Simeon Woods Richardson enters this start in rhythm, commanding the fastball-changeup mix and running a 1.11 WHIP through his first two outings. Facing a Toronto lineup that is struggling to string together quality at-bats—Springer, Varsho and Okamoto are all south of a .250 OBP—the right-hander should be able to work efficiently the first time through the order and limit hard contact. Patrick Corbin, on the other hand, is making his season debut after a middling 2025 and arrives with diminished velocity. Minnesota’s roster is built to punish left-handed pitching: Bell, Lewis and Wallner all carry OPS marks around .900 versus southpaws over the last calendar year. Expect them to jump Corbin early, with Bell driving in a first-inning run and a two-run burst coming in the third when Royce Lewis sits on the slider. Toronto can still scratch out runs; Guerrero Jr. remains dangerous and Giménez is scorching line drives. They’ll nick Woods Richardson for single tallies in the second (Giménez RBI single) and fifth (Guerrero sacrifice fly) before a fatigued Twins starter exits after six. But Minnesota’s bullpen—Topa, Funderburk, Sands—has been the steadier unit, and they’re unlikely to surrender a crooked number. The Blue Jays’ relief corps is thin after recent DFA churn, and the seventh-inning bridge has been a problem; a Jeffers double off Nance pushes the Twins ahead 5-2. Toronto answers with a late Varsho RBI in the eighth, yet Taylor Rogers slams the door in the ninth. An insurance run manufactured by Buxton’s speed against a weary pen sets the final margin. With sharper starting pitching, a deeper bullpen, and an offense better equipped to attack a declining left-hander, the Twins are positioned to take the opener 6-3 while the Blue Jays’ early-season skid continues.

Probable Pitchers

S. Woods Twins

1-7 6.40 ERA

31 K

P. Corbin Blue Jays

3-4 5.07 ERA

59 K

Minnesota Twins — Roster

Player	Pos	AVG	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
Byron Buxton	CF	.180	0	1	.263	.280
Austin Martin	LF	.286	0	2	.474	.321
Luke Keaschall	2B	.204	1	7	.254	.278
Josh Bell	1B	.289	3	10	.400	.578
Ryan Jeffers	C	.294	1	6	.415	.441
Victor Caratini	DH	.275	0	4	.362	.300
Matt Wallner	RF	.214	3	5	.267	.411
Brooks Lee	SS	.206	1	5	.270	.294
Tristan Gray	3B	.263	1	8	.318	.474

Toronto Blue Jays — Roster

Player	Pos	AVG	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
George Springer	DH	.189	2	6	.283	.377
Daulton Varsho	CF	.209	1	3	.306	.349
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.	1B	.304	1	5	.429	.435
Myles Straw	RF	.385	0	0	.429	.385
Kazuma Okamoto	3B	.220	2	3	.291	.360
Davis Schneider	LF	.294	1	5	.478	.529
Ernie Clement	2B	.288	0	4	.302	.365
Andrés Giménez	SS	.271	2	9	.314	.438
Brandon Valenzuela	C	.250	1	2	.250	.500

Scoring Plays

▲ 1

Ryan Jeffers homers (1) on a fly ball to left center field. Austin Martin scores. Luke Keaschall scores.

3-0

▲ 4

Brooks Lee homers (1) on a fly ball to left field.

4-0

▼ 4

Jesús Sánchez doubles (3) on a line drive to center fielder Byron Buxton. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. scores.

4-1

▼ 4

Davis Schneider doubles (1) on a sharp line drive to right fielder Matt Wallner. Jesús Sánchez scores.

4-2

▼ 4

Andrés Giménez singles on a ground ball to left fielder Austin Martin. Davis Schneider scores.

4-3

▼ 4

Brandon Valenzuela homers (1) on a fly ball to right field. Andrés Giménez scores.

4-5

▼ 5

Daulton Varsho homers (1) on a fly ball to right center field.

4-6

▼ 6

Ernie Clement doubles (4) on a line drive to left fielder Austin Martin. Davis Schneider scores.

4-7

▼ 6

George Springer doubles (4) on a line drive to left fielder Austin Martin. Ernie Clement scores.

4-8

▼ 7

Davis Schneider singles on a sharp line drive to left fielder Austin Martin. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. scores.

