Opening Day FAQ: Twins vs. Orioles (Thurs., 3 p.m. ET)
BALTIMORE -- After both missed the postseason in 2025, the Twins and Orioles are aiming for a better showing in ‘26. However, only one of these American League foes will begin 1-0.
On Thursday, Minnesota (70-92 last season) and Baltimore (75-87) will face off in an Opening Day matchup at Camden Yards. 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.
Both squads have a new manager in the dugout this season. Derek Shelton, who was Minnesota’s bench coach in 2018 and ‘19, has returned to the organization after a six-season stint as Pittsburgh’s skipper. Meanwhile, Baltimore’s Craig Albernaz is entering his first season as an MLB manager.
Here’s everything else you need to know ahead of Opening Day:
When is the game and how can I watch it?
First pitch is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. ET on Thursday, and 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.
All out-of-market games are available live or on demand in the US on MLB.TV (subject to blackouts and other restrictions). Live games are also available in select countries outside the US. A full list of available games can be found here.
Who are the starting pitchers?
Twins: Following his first All-Star appearance, Joe Ryan makes his second career Opening Day start. It was a strange spring for Ryan, who was initially slated to pitch in the World Baseball Classic, but suffered some back inflammation that sidelined him for more than two weeks. He made only three Grapefruit League starts.
Ryan enjoyed a career year in 2025, setting or equaling personal bests in wins (13), ERA (3.42), starts (30) and innings (171), and came three strikeouts short of a career high with 194. He combines a riding fastball that is one of baseball’s best despite not having elite velocity with a broad assortment that gets him plenty of swings and misses.
Orioles: Trevor Rogers (9-3, 1.81 ERA in 18 starts last season) will begin his seventh MLB season with his first career Opening Day start. The 28-year-old left-hander had a tremendous turnaround in 2025, earning him the Most Valuable Oriole Award and a ninth-place finish in AL Cy Young Award voting.
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It will be Rogers’ 103rd big league start, but his first against the Twins. He was electric when pitching at Camden Yards last season, recording a 0.96 ERA and a 0.70 WHIP across seven home outings.
What might the starting lineups look like?
Twins: The Twins' lineup has a lot of potential and a lot of questions. Beyond star Byron Buxton, it consists largely of promising hitters who either need to rebound (Royce Lewis, Matt Wallner) or take a step forward (Brooks Lee). They’re basically at full strength healthwise, and it will be interesting to see how Shelton puts the pieces together.
- Luke Keaschall, 2B
- Byron Buxton, CF
- Josh Bell, 1B
- Matt Wallner, RF
- Ryan Jeffers, C
- Royce Lewis, 3B
- Trevor Larnach, DH
- Austin Martin, LF
- Brooks Lee, SS
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Orioles: The lineup is missing a pair of starting infielders, with second baseman Jackson Holliday (broken hamate bone in right hand) and third baseman Jordan Westburg (partial right UCL tear) opening the season on the injured list. However, the heart of Baltimore’s order will feature a pair of new right-handed sluggers in Pete Alonso and Taylor Ward.
- Gunnar Henderson, SS
- Adley Rutschman, C
- Pete Alonso, 1B
- Taylor Ward, LF
- Samuel Basallo, DH
- Tyler O'Neill, RF
- Coby Mayo, 3B
- Colton Cowser, CF
- Blaze Alexander, 2B
How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
Twins: The relief corps is by far the biggest question about the 2026 Twins. After trading away five top relievers at the Trade Deadline last year, Minnesota rebuilt the left side of its 'pen but didn’t make any major moves on the right side. So it’s an open question who will play what role, with Cole Sands and Justin Topa the favorites to pitch the late innings with a lead but everything very much in question. Among the pitchers with a chance to pitch themselves into significant roles will be Kody Funderburk and perhaps Zak Kent.
Orioles: Ryan Helsley is the O’s new closer after signing a two-year, $28 million deal, and the 31-year-old right-hander is optimistic he can return to the elite form he showed earlier in his career. It will be interesting to see how Baltimore gets from its starter to Helsley when high-leverage situations emerge early in the season. There aren’t a ton of proven setup options on the roster at the moment, though right-handers Tyler Wells and Yennier Cano and lefty Grant Wolfram should be in the mix.
Any injuries of note?
Twins: Pablo López is out for the year after undergoing right elbow surgery early in camp. Other than that, the Twins are basically healthy.
Orioles: Holliday’s IL stint isn’t expected to be long, as the 22-year-old could be back by mid-April. The 27-year-old Westburg’s timeline is less certain, but he won’t return until mid-May, at the earliest. Baltimore’s bullpen is also without its top setup man, as right-hander Andrew Kittredge (right shoulder inflammation) will have a brief IL appearance to begin the season.
Who is hot and who is not?
Twins: Keaschall was absolutely torrid all spring, ripping one extra-base hit after another throughout camp. Wallner came on strong toward the end of spring with his signature blend of patience and power.
Lewis hit for some power early in camp but has been searching for his base hit stroke. It’s a huge year for him, and the Twins need him to perform.
Orioles: Mayo solidified his job as the fill-in third baseman with an impressive swing, hitting .378 with three doubles, two homers and 12 RBIs in 15 exhibition games. Basallo (MLB Pipeline’s No. 8 overall prospect) was also among the O’s hottest hitters, as the 21-year-old had a .333 average, five doubles, three home runs, 11 RBIs and a 1.114 OPS in 15 contests.
Cowser hit only .222 in 16 games and had 18 strikeouts in 45 at-bats, though the 26-year-old homered in Sunday’s 8-1 exhibition win over the Nationals at Camden Yards.
Anything else fans might want to know?
• The Orioles are 4-1 in Opening Day matchups vs. the Twins. Baltimore has won the past three meetings between these teams in openers, with each coming at Camden Yards (2012, ‘16 and ‘18).
• This will be only the second time in eight years the O’s have opened a season at home. They played the Angels at Camden Yards to begin the 2024 campaign.
• Baltimore has scored 10 or more runs in three consecutive season openers -- a 10-9 win at Boston in 2023, an 11-3 victory over the Halos in ‘24 and a 12-2 win at Toronto in ‘25.
• O’Neill will again be looking to extend his AL/NL record streak of consecutive Opening Days with a home run, which the slugger extended to six by going deep in his Orioles debut last year.
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• Ryan has one previous Opening Day start -- in the sixth game of his Major League career, in 2022.
• Though the Twins open on the road, they have a very home-heavy schedule in the early going. They have 17 April home games and play 29 of their first 50 games at Target Field.
• Whoever starts at first base -- most likely Bell but possibly Victor Caratini -- will be the fifth player in as many years to start at first for the Twins on Opening Day, following Ty France, Carlos Santana, Gallo, and Miguel Sanó.
• Shelton was 3-3 in six openers as Piratess manager.