Twins Alter Lineup for Game 2 Against Cardinals

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The Minnesota Twins will make adjustments to their lineup for Game 2 of the 2025 season against the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday afternoon. Following a 5-3 loss on Opening Day, the Twins swapped in Christian Vazquez for Ryan Jeffers as part of their catching rotation and positioned him ninth in the batting order. Harrison Bader, a standout in the previous game, will be replaced by Mickey Gasper, batting sixth as designated hitter.

Trevor Larnach, originally slated as designated hitter, will shift to left field, filling in for Bader, who made a notable impact with a two-run homer and a double in Thursday’s opener. However, Twins Manager Rocco Baldelli opted for Gasper to open Saturday’s game, pointing toward a strategy designed for matchups against right-handed pitchers.

Bader’s recent performance raises questions about his absence from the lineup. He boasts a career .672 OPS against right-handed pitchers, which may have factored into Baldelli’s decision. Gasper, on the other hand, excelled in spring training with a .308 batting average, an impressive .904 OPS, and a team-leading eight walks, prompting the organization to give him a chance in the regular season.

Amid these changes, Edouard Julien remains out of the lineup for both games thus far. Despite showcasing consistent performance during spring training, Julien has yet to see game action this season, even while key players Royce Lewis and Brooks Lee are on the injured list. Fans and analysts will be watching closely to see if he makes an appearance off the bench or secures a spot in Sunday’s game.

Joe Ryan is slated to pitch for the Twins against Cardinals’ Erick Fedde, who joined the team through a complex three-team trade with the White Sox and Dodgers last summer. The game is set to start at 1:15 p.m. Central Time.