Orioles 8, Twins 6: The Piggyback Doesn't Work But At Least They Tried

[Hans Birkeland]

Image courtesy of © Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

Box Score:
Starting Pitcher: Bailey Ober: 4 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K (56 Pitches, 37 Strikes, 66 %)
Home Runs: Royce Lewis (2)
Bottom 3 WPA: Mick Abel (-0.59), Matt Wallner (-0.17) Byron Buxton (-0.15)
Win Probability Chart (Via FanGraphs):

The Twins entered the third game of the new season with a chance to take two of three games from the Orioles in Baltimore. The bats have been predictably inept thus far, but the pitching had been decent, and the team managed to manufacture four runs despite just four hits in Saturday's 4-1 win.

On Sunday, Bailey Ober took the mound looking to fight back against allegations that he is "cooked," working with lower velocity, struggling to reach 90 MPH in spring training, and coming off a brutal 2025 season.

He shied away from the fastball early, throwing a barrage of changeups and sweepers to keep the Orioles hitters off balance, inducing numerous grounders and pop-ups. The fastball didn't return to his 2023-2024 peak by any means, but the exit velocities were low, and he was efficient early.

The Twins hitters were up against Shane Baz, who has been a hot prospect for approximately 15 years, first sent to the Rays in the Tyler Glasnow and Austin Meadows-for-Chris Archer trade of 2017. He was dealt to Baltimore this winter and signed a five-year, $68-million contract extension this week, a big bet on his potential despite just one healthy season in his five years in the big leagues. He throws hard and has a wicked breaking ball. He showed his upside in a 1-2-3 first inning, including two weak fly outs from Kody Clemens and Luke Keaschall and a challenged strike three call to Byron Buxton that was upheld.

The Twins got to work in the second inning, however. Matt Wallner roped a single to center, Josh Bell was hit by a pitch, and Victor Carratini checked in with his second hit as a Twin. The much-maligned Trevor Larnach bounced a ball to the hole between first and second, reaching an infield single to score the game's first run. Royce Lewis then got ahead in the count before striking out looking for Baz's 99-MPH fastball; it was a well-located 92-MPH cutter instead. No matter, Tristan Gray was up next and clobbered a 107-MPH double to right, clearing the bases and giving the Twins a surprising 4-0 lead.

Gray, 30, is a journeyman who has shown some power in the minors but hasn't gotten much run in the big leagues. If the Twins are planning to outperform logic and reason this year and actually compete, it will take a couple of Willi Castro-style success stories to provide the necessary variance. Maybe Gray can be that. Who knows?

Ober took that four-run lead into the fourth inning, but the Orioles were ready for him the second time through the lineup. Pete Alonso singled, as did Samuel Basallo. The hulking Tyler O'Neill then worked the count to 3-1 before unloading on an 88.8-MPH fastball at the top of the zone from Ober. His 391-foot blast cut the Twins' lead to one run.

Baz struggled with his command in his tragic second inning, but otherwise was sharp with his knuckle-curve, tying Twins hitters into knots. The most the Twins could muster were bloop doubles from Bell, Larnach and Buxton in the fourth and fifth innings, but Bell was cut down unnecessarily trying to advance on a grounder to short in the fourth, and Buxton overran second base and was caught trying to scamper back in the fifth.

Mick Abel made his 2026 debut in the bottom of the fifth, a major yin to Ober's yang. He began by striking out Jeremiah Jackson on a challenge fastball and dotting another 97-MPH fastball on the corner to catch Taylor Ward looking (after a nice ABS challenge by Caratini).

The sixth was more of a struggle, as Abel was unable to put away numerous Orioles hitters with two strikes, letting O'Neill come back from 0-2 to draw a walk; getting ahead of Coby Mayo before allowing a bloop double; and seeing Dylan Beavers rope a 3-2 changeup into right field for a two-run double to flip the game.

