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Twins carry heavy left-handed lineup into finale vs. Rays

MLB: Minnesota Twins at Kansas City RoyalsMar 30, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Minnesota Twins manager Derek Shelton (8) walks to the mound for a pitcher change against the Kansas City Royals in the seventh inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Twins have not won a series yet this season.

They have an opportunity to do so in front of their home fans on Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis.

The Twins will square off against the Tampa Bay Rays in the rubber match of a three-game set. Minnesota won the series opener 10-4 on Friday night before Tampa Bay responded with a 7-1 victory on Saturday evening.

Twins manager Derek Shelton acknowledged that a lineup overrepresented with left-handed hitters made it harder to be flexible with certain pitching matchups.

“The fact we’re a little left-handed heavy may be something we have to look at as we get farther down the road,” Shelton said.

The series finale should give the Twins a chance to showcase their left-handed hitters.

The Rays will start right-hander Nick Martinez (0-0, 3.00 ERA). He also is making his second start after allowing two runs on six hits in six innings against the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday.

Martinez, 35, has faced the Twins seven times, including six starts. He is 1-2 with a 7.20 ERA in those matchups, and he has allowed 24 earned runs on 43 hits in 30 innings.

Rays manager Kevin Cash observed Martinez this spring and recognized that he is a complete teammate.

“He’s available, and he initiates conversation,” Cash said. “He initiates support. He’s actively having conversations with position players and pitchers alike. It’s easy to talk to your buddies about pitching, but I’m watching him interact with our position group.”

The Twins will counter with right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson (0-1, 3.60), who will make his second start of the season. He allowed two runs on five hits in five innings in his 2026 debut against the Kansas City Royals on Monday.

Woods Richardson has faced the Rays two times in his career. He is 0-0 with a 4.66 ERA in those outings, and he has walked four and struck out eight in 9 2/3 innings.

Byron Buxton was out of the lineup Saturday after being hit on the right forearm in Friday’s series opener. Buxton sustained a bruised arm and X-rays were negative.

If Buxton returns to the lineup, he will look to break out of an early-season slump. He is hitting .154 (4-for-26) with no homers and one RBI in his first seven games.

Twins infielder Luke Keaschall said he and his teammates will need to show more strike-zone discipline in the season finale.

“We didn’t get a lot of hittable pitches, and we probably left the zone a little bit too much,” Keaschall said.

Meanwhile, Chandler Simpson continues to swing a hot bat for the Rays. He went 2-for-5 on Saturday and is hitting .414 this season with a .469 on-base percentage.

Cash has been fielding questions about potentially promoting Simpson to the Rays’ leadoff position.

“There is a lot of conversation about Chandler,” he said. “I totally appreciate and understand the thought, the sentiment, that Chandler could be your prototypical leadoff hitter.

“He very well may be. But right now, he’s not.”

–Field Level Media

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Sixth-inning rally gives White Sox victory over Blue Jays

MLB: Toronto Blue Jays at Chicago White SoxApr 4, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami (5) celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the sixth inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Munetaka Murakami and Colson Montgomery homered to key a go-ahead sixth-inning rally and Miguel Vargas had two hits as the host Chicago White Sox defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 on Saturday.

Chicago earned a series victory against the reigning American League champion Blue Jays, losers of four of five after winning three straight to start the season.

Seranthony Dominguez worked around a leadoff walk and pinch-hit single in the ninth to pick up his first save.

Murakami drove in three runs, including the first of the afternoon on an RBI sacrifice fly in the first inning. That staked left-hander Anthony Kay to an advantage before he entered the game.

Kay followed opener Grant Taylor, who retired the Blue Jays in order in the top of the first. Kay walked Kazuma Okamoto to begin his outing before settling in. Toronto threatened in the fourth inning, loading the bases with one out, but Kay escaped trouble by getting a pair of fly-ball outs.

The Blue Jays broke through with a pair of runs in the sixth, as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. smacked his first home run of the season. Kay exited after retiring Okamoto on a groundout one batter later. He scattered two runs and three hits in 4 1/3 innings with two walks.

Chicago answered the Guerrero Jr. blast quickly, reaching left-hander Brendon Little (0-2) for three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Vargas led off with a double and Murakami followed with his first home run at Rate Field and fourth of the season. A former slugger in Japan’s Central League, Murakami signed a two-year, $34 million contract with the White Sox in December.

