The Twins’ unusual pitching plan didn’t pay off as they fell to an 8-6 defeat against the Orioles at Camden Yards. The ‘piggyback’ strategy saw two starters used in the same game, but neither Bailey Ober nor Mick Abel could prevent the loss. Minnesota surrendered an early lead, and outs on the bases proved costly.
Ober and Abel Struggle in Combined Start
Two factors influenced the Twins’ decision to use two starters. The Twins have two off days in the first six days of the season, which complicated using all their starters on a regular rotation. Bailey Ober is also behind his rotation colleagues in his build-up for the season, having made only four Spring Training starts and not exceeding 4 1/3 innings in any of them. There were also concerns about Ober locking in his mechanics after a difficult 2025. Asking Ober to pitch deep into the game against a dangerous lineup in a hitters’ ballpark was a tough challenge.
The Twins opted to have Ober pitch four innings before turning to Abel. Abel was the team’s best starter in camp and is expected to be in the rotation once the schedule evens out. Manager Derek Shelton said the plan had been in place for a while due to the off days and Ober’s need to work on his delivery. They didn’t want to stick Abel squarely in the bullpen.
Preparation and Execution
The final day of Spring Training served as preparation for this game. Abel pitched in the fifth inning against the Red Sox, giving him a chance to see big leaguers. This was also a dress rehearsal for Abel to pitch bulk innings in relief.
Ober managed three scoreless innings before encountering problems in the fourth. Two singles led to Tyler O’Neill hitting a 3-1 sinker over the middle of the plate, reducing the Twins’ 4-0 lead to a single run.
- Ober averaged 89.8 miles per hour on his four-seam fastball.
- This was slightly down from last year but up from his last couple of Spring Training starts.
- He induced only two swinging strikes on 27 swings.
Rotation Plans Moving Forward
Following an off day in Kansas City, the Twins face 15 consecutive games, which should allow the rotation to settle into a normal pattern with Abel pitching every five days. There is even the possibility of calling up a sixth starter at some point. For the first week of the season, the decision was made to ensure both Ober and Abel got innings on Sunday.