That lead would not last long, as Royce Lewis jumped all over a breaking ball from Yaramil Hiraldo, launching a 377-foot home run to tie the game. He'd also given the Twins the lead in Saturday's tilt with a two-run blast. That WPA is looking pretty good early on. Perhaps a bit shaken by that, Hiraldo proceeded to walk the bases loaded for Wallner, who showed there is something worse than a typical strikeout in 2026: a strikeout where you challenge the call on an obvious strike, costing your team the ability to challenge the rest of the game.

That proved costly right away, as Abel walked Gunnar Henderson in the bottom half of the inning on a clear strike to put two men on with no outs following a Ward single. Alonso then poked a single just over Keaschall's outstretched glove to reclaim the lead. Adley Rutschman delivered a pinch-hit double off the wall in dead center field to further the unraveling.

The Twins didn't quit, at least. Bell walked and Caratini singled against righty Tyler Wells to bring the tying run to the plate, but that tying run was James Outman. He walked somehow, which brought up Lewis—who struck out on a high change. Gray then singled up the middle to keep the line moving and add to his legend. Clemens struck out, bringing up Buxton with two down to face old friend Yennier Cano. It was a lengthy battle, but Buxton ended up swinging over the top of that patented sinker Cano throws to end the inning.

Running on fumes, Abel was brought back for the eighth and allowed a single and a walk, bailed out by Blaze Alexander getting caught stealing by Caratini. Anthony Banda was finally brought in to face Henderson with one on and one out. He was able to retire Henderson on a fielder's choice, then caught him taking off early from first to end the frame.

Keaschall led off the ninth against All-Star closer Ryan Helsley with a single, but the rally fizzled from there, despite a Henderson fielding error.

Things to Watch:

-Brooks Lee sat in favor of Gray after starting the year 0-6 with three strikeouts.

-Trevor Larnach made his second straight start in left field, as Twins manager Derek Shelton has shown his preference early on is to have Josh Bell DH against righties with Clemens at first base. I question the defensive upgrade of DH-ing Larnach over Bell, since Clemens could conceivably play a better left field than Larnach, but what do I know?

-Abel began warming up in the top of the fourth, with Ober having not had much trouble to that point. That invited the question of how much the Twins trust Ober even when he is "cruising." Was the intention to get Abel some work with all the early-season off days, or is Ober getting the Simeon Woods RIchardson treatment, i.e., not being trusted to go through a lineup more than twice?

On that note, Abel was allowed to stay in the game and take a beating, throwing 71 pitches over his three innings, allowing multiple runs in two of those. With the game hanging in the balance, it was a little surprising a fresh reliever was not brought in for the seventh, and again when Abel got into trouble that inning.

But wait, there was more! Abel came out to start the eighth for some reason, his velocity dropping down to 94 MPH with the fastball. He didn't get anyone out outside the caught stealing, and ended up with twelve baserunners allowed in 3 1/3 innings.

-Josh Bell reached four times with two doubles. He runs hot and cold, so it's nice to see him coming out of the gates getting results.

-Austin Martin pinch-hit for Larnach in the sixth, and was pinch-hit for by Outman in the eighth. This could be Shelton getting cute with the logic of playing the platoons and improving his left field defense more as the game went on. The problem is that Outman can't hit, and are we even sure Outman is an upgrade defensively at this point?

---

What’s Next: The Twins head to Kansas City for the first time in 2026 with Simeon Woods RIchardson (7-4, 4.04 ERA in 2025) opposing Kris Bubic (8-7, 2.55 ERA). SWR finished 2025 on a high note, perfecting his new splitter and showing the ability to put away hitters for the first time in his career on a consistent basis. Bubic was dominant for Kansas City, with nasty stuff from the left side, his only weakness being health, never surpassing 130 IP in his six years in the majors.

Postgame Interviews:

(Coming soon)

Bullpen Usage Chart:

	WED	THU	FRI	SAT	SUN	TOT
Abel	0	0	0	0	81	81
Topa	0	18	0	12	0	30
Funderburk	0	17	0	13	0	30
Orze	0	0	0	21	0	21
Banda	0	0	0	15	3	18
Sands	0	0	0	16	0	16
Rogers	0	10	0	0	0	10
Laweryson	0	0	0	0	0	0
Kent	0	0	0	0	0	0

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[AceWrigley]

Mick Abel in relief? WTF.