Montgomery homered two batters later for a 4-2 Chicago lead. The Blue Jays loaded the bases in the seventh with one out but scored just one run. Nathan Lukes flied into a sac fly double play, and Myles Straw scored before Chicago erased Tyler Heineman at third.

Heineman, the Blue Jays’ catcher, committed a throwing error in the eighth that allowed two runs to score for the final margin.

Chris Murphy (1-0) got the win, allowing one run and two hits in one inning of relief.

Toronto placed catcher Alejandro Kirk (left thumb fracture) on the 10-day injured list before the game.

–Field Level Media

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MLB roundup: Jo Adell robs 3 homers, Angels eke out win over Mariners

MLB: Seattle Mariners at Los Angeles AngelsApr 4, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels right fielder Jo Adell (7) reacts after making a catch against the Seattle Mariners during the ninth inning at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images

Jo Adell robbed three Mariners of homers and Zach Neto hit a leadoff homer in the first to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 1-0 victory over Seattle on Saturday night at Anaheim, Calif.

Adell robbed Cal Raleigh in the first inning, Josh Naylor in the eighth and J.P. Crawford in the ninth with stellar grabs in right field as the Angels won for just the second time in the past seven games. The last one was challenged as he fell over the short wall in the right field corner into the stands while making the catch but upheld.

Jack Kochanowicz (1-0) allowed four hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings for Los Angeles, which got two hits from Neto including his 10th career leadoff homer.

Emerson Hancock (1-1) allowed one run on six hits over 6 2/3 innings. Julio Rodriguez had two of the Mariners’ five hits, but Raleigh remains homerless through nine games after smashing 60 last season.

Yankees 9, Marlins 7

Giancarlo Stanton hit a tiebreaking two-run single with two outs in the eighth inning and New York continued its hot start by hanging on for a victory over visiting Miami.

Cody Bellinger contributed to the Yankees erasing a four-run deficit through four innings by driving in three runs. Judge (2-for-4, two runs) was the lone Yankee with multiple hits as New York collected six hits, but drew ten walks from Miami pitchers. Brett Headrick (1-0) recorded the win by ending the top of the eighth after Javier Sanoja’s game-tying double.

Edwards went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI single in the ninth for the Marlins, who saw Michael Peterson (1-1) take the loss.

Pirates 3, Orioles 2

Nick Yorke hit the game-winning double in the ninth as host Pittsburgh rallied past Baltimore.

Dennis Santana (2-0) was the winning pitcher with an inning of shutout relief. Yorke delivered the deciding hit off Ryan Helsley (0-1) to end the game. Pirates starter Carmen Mlodzinski lasted 4 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits.

Adley Rutschman had two of Baltimore’s six singles. The Orioles scored two runs in the fourth on singles by Dylan Beavers and Leody Taveras. Baltimore led until the eighth. Orioles starter Shane Baz held the Pirates to one unearned run on three hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Tigers 11, Cardinals 6

Kerry Carpenter, Zach McKinstry and Matt Vierling hit two-run homers and host Detroit slugged its way to a victory over St. Louis.

The game was called after 8 1/3 innings due to inclement weather and poor field conditions. Carpenter, McKinstry and Vierling drove in three runs apiece. Gleyber Torres had two hits, including a homer, and scored twice.

Brant Hunter (1-0) picked up the win, tossing one inning of scoreless relief. Jordan Walker hit a grand slam and drove in five for the Cardinals. Starter Dustin May (0-2) gave up seven runs and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings.

White Sox 6, Blue Jays 3

Munetaka Murakami and Colson Montgomery homered to key a go-ahead sixth-inning rally and Miguel Vargas added two hits as host Chicago defeated Toronto.

Murakami drove in three runs and Vargas scored a pair. Chris Murphy (1-0) got the win, allowing one run and two hits in one inning of relief. Seranthony Dominguez worked around a leadoff walk and pinch-hit single in the ninth to pick up his first save.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. smacked his first home run of the season, a two-run blast to left-center in the sixth to give the Jays a short-lived 2-1 lead. Reliever Brendon Little (0-2) gave up three runs in the bottom of the inning.

