Minnesota Twins: Previewing the Weekend Series with the Rays

Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Randy Arozarena, center fielder Kevin Kiermaier, and shortstop Wander Franco come off the field at end of the third inning against the Boston Red Sox. (Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)
Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Randy Arozarena, center fielder Kevin Kiermaier, and shortstop Wander Franco come off the field at end of the third inning against the Boston Red Sox. (Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)
3 of 4
Minnesota Twins
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco celebrates after scoring the winning run against the Oakland Athletics. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports)

Minnesota Twins vs. Tampa Bay Rays Key Hitters

For the hitters in this series, there are some key superstars on both sides, and both teams have been a little cold as a hole, with the Twins heating up a lot more recently while the Rays are staying consistent.

In Tampa Bay, everything starts with superstar Wander Franco. He’s been as good as advertised both offensively and defensively and is a clutch hitter when the team has needed it. He’s joined by Ji-Man Choi, who has been stellar to start the year with a 1.086 OPS. Harold Ramirez and Yandy Diaz have also been solid.

In Minnesota, Byron Buxton has been one of the Top 5 players in baseball to start the year, with Luis Arraez and a resurgent Max Kepler standing out as good co-stars to start the year. For both teams, the key to winning may be in their other hitters.

Despite slow starts, Randy Arozorena and Carlos Correa are two key players who will look to get going this series and could help key the offense for their teams, even if pitching and defense will be the key in this series.

Schedule