4-9

▼ 8

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubles (3) on a sharp line drive to left fielder Austin Martin. Brandon Valenzuela scores.

4-10

Minnesota Twins — Batting

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	HR	AVG	OPS
Byron BuxtonCF	5	0	0	0	0	3	0	.180	.543
Austin MartinLF	4	1	2	0	1	1	0	.286	.795
Luke Keaschall2B	4	1	1	0	0	0	0	.204	.532
Josh Bell1B	4	0	0	0	0	1	0	.289	.978
Ryan JeffersC	3	1	3	3	0	0	1	.294	.856
Victor CaratiniDH	2	0	0	0	1	1	0	.275	.662
Matt WallnerRF	4	0	0	0	0	2	0	.214	.678
Brooks LeeSS	3	1	1	1	0	2	1	.206	.564
Tristan Gray3B	3	0	0	0	0	2	0	.263	.792
Totals	32	4	7	4	2	12	2

BATTING

2B: Martin (1, Corbin).

HR: Jeffers (1, 1st inning off Corbin, 2 on, 2 out); Lee, B (1, 4th inning off Corbin, 0 on, 0 out).

TB: Jeffers 6; Keaschall; Lee, B 4; Martin 3.

RBI: Jeffers 3 (6); Lee, B (5).

2-out RBI: Jeffers 3.

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Lee, B; Wallner; Keaschall; Martin.

SAC: Gray, T.

GIDP: Bell.

Team RISP: 2-for-9.

Team LOB: 7.

BASERUNNING

SB: Martin (2, 2nd base off Corbin/Valenzuela).

FIELDING

E: Gray, T (1, throw).

Toronto Blue Jays — Batting

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	HR	AVG	OPS
George SpringerDH	4	0	1	1	1	0	0	.189	.660
Daulton VarshoCF	5	1	2	1	0	1	1	.209	.655
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.1B	5	2	3	1	0	0	0	.304	.864
Myles StrawRF	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.385	.814
Kazuma Okamoto3B	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	.220	.651
Davis SchneiderLF	3	2	2	2	1	1	0	.294	1.007
Ernie Clement2B	4	1	2	1	0	0	0	.288	.667
Andrés GiménezSS	3	1	1	1	0	0	0	.271	.752
Brandon ValenzuelaC	4	2	2	2	0	1	1	.250	.750
Totals	37	10	14	10	2	4	2

BATTING

2B: Varsho (3, Woods Richardson); Guerrero Jr. 2 (3, Woods Richardson, Topa); Sánchez, J (3, Woods Richardson); Schneider (1, Woods Richardson); Clement (4, Banda); Springer (4, Banda).

HR: Valenzuela (1, 4th inning off Woods Richardson, 1 on, 2 out); Varsho (1, 5th inning off Banda, 0 on, 0 out).

TB: Clement 3; Giménez; Guerrero Jr. 5; Schneider 3; Springer 2; Sánchez, J 2; Valenzuela 5; Varsho 6.

RBI: Clement (4); Giménez (9); Guerrero Jr. (5); Schneider 2 (5); Springer (6); Sánchez, J (6); Valenzuela 2 (2); Varsho (3).

2-out RBI: Valenzuela 2; Springer; Schneider; Guerrero Jr.; Giménez.

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Varsho; Straw; Giménez; Sánchez, J.

SAC: Giménez.

Team RISP: 5-for-14.

Team LOB: 6.

BASERUNNING

SB: Guerrero Jr. (1, 2nd base off Rogers, Ta/Jeffers).

CS: Springer (1, 3rd base by Woods Richardson/Jeffers).

FIELDING

DP: (Giménez-Guerrero Jr.).

Minnesota Twins — Pitching

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	PC-ST	ERA
Simeon Woods Richardson(L, 0-2)	4.0	6	5	5	1	2	1	68-47	4.60
Anthony Banda	1.2	3	3	3	1	1	1	36-18	9.39
Taylor Rogers	1.1	3	1	1	0	1	0	30-18	4.26
Justin Topa	1.0	2	1	1	0	0	0	12-9	5.40

Toronto Blue Jays — Pitching

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	PC-ST	ERA
Patrick Corbin	4.0	6	4	4	1	3	2	85-52	9.00
Tommy Nance	0.2	1	0	0	0	1	0	10-7	7.50
Joe Mantiply(W, 1-0)	1.0	0	0	0	0	3	0	15-10	9.00
Louis Varland(H, 2)	1.1	0	0	0	1	1	0	23-13	0.00
Braydon Fisher	2.0	0	0	0	0	4	0	32-22	0.00

