The Twins won the division in 2023, and appeared to be on their way to a playoff spot in 2024 before the bottom fell out and they finished with 82 wins. Things went even worse last year, and they traded away several key players, losing 92 games, their worst season since 2016.

The Royals took 7 of 13 from the Twins last year, the first time since 2021 they won the season series. The Twins have a depleted roster, but there are still some talented players left on the team. Under first-year manager Derek Shelton, they dropped two of three in Baltimore to begin the year.

Minnesota Twins (1-2) at Kansas City Royals (1-2)

Twins: 4.02 runs scored/game (26th in MLB), 3.93 runs allowed/game (4th)

Royals: 4.47 runs scored/game (13th), 4.53 runs allowed/game (20th)

Byron Buxton is super talented when he can stay on the field, which is seldom. He appeared in 126 games last year, his highest totals since 2017, putting up career highs in home runs (35), runs scored (97), and RBI (83). The Twins added Josh Bell, who is on his eighth team in seven seasons, but he has put up an above-average OPS+ in each season since 2020. In 23 career games against the Royals, Bell is a .341/.417/.588 hitter with five home runs. Luke Keaschall hit 9-for-25 (.360) with a home run against the Royals in his rookie campaign. Matt Wallner had a reverse split last year, hitting lefties better than righties.

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*-All numbers from 2025

Simeon Woods Richardson ended last year strong with a 2.33 ERA in five September starts. Opponents hit just .137 against his splitter last year.

Joe Ryan set career-bests last year in innings (171), wins (13), strikeouts (194), and ERA (3.42). In 11 career starts against the Royals, he is 8-1 with a 2.02 ERA. He gave up just one hit in 5.1 scoreless innings on Opening Day in Baltimore.

Taj Bradley had a 6.61 ERA in six starts with the Twins after they acquired him from the Rays last summer. He struck out nine in 4.1 innings, allowing just three hits and one run in his 2026 debut.

The Twins traded away Jhoan Duran, Louis Varland, Griffin Jax, Brock Stewart, and Danny Coulombe in July, and their bullpen had a 4.93 ERA after the trade deadline. They brought back Taylor Rogers, a 35-year-old lefty who pitched for them from 2016 to 2021. Cole Sands had the eighth-biggest ERA to FIP gap among relievers last year. The Twins picked up Zak Kent off waivers, and Anthony Banda and Eric Orze in minor trades.

The Twins can still lean on a few impact bats (no more Ty France!) and some quality arms at the top of the rotation, but the bullpen is not what it was a year ago. Minnesota has been a tough opponent for the Royals for several years, but this is a home series Kansas City should take.