Brewers 5, Royals 2 (Game 1)

Garrett Mitchell doubled, homered, and racked up five RBIs for visiting Milwaukee in a win over Kansas City. Luis Rengifo was 2-for-5 with two doubles and a run, and Christian Yelich was 2-for-5 with two runs for the Brewers.

Brewers starting pitcher Chad Patrick (1-0) picked up the win as he went five innings and gave up four hits. Trevor Megill threw a scoreless ninth inning to earn his second save of the season.

Luinder Avila (0-1) took the loss for the Royals, as he only lasted three innings, surrendering eight hits and five runs. Jac Caglianone was 2-for-3 with a walk, and Lane Thomas and Bobby Witt Jr. each had an RBI for the Royals.

Royals 8, Brewers 2 (Game 2)

Salvador Perez’s sixth-inning home run ignited the Kansas City offense to split a doubleheader with visiting Milwaukee.

The Royals sent 12 batters to the plate in the decisive six-run frame, nine of those with two outs. Nick Mears (1-0) picked up the win in relief for Kansas City after one inning of work. Eli Morgan pitched the final three innings to notch his first save. Maikel Garcia was 3-for-5 with a double, a run and an RBI, while Carter Jensen was 2-for-3 with a run, a double, two RBIs and a walk.

Brandon Sproat (0-1) was saddled with the loss as he pitched 3 2/3 innings of relief, surrendering four hits and four runs. Brice Turang and Garrett Mitchell drove in the Brewers’ runs.

Phillies 2, Rockies 1

Jesus Luzardo pitched strongly into the seventh, striking out 11 and Trea Turner had two hits with the game-winning RBI in Philadelphia’s win over Colorado in Denver.

Luzardo (1-1) allowed just one run on five hits over 6 2/3 innings to bounce back from a rough first start. Jhoan Duran retired the side in order in the ninth for his third save to secure Philadelphia’s fourth consecutive win. Kyle Schwarber also drove in a run with an RBI double as the game’s second batter.

Brett Sullivan had two hits and the lone RBI for Colorado, which is 1-4 in one-run games. Rockies batters fanned 13 times and drew only one walk. Chase Dollander (1-1) struck out six in 4 1/3 innings of relief work, but took the loss.

Dodgers 10, Nationals 5

Andy Pages slugged a three-run homer among his three hits, Freddie Freeman doubled twice and drove in four runs, and visiting Los Angeles beat Washington.

Will Smith also had three hits and Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Tucker and Alex Call each had two of the Dodgers’ 16 hits. Pages leads the majors in hits while batting .500 (15-for-30). Los Angeles star shortstop Mookie Betts exited in the middle of the first inning of the game due to right lower back pain and was replaced by Miguel Rojas.

CJ Abrams hit a two-run homer and Luis Garcia Jr. went 3-for-4 with an RBI for Washington, which lost its fourth straight and has been outscored 23-11 in the first two games of the weekend series.

Padres 3, Red Sox 2

Ramon Laureano’s two-out RBI single in the top of the ninth inning propelled visiting San Diego to a win over Boston.

The Padres found two-out magic to take the lead for good, as Fernando Tatis Jr. ripped a double over Ceddanne Rafaela’s head in center field to set the stage for Laureano’s heroic knock. San Diego got six one-run innings from Randy Vasquez, with Adrian Morejon (1-0) recording the win despite blowing a save opportunity.

Rafaela and Roman Anthony each had two hits for the Red Sox, who saw closer Aroldis Chapman take his first loss of the season.

Diamondbacks 2, Braves 1

Michael Soroka threw five strong innings against his former team and Arizona scored a pair of unearned runs to earn a victory over Atlanta in Phoenix.

After Gabriel Moreno and Nolan Arenado singled in the bottom of the second, Jose Fernandez laid down a bunt and Bryce Elder’s errant throw sailed into right field, allowing both runners to score. Soroka (2-0) allowed one run on four hits and four relievers followed up with a perfect inning apiece, with the staff retiring the final 14 Braves batters.

Dominic Smith knocked in the Braves’ only run with a second-inning single, and Matt Olson’s third-inning double was the only extra-base hit of the game. Elder (1-1) took the loss despite allowing no earned runs on four hits over seven innings of work.

Reds 2, Rangers 0

Rhett Lowder pitched six shutout innings to lead Cincinnati to a win over Texas in Arlington, Texas.

