Two of the American League’s best starters from last season will be going head to head when the Twins and Orioles meet for an Opening Day contest on March 26 at Camden Yards.
Minnesota will send right-hander Joe Ryan to the mound, with Baltimore giving the assignment to left-hander Trevor Rogers. It will be the sixth time the Twins and Orioles have faced off on Opening Day, with four of those games occurring at Camden Yards (all since 2012).
Here’s everything you need to know about the pitching matchup for the 3:05 p.m. ET opener.
Twins: RHP Joe Ryan
Previous Opening Days starts: One (2022)
2025 season: 13-10, 3.42 ERA in 31 games (30 starts)
An eventful spring followed an eventful offseason for Ryan, who is probably ready for the routine of the regular season. Early in the winter, Ryan endured trade rumors, then welcomed his first child. He was about to board a plane for an arbitration hearing before he and the team reached a settlement. And that was all before camp started.
Then, minutes before his scheduled spring debut, Ryan sustained back inflammation, a minor injury, but one that shelved him for 17 days. That led to him missing the World Baseball Classic, and he now enters the season having only made three spring starts.
Still, there’s nothing but confidence in Ryan, the undisputed ace of the Twins’ staff following the season-ending injury to Pablo López, who started Minnesota’s last three openers. If the Twins are going to be good, it will start with their rotation, and that starts with Ryan.
“Obviously, it’s an honor to have that nod, and to go and be the first one out there for the team, represent the Twins,” Ryan said. “We have a really good group, athletic group, fun group that wants to win. I’m excited to watch all our guys pitch. Whoever is pitching that day is the ace on the staff, and we want them to pitch as well as they can. So I’m excited for the season to get going and to win some games.”
Ryan is coming off a career year and his first All-Star selection. Although he doesn’t have elite velocity, Ryan’s fastball is one of the best in baseball, with a high riding action that makes it extremely difficult to square up. He complements that with as many as five other pitches, a minuscule walk rate and improving maturity and composure that have helped him take the next step in his career.
Orioles: LHP Trevor Rogers
Previous Opening Day starts: None
2025 season: 9-3, 1.81 ERA in 18 starts
The July 30, 2024, trade that sent Rogers from Miami to Baltimore in exchange for outfielder Kyle Stowers and infielder Connor Norby appeared to have gone in the Marlins’ favor by the end of '24. Rogers posted a 7.11 ERA in his first four starts for the O’s, then got optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.
In 2025, Rogers began the campaign on the injured list due to a right knee subluxation before returning to Triple-A to open the season.
It’s been a rapid upward trajectory for the 28-year-old Rogers since then.
Rogers not only earned a spot back in the Orioles’ rotation, but he became a leader of the staff last year by pitching to a 1.81 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP over 109 2/3 innings. The southpaw recaptured his form from 2021 (when he was an All-Star and the National League Rookie of the Year Award runner-up) and got even better.
The O’s had a challenging decision to make when naming their Opening Day starter, as Rogers and right-hander Kyle Bradish are set to serve as co-aces on a staff that has become much deeper. But they opted to reward Rogers, who will get to experience the festivities in Baltimore for the first time.
"Damn right I'm going to have some jitters. It's going to be exciting, just being with the best fans in baseball at Camden Yards and just a beautiful ballpark," Rogers said. "I'm already trying to contain my excitement right now. I'm just ready to get up there, pitch in front of those incredible fans and give them a show."