[LewFordLives]

There was plenty of blame to go around for this one, but Ober's performance has to be the most concerning. Given his decreased velocity and poor results last year, how much leash should he have? One could argue Matthews is a better option, but then what do you do with Ober?

[LewFordLives]

13 minutes ago, AceWrigley said:

Mick Abel in relief? WTF.

I think it was just to get him work. They don't really need five starters these first couple weeks with all the days off.

[Peter]

Infuriating loss!!! Bases loaded twice only to end on strike outs both times-blowing 4-0 is unacceptable!!! Ober has short lease!!! Bad pitching giving up 3 run home run and base running blunders were 💩 needed to go 2-1 against royals and rays!!! Twins aren’t as bad as all of you say!!! It’s young team and they need to get it together!!!

[h2oface]

Mick not Abel when stacked on Ober. That’s over 13’2” total of throwing downhill. One would think that would help generate velocity. Speaking of velocity….. Brooks Lee the pinch runner option? Maybe if he pinned his ears down it would help with reducing drag. Wallner challenging the call on that pitch with bases loaded was like watching a little leaguer pretend he was hurt after dropping a routine pop up. 

[ashbury]

I haven't ponied up for mlb.tv as yet, but on Gray's double did we nearly end up with two baserunners at third base?  Gray was barreling in there and on the replay it looked like Larnach had barely broken for home plate.  Could have had an embarrassing double play there - indeed, was there a case to be made that Gray committed interference when the third baseman tried to throw home?  Meanwhile what was the third base coach signaling all during that?

[Over The Hill Again]

Caratini looked the part as a MLB catcher. His bat shouldn’t be expected to carry the team or anything but looked fundamentally sound. That’s a positive. 

[thelanges5]

Wallner’s “rage” challenge, running into outs on the bases, Abel not able to finish off batters down 0-2. Twins don’t have enough talent on the field to make up for these mistakes. 

[thelanges5]

Twins lined up to face 3 lefties in KC.
Bubic, Cameron, and Ragans

[Blyleven2011]

WELL , WE'RE WAITING ...

Was there an explanation for our baserunners getting out on the basepaths  , everyone loves aggressive base running but they have to be smart about it  ...

Hitting in the clutch , it just doesn't seem to come from any of our homegrown players that we developed  , we haven't developed a player that scores 100 runs , we haven't developed a player that has 100 rbi's in a season for quite sometime ....

Let's face it the twins just haven't developed much talent to be competitive  , I hope the time has come and it will change ...

It was a good game but I thought it was suppose to be the bullpen arms that were suppose to lose it ...

[karcherd]

Remember this game when members of this board call for the Twins to piggyback pitchers.  It doesn't work, they pitched the 6th and 7th innings as if they were more concerned with Abel getting his work in then trying to win the game.  I know the bullpen is weak, but it was obvious Shelton managed the game differently today vs, yesterday.

This was only one of the many reasons for the loss today, but we need to develop players throughout the roster that can actually play the game, get runs in and prevent runs.

 

[Vanimal46]

15 minutes ago, thelanges5 said:

Twins lined up to face 3 lefties in KC.
Bubic, Cameron, and Ragans

Oh boy. Good thing we have 10 left handed hitting corner OF to choose from. 

[Aggies7]

If you have two starters, you really have zero starters!

[USAFChief]

52 minutes ago, LewFordLives said:

I think it was just to get him work. They don't really need five starters these first couple weeks with all the days off.

Where is all this "all the early days off" line coming from?

The Twins have a.scheduled off day Tuesday, then not another until April 16th. After that, one more off day though the end of April. That's 3 off days until May 5th.

[USAFChief]

15 hours ago, ashbury said:

I haven't ponied up for mlb.tv as yet, but on Gray's double did we nearly end up with two baserunners at third base?  Gray was barreling in there and on the replay it looked like Larnach had barely broken for home plate.  Could have had an embarrassing double play there - indeed, was there a case to be made that Gray committed interference when the third baseman tried to throw home?  Meanwhile what was the third base coach signaling all during that?