Lowder (1-0) allowed three hits, with only one baserunner reaching second base against him. Cincinnati plated the only two runs of the game in the first inning on RBI singles from Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart.

Rangers starter Kumar Rocker (0-1) went five innings, giving up two earned runs on six hits in his first start of the season. Texas put runners on the corners in the ninth against Reds closer Emilio Pagan before Evan Carter struck out to end the game.

Rays 7, Twins 1

Jonathan Aranda and Yandy Diaz drove in two runs apiece, and Tampa Bay cruised to a win over host Minnesota.

Ben Williamson and Hunter Feduccia added one RBI apiece for the Rays, who got six innings of two-hit, one-run work on the mound from Steven Matz (2-0). Cedric Mullins and Chandler Simpson finished with two hits apiece.

Brooks Lee drove in the lone run for Minnesota. The Twins managed only three hits, none of which went for extra bases, with Mick Abel (0-2) allowing four runs over as many innings in his start.

Astros 11, Athletics 0

Christian Walker and Cam Smith hit homers and Houston recorded 18 hits as it blasted the Athletics in West Sacramento, Calif.

Tatsuya Imai (1-0) threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings to earn his first career major league win. Walker, Joey Loperfido, Yainer Diaz and Christian Vazquez led the way for the Astros with three hits and two RBIs each.

Athletics starter Luis Morales (0-2) gave up five runs in three-plus innings, allowing eight hits and six walks. Max Muncy had two of the Athletics’ five hits.

Mets 9, Giants 0

Tyrone Taylor capped a five-run fifth inning with a pinch-hit home run, Clay Holmes threw seven shutout innings and visiting New York made it two straight blowouts over San Francisco with its first shutout of the season.

Mark Vientos had three hits and scored twice, and Taylor had four RBI off the bench for New York, which saw Holmes allow just three hits over his extended outing. Tobias Myers retired all six batters he faced to preserve the shutout.

Corner infielders Matt Chapman and Jerar Encarnacion, both of whom were charged with errors on Carson Benge’s groundball that plated two runs in the second inning, had hits for the Giants, who saw starter Landen Roupp (1-1) roughed up to the tune of seven runs (five earned) over 4 2/3 innings.

–Field Level Media

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Habs outlast Devils in shootout to earn 8th straight victory

NHL: Montreal Canadiens at New Jersey DevilsApr 4, 2026; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Montréal Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield (13) swipes at the puck in front of New Jersey Devils goaltender Jake Allen (34) during the first period at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Salus-Imagn Images

Oliver Kapanen scored in the fifth round of the shootout to extend the Montreal Canadiens’ win streak to eight games after Saturday’s 4-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils in Newark, N.J.

Cole Caufield failed to find his 50th goal of the season, but tallied a pair of assists in the win, while Ivan Demidov, Jayden Struble, and Lane Hutson all scored for the Canadiens (45-21-10, 100 points).

Both goaltenders impressed as Jakub Dobes made 35 saves en route to his fifth consecutive win, while Jake Allen stopped 26 shots in the loss.

Jack Hughes, Timo Meier and Dawson Mercer all scored for the Devils (39-34-3, 81 points).

Struble broke the deadlock with 4:02 remaining in the first as he sent a rocket of a shot into the top corner for just his second goal of the season.

Caufield picked up his second assist of the night just over eight minutes into the second period as he slid a sneaky pass across to Demidov, who made no mistake in burying the power-play goal and extending his point streak to five games (two goals, four assists).

Hutson stretched it to a 3-0 lead 9:28 into the middle frame as the puck bounced out to him with Allen sprawled out and an empty net in front of him.

Mercer finally solved Dobes as he sent a short-side snipe over the netminder’s shoulder with 6:52 left in the second.

Just moments after Bratt was denied on a short-handed odd-man break, Hughes made the most of the second consecutive 2-on-1 chance, cutting the deficit to one with 2:20 left in the second.

Caufield had his best chance at finding his 50th goal with 7:44 left in the contest as he fired off a high shot from the slot, but Allen got it with the blocker.

Meier knotted things up at three with just 2:15 remaining in regulation as he took a pass from Hughes and sent his shot off the post and in.

Dobes robbed Bratt at one end, before Allen stoned Kapanen at the other during an exciting overtime frame.

–Field Level Media

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