Joe Ryan was in peak form during the Twins' season opener against the Orioles at Camden Yards in Baltimore on Thursday, allowing just one hit and two walks while collecting seven strikeouts across 5 1/3 scoreless innings. Seeing Ryan be successful on Opening Day is a good sign for the righty who had a delayed start to spring training due to lower back tightness. Unfortunately, the Twins ultimately fell short to the Orioles 2-1.
Joe Ryan relies heavily on curveball during Twins' Opening Day loss to Orioles
While we're used to seeing Ryan dominate like he did today, he uncharacteristically relied on his curveball heavily. Six of Ryan's seven strikeouts on Thursday came on his curveball. Before today, the most strikeouts Ryan induced using his curveball in a game were three against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sept. 26, 2025. Before that, he had just two curveball-induced strikeouts in four games.
Ryan appears poised to have a strong 2026 season. Two of his strikeouts today were against Pete Alonso, and one against Gunnar Henderson. His fastball velocity looked as sharp as ever, reaching as high as 96 mph. Hopefully the offense figures things out quickly. If it doesn't, Ryan may be moved at the Trade Deadline.
Twins' offense fails to produce in big moments on Opening Day
The Twins created plenty of scoring opportunities today but failed to capitalize, going 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position. To be fair, left-hander Trevor Rogers, who hurled seven scoreless innings while allowing three hits and four walks with five strikeouts, isn't an easy pitcher to hit by any means.
Seven scoreless today from Trevor Rogers, who's at the front of a Baltimore rotation that looks a whole lot better. Even if the Twins' lineup is not good, it's a great Opening Day and continues from last year for Rogers, whose 1.81 ERA from May 24 on was the best in the AL.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 26, 2026
Also, with runners on first and second base and one out in the third inning, Ryan Jeffers hit into a double play on a 107 mph groundout. A bit unlucky for the catcher. The Twins had several other hard-hit outs, but the offense still needs to be better with runners in scoring positions if the team wants to make a playoff run this year. It's only Opening Day, but it's still frustrating to see, especially since the team grounded into three total double plays.
The Twins' lone run came in the top of the eighth inning when Luke Keaschall followed a Byron Buxton triple with a sacrifice fly.
The Orioles grabbed their two runs in the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly from Colten Cowser and an RBI single from Blaze Alexander. Austin Martin made a crucial mistake in left field on Cowser's sacrifice fly, throwing the ball to third base, allowing Tyler O'Neill to advance to second base and eventually score the game-winning run on Alexander's RBI single.
One run was charged to Kody Funderburk, who allowed one hit and one walk in 2/3 of an inning, and one was charged to Justin Topa, who surrendered two hits over one inning. Lefty Taylor Rogers threw a scoreless ninth with a strikeout.
Derek Shelton shows lack of faith in Royce Lewis on Opening Day
Shelton had Lewis bat eighth in the lineup today after the third baseman had a poor spring training, proving the team no longer views him as the star we thought he'd be just a couple of years ago. To further prove the Twins' lack of faith in Lewis, Shelton had Trevor Larnach pinch hit for the third baseman with two outs and a runner on in the ninth inning.