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Blue Jays Series Preview: Toronto welcomes the Twins after snapping six-game losing streak
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Photo credit: © John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Apr 10, 2026, 07:00 EDTUpdated: Apr 9, 2026, 18:45 EDT
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The Toronto Blue Jays are in rough shape entering their fifth series of the season
On Wednesday, they managed to snap a six-game skid, where they had went 1-7 over their last eight dating back to Cody Ponce’s injury. Taking at least one against the Los Angeles Dodgers is nothing to sneeze at, considering that they’re somehow better than they were last season.
It also doesn’t help that the Blue Jays just can’t stay healthy. Early in Spring Training, it seemed like just Shane Bieber would start the season on the injured list, but both José Berríos and Trey Yesavage joined him. Since the season started, the Blue Jays have also added Ponce, Alejandro Kirk, and Addison Barger. It’s hard to win when a team faces so many injuries to key players.
But it’s still early in the season. As of Friday morning, the Blue Jays are just three games behind the New York Yankees for the top spot in the American League East. Just two games separate the second-placed Baltimore Orioles (6-6) and the Boston Red Sox (4-8).
But the Blue Jays can’t underestimate the Minnesota Twins entering this three-game series.

Examining the Twins

Last season, the Twins struggled and finished the season with a 70-92 record, second-worst in the American League Central. Before the trade deadline, they sent Louis Varland and Ty France to the Blue Jays for Kendry Rojas and Alan Roden. However, the Twins have had a good start to their season.
They lost four of their first five games, including their first two series, before splitting their next four. The Twins enter Friday’s game on a four-game winning streak, sweeping a four-game series against the Detroit Tigers, the favourites to win the division heading into the season.
Of course, the Twins are no Los Angeles Dodgers, but they have a strong pitching staff and have scored the seventh-most runs with 60. Even last season, the Twins gave the Blue Jays a run for their money. In June, the Jays traveled to Minneapolis, winning the first two games, but dropping the third. It was the only loss that stood between an eight game winning streak.
Later in the season, the Blue Jays defeated the Twins in the first game, but fell 7-5 in the second game. In their rubber match, the Twins carried a two-run lead into the bottom of the eighth, before France hit a home run to get the Jays to within one, then Addison Barger drove in two with a double.
The Blue Jays haven’t had that all season long, well, that was until Wednesday afternoon’s game.

One player to watch: Taj Bradley

It’s far too early to declare a player as a Cy Young candidate, but if we did, both Dylan Cease and Kevin Gausman would fall into this category. So would Twins’ starter Taj Bradley. Acquired before the 2025 trade deadline from the Tampa Bay Rays, Bradley had made three starts, giving up just two earned runs in 16.2 innings.
Over the those 16.2 innings, Bradley has struck out 22 batters, the seventh-most in the league, while walking just four. He’s right up there with Gausman and Cease, who are tied for second in the league. The Blue Jays will see him on the final game of the series on Sunday.

Quick Hits

  • The Twins and Jays may play in different divisions, but Matt Wallner is a Blue Jays killer. In his 11 games against them, he’s hit five home runs. He’s also hit five home runs against four other teams, with three of them being against teams in the division. The outfielder has also found success against the Seattle Mariners.
  • Josh Bell has been the Twins’ best hitter to begin the season. On Thursday, he hit his third home run of the season and is now slashing .317/.431/.634 in 51 plate appearances. The Blue Jays will have to shut down the switch-hitter
  • Former Blue Jay Simeon Woods Richardson will start Friday’s game. Traded for José Berríos before the 2021 trade deadline, the 25-year-old has 2.31 ERA and 5.15 FIP over his first two starts. Austin Martin, the other player in that trade, is off to a good start as well. He’s slashing .250/.455/.250 with six singles and seven walks in 33 plate appearances.
  • Opposed to Woods Richardson on Friday is Patrick Corbin, who’ll make his Blue Jays’ debut. Signed to a one-year deal last week, Corbin started for the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays last Saturday, going five innings with 74 pitches thrown.
  • Both Eric Lauer and Max Scherzer are expected to start in this series, Saturday and Sunday respectively. Last time out, they both didn’t make it through three, as Lauer pitched 2+ innings due to illness, while Scherzer left with forearm tendinitis. Joe Ryan is the Twins’ expected starter on Saturday.

Probable pitchers

Friday: Patrick Corbin/Simeon Woods Richardson
Saturday: Eric Lauer/Joe Ryan
Sunday: Max Scherzer/Taj Bradley

Game times

Friday: 7:07 PM ET
Saturday: 3:07 PM ET
Sunday: 1:37 PM ET
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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