Yes. Larnach got a terrible jump and was given a late stop sign. Gray didnt even look and just kept running until he got almost to 3rd and then noticed Larnach still there. We were fortunate Baltimore played to get Gray out and Larnach was able to score while that was going on.

The double went all the way to the wall in RF and Larnach should have scored easily. 

Cost poor Gray an RBI and a triple.

The good news is, Larnach's baserunning will get lost in the 2 other egregious baserunning blunders today. 

Edited March 30 by USAFChief

[ashbury]

2 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

The double went all the way to the wall in RX 

So what's the prescription?

[thelanges5]

4 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Where is all this "all the early days off" line coming from?

The Twins have a.scheduled off day Tuesday, then not another until April 16th. After that, one more off day though the end of April. That's 3 off days until May 5th.

I agree. To me, this seems to speak more about their lack of faith in Ober than it does about any concern about days off. Unfortunately, both pitchers were ineffective today.

[USAFChief]

1 minute ago, ashbury said:

So what's the prescription?

Editing

 

[JADBP]

If this team can't rely on their one single star, Buxton, then they have zero chance of competing. 

Buxton overrunning 2B?  I can't recall ever seeing that before.  Buxton striking out in the 8th inning, down two, with the bases load?  That was ridiculous.  It was a fastball in his wheelhouse.  

So, yeah, and if Ober keeps this up, he is gone.  And, unfortunately, I think he will.  For some unexplainable reason, he has completely lost what little velocity he had.  He has never hit 95 mph, ever.  It's gonna be hard relying completely on twisty pitches.

Its gonna be a loooong season.!

Oh, one more thing...don't get too excited about the SP's in KC.  At least one and maybe two games will be rained out.  

[Gamblerssoftball]

We have a conundrum here. A lot of complaints due to poor play and bad decisions, resulting in a team loss. But aren't team losses necessary to force the team to bring up those gems lurking in St.Paul? I know that I'm conflicted.

Obviously, we all want to see well played games. I'm just stirring the pot a little.  😀

[BrokenCompass]

An embarrassing loss that will be one of many this season. 

The Twins can lose games that they're ahead by 1 or 2 runs. But to lose a game with a 4-0 lead is unforgiveable. Teams like the Twins just can't afford to give away games that are gift wrapped like this. But they do. Looked almost like a carbon copy of one of Rocco's losses. It's not the manager, it's the players. 

I remember Morneau's quote when Wallner had a 3-0 count early in the game. "With a 4-0 lead, he's gotta have the green light here, he might park one out on Utah Street". Instead Wallner took a strike down the middle and the booth went silent. He eventually struck out. 

No fire. Same old Twins. Rolling over. Uninterested and uninteresting. 

[JADBP]

1 hour ago, Blyleven2011 said:

Hitting in the clutch , it just doesn't seem to come from any of our homegrown players that we developed  , we haven't developed a player that scores 100 runs , we haven't developed a player that has 100 rbi's in a season for quite sometime ....

 

Not that long ago....Eddie Rosario hit 109 RBI in 2019.  Cruz hit 108 in the same year.  Before that, it was Josh Willingham with  110 RBI in 2012 and Delmon Young 110 in 2010.

Now, if you are looking for someone that the Twins drafted, developed, and played for the Twins to hit 100 RBI, its Rosario, then Morneau who hit 129 in 2008, 130 in 2006 and 100 in 2009.  Kubel hit 103 in 2009.  So, yeah, it has been a very long time since the Twins drafted a player who hit 100 RBI in a Twins uniform.

Honorable mention:  Polanco came very close (98) in 2021 and Dozier hit 99 in 2016.  

[LewFordLives]

1 hour ago, USAFChief said:

Where is all this "all the early days off" line coming from?

The Twins have a.scheduled off day Tuesday, then not another until April 16th. After that, one more off day though the end of April. That's 3 off days until May 5th.

Abel hadn't pitched in almost a week. They only have five games in the span of eight days, which means he will likely be skipped in the rotation. The man needs to pitch. 

