The Red Sox are arriving in Minnesota feeling like the season is slipping through their fingers and also, somehow, within reach. After taking two-of-three from the St. Louis Cardinals, they sit 6-9, just two games out of first place in the AL East. Ditto a Wild Card spot. Their run differential is zero, which is… not nothing, but also not exactly a comforting slogan.
And while the standings don’t scream “dominant,” the numbers are at least pointing somewhere. The offense has scored 62 runs, third in the division after Tampa Bay (70) and New York (65). The pitching has been almost the same story—also third in the division in runs allowed behind the Yankees (44) and Orioles (59). It’s a strange balance, the kind that makes every close game feel like it could swing either way.
This is also an AL change of scenery, and it matters. After facing the National League so far this season it’s time to play in the AL. First up, the Minnesota Twins. They’re off to a very solid start at 9-7, just half a game behind the Cleveland Guardians. After the selloff at 2025 trade deadline, getting off to a +.500 record is music to their fans’ ears. Misryoum editorial desk noted that FanGraphs still projects the team at a tick under .500 for the year, but with the Tigers coming out of the gate a little weaker who knows what the AL Central could look like. (Or maybe that’s too optimistic—teams can level out fast.)
On Monday, the series opener sets up as a matchup of “continued” versus “crafty enough.” As Boston looks to turn a two-game winning streak into three, Garrett Crochet takes the ball. Coming off a win against the Brewers where he was brilliant for about six innings and then a little gassed as his pitch count topped 100, the lefty looks to pitch not as the stopper but the continuer. He’s opposed by Bailey Ober, a tall righty who missed much of 2025. He’s back this season and things have been… ok. Over three starts he’s totaled 13.2 innings with 8 hits, 7 strikeouts, and 4 walks.
What’s going to get talked about is the early-season shift in Ober’s mechanics and results. In the early going this season his strikeout percentage has dropped from a career average of 23.7% of batters to 11.9% and his 6.8% walk rate is the highest of his career with a 5.3% average rate across his time in the majors. Is the fastball sitting in the high 80s vs the mid-90s enough of a problem for the Boston offense—or can the Twins right him back toward the version that misses bats? You can almost hear the question forming in the dugout before the first pitch.
Tuesday, the rotation leans veteran and, honestly, hopeful. Misryoum newsroom reported that Sonny Gray is coming off back-to-back strong outings against the Padres and Brewers. After a lackluster start to open the season in Cincinnati, Gray excelled in Fenway Park. Now he’s taking the show back on the road, hopefully with those bugs worked out. For Minnesota, Mick Abel is a 24-year-old righty who came to Minnesota from the Philles in exchange for Jhoan Duran. It’s his second season in the majors and he’s sitting on a career 6.19 ERA / 3.87 FIP. So far this year he’s walking (14.9%) almost the same percentage of batters he’s striking out (19.4%) which isn’t going to end well. Luckily for him last year he only walked 9.2%. and he’s only 52.1 innings into his major league career.
The series finale is an afternoon start, and it looks like it could turn into one of those games where bullpen management becomes the main character. Connelly Early has had trouble getting deep into games, throwing 96, 88, and 86 pitches and lasting 5.1, 4.0, and 4.1 innings before needing to be removed for a reliever. He’s looked good at times but also a little lost. He’s opposed by Simeon Woods Richardson, coming off a bad start after two good outings to begin the season. On the year he’s tossed 15.2 innings allowing 16 runs (8 earned), 8 hits, struck out 8, and walked 4. He give up about 34% ground balls so there’s a chance to force the defense to make plays.
Meanwhile, the Twins have their own roster noise. Royce Lewis is on the IL, as his career remains frustrating in that regard. Byron Buxton is off to a slow start: .182/.258/.273. Josh Bell has been a tremendous asset so far: .286/.390/.551 with 3 homers. This is well ahead of his career averages but he’s sure on a hot streak at the moment.
Probable Pitching Matchups
Monday, April 13: Garrett Crochet (3.12 ERA / 2.54 FIP) vs. Bailey Ober (5.27 ERA / 3.92 FIP)
Tuesday, April 14: Sonny Gray (2.76 ERA / 6.19 FIP) vs. Mick Abel (6.08 ERA / 3.87 FIP)
Wednesday, April 15: Connelly Early (2.63 ERA / 2.90 FIP) vs. Simeon Woods Richardson (5.35 ERA / 4.29 FIP)
Monday, April 13 at 7:40 PM ET on NESN
Tuesday, April 14: 7:40 PM ET on NESN+Wednesday, April 15: 1:40 PM ET on NESN
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