream on MLB.TV.
- The Twins’ broadcast will be on Twins.TV, and the Orioles’ broadcast will be on MASN.
- It will air on the radio on WCCO 830 AM in Minneapolis and on 98 Rock FM in Baltimore.
The O’s are looking to win their opener for the fourth consecutive year, while the Twins will seek their third Opening Day win in four years after dropping their 2025 opener against the Cardinals.