[bashbury]

Lovely day to be outside in Baltimore, just wish I had remembered that 57° sitting in the shade requires a jacket.

[The Great Hambino]

1 hour ago, thelanges5 said:

I agree. To me, this seems to speak more about their lack of faith in Ober than it does about any concern about days off. Unfortunately, both pitchers were ineffective today.

I think it was as much - if not more - about lack of faith in the bullpen and taking an opportunity to limit its exposure where they can.  If they wanted to avoid skipping Abel completely, they could've either stuck to the five-man order even with the extra days off (only four games in the first seven days after the end of spring training) or given Abel one start in St Paul while carrying an extra reliever for the first week.  

It's another way to steal innings away from the bullpen, and all else equal, I don't think anyone here thinks that's a terrible idea.  They didn't get the result today, but they were closer to success than it might appear in the boxscore.  All of Ober's runs allowed came on one pitch, and Abel's day looks very different if he can find a way to be more efficient with two strikes.

Not a bad plan, but bad execution.  It happens.

You could certainly argue that they could've/should've pivoted when Abel was in trouble in the 7th.  But Shelton's trying to make chicken salad out of ... suboptimal ingredients.  I don't mind him trying to be creative, at least not until it becomes a bad pattern

[tony&rodney]

A few general thoughts: First, the Twins don't exactly have a talented roster and must eliminate mental errors. Four base-running mistakes is not acceptable. Second, two corner statues in the outfield is at least one too many. The ball that dropped for a double to score two runs was exhibit A for substandard infield and outfield defense. Third, not all starting pitchers do well in a piggy back situation. Fourth, there is talent in AAA that holds promise for the future, so Twins fans will need to be very patient for a few years.

The Twins are playing hard but baseball is a tough game. The team seems to be supportive of each other and pulling in the same direction. Keaschall pocketing the game ball after the last out on Saturday and giving it to Buxton to present to Shelton was a sweet moment. Talent limits the upside but if the coaching staff can get the players to reduce mental errors we can accept the efforts of the squad. Wins can flow from there.

[Rosterman]

The Twins still have two unused pitchers in their pen after four days and three games. If they were starting the season with a 4-man rotation, let Abel start at St. Paul. Watching him last year coming into a game in a relief situation didn't work. After letting him start in spring, why make him come in now.

Clemens at lead off second game in a row. Let's give it to Outman and Martin, see what can happen. I admire the Twins being agressive in their baserunning, as now is the time that pitrchers are a little less sure to the plate and catchers are not in their grove, not to mention most fielders. You win some, but the Twins lost bigtime today on the base paths.

I'm not sure the secret to lineup construction, but the first three games have shown too many double plays, leaving runners stranded, or not moving runners properly. Happily everyone now has gotten time on the field (except two bullpen arms).

[JD-TWINS]

3 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

Oh boy. Good thing we have 10 left handed hitting corner OF to choose from. 

On Saturday the Team had 8 RH hitters v. the LH pitcher………that outta suffice.

[JD-TWINS]

The whining is unrelenting as usual - am a little surprised nobody found an opportunity to point to something that happened this afternoon that was “Baldelli’s fault”!

Abel’s bullpen day today if he were last in the 5 man rotation …….. Ober was done through 4 and 5 relievers threw on Saturday. They used Abel’s normal workday to piggyback with Ober & keep the Pen fresh for K.C. ………Abel is supposed to be a better pitcher than our Pen guys……. he needed to cover innings and he needs to start figuring out how to work through trouble - nothing new here with developing pitching at MLB level. The off day last Friday allows Ryan to start the 5th game on regular rest - using Abel wasn’t some demotion.

Anyway, Bell - Buxton - Gray all making outs on the bases after being in Scoring Position is not helpful for WINNING BASEBALL.

Matt Wallner continues to disappoint with RISP ……… he seems closer to Eddie Julien as time passes with the “I sure hope I walk” approach. Very disappointing!

Having a SS get a couple hits in the same game was a unique thrill! ………….I think, 12 total hits today…….. numerous guys had a pair of hits ………, scored 6 runs and didn’t play great so things are not ALL doom & gloom.