Game Info

Umpires: Home Plate: Manny Gonzalez; First Base: Tom Hanahan; Second Base: Derek Thomas; Third Base: Scott Barry

Venue: Rogers Centre, Toronto

Weather: 68°F, Roof Closed

Wind: 0 mph, None

Minnesota Twins — News

Twins Acquire Tommy Nance From Blue Jays

Nance (3.82 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 9.27 K/9) adds depth to MIN's bullpen, which has been unreliable—Rogers (5.61 ERA), Orze (5.66 ERA), and Gómez (3.59 ERA, 0.347 xwOBA) have all struggled. TOR moves a mid-tier reliever from a 44-49 team while MIN sits 46-48 needing late-inning stability.

Tommy Nance

Toronto Blue Jays

Minnesota Twins

Anthony Banda undergoes season-ending lat surgery

Banda (4.46 ERA, 8.65 K/9 in 39 G) was Minnesota's primary high-leverage reliever; his loss forces the Twins to lean heavier on Gómez (3.59 ERA, 38 G) while Rogers (5.61 ERA) continues to underperform in a bullpen that's already -14 in run differential.

Anthony Banda

Minnesota Twins

Twins Sign Matt Bowman To Minor League Deal

Bowman reports to Triple-A St. Paul as a bullpen depth addition. Minnesota's relief corps features Rogers (5.73 ERA, 1.61 WHIP) and Orze (5.27-5.35 ERA), so organizational depth at the position remains a priority for a team sitting 45-47 with a -15 run differential.

Minnesota Twins

Twins Place Buxton On 10-Day IL With Right Hip Injury

Buxton (.271 AVG, .351 xwOBA, 25 HR in 75 G) exits a Minnesota lineup already -17 in run differential; Roden's recall adds depth but lacks current season MLB stats to assess offensive replacement value.

Byron Buxton

Minnesota Twins

Mets avoid sweep with ninth-inning rally vs Braves

New York (37-53, -61 run diff) salvaged one game in a series where they're being outscored—Atlanta's +96 run differential reflects the gap between these teams. Dominic Smith's clutch hitting (.270 AVG, .319 xwOBA) provided the late heroics in a lineup struggling to generate consistent offense.

Dominic Smith

San Diego Padres

Minnesota Twins

Atlanta Braves

Toronto Blue Jays — News

Twins Acquire Tommy Nance From Blue Jays

Tommy Nance

Toronto Blue Jays

Minnesota Twins

Blue Jays Release Josh Fleming, Justin Topa

Fleming posted a 12.00 ERA with a 6.00 BB/9 across one appearance; Topa's 8.05 ERA and 2.00 WHIP in 23 relief outings offered no depth value to Toronto's bullpen where Varland (0.96 ERA) and Rogers (1.81 ERA) are carrying the load.

Josh Fleming

Justin Topa

Toronto Blue Jays

Matt Bowman Triggers Opt-Out In Blue Jays Deal

Bowman's departure would have minimal roster impact for Toronto, whose bullpen is anchored by Varland (0.98 ERA, 64 SO in 41 games) and Rogers (1.81 ERA). The 41-46 Jays have depth pieces available if needed, though this signals they're not committed to the 35-year-old at this stage of the season.

Toronto Blue Jays

Blue Jays Move Patrick Corbin To Bullpen

Corbin's 5.09 ERA and 0.361 xwOBA across 15 starts forced the move; Spencer Miles (3.00 ERA, 8.82 K/9 in 23 relief appearances) takes the rotation spot as Toronto sits 3-7 in their last 10 games.

Spencer Miles

Patrick Corbin

Toronto Blue Jays

Blue Jays Outright Simeon Woods Richardson to Triple-A

Woods Richardson clears waivers after posting a 6.40 ERA with a 4.99 BB/9 across 10 starts, joining a Toronto rotation where Cease (3.02 ERA) and Yesavage (3.34 ERA) remain the only reliable arms. The demotion removes a non-tenders candidate from the 40-win roster.

Simeon Woods Richardson

Toronto Blue Jays