Twins Face Braves in Crucial Matchup at Truist Park

ATLANTA, Ga. — The Minnesota Twins take on the Atlanta Braves tonight at Truist Park, with right-hander Chris Paddack (0-2, 9.49 ERA) going up against Atlanta’s Bryce Elder (0-1, 7.20) in the first game of a three-game series. Both teams are looking to improve their seasons, with the Twins currently 7-12 and the Braves at 5-13.

This match kicks off a vital weekend series as the Twins aim to end an eight-game losing streak against Atlanta. Their previous encounters saw the Braves sweep the Twins in both their 2023 series and a three-game stint in Minnesota last season. The Twins were last victorious against the Braves in a 2019 series.

On Friday, the game starts at 6:15 p.m. It will be broadcast on Apple TV+ and local radio stations 830-AM and 102.9-FM. The matchup continues Saturday at 6:15 p.m. on Twins.tv, featuring Simeon Woods Richardson against Chris Sale. Sunday’s game will start at 12:35 p.m. with Joe Ryan taking the mound against Grant Holmes.

In an offseason move, utility player Mickey Gasper has been sent to St. Paul, and the team is dealing with injuries to several key players. 3B Royce Lewis and OF Matt Wallner are both sidelined due to hamstring issues, and RHP Pablo López is also out with a hamstring injury.

Despite these challenges, Ryan boasts an impressive performance, having allowed just one earned run over 12 innings in his last two starts. The Twins will also face a left-handed starter for just the third time this season, where they’re still searching for their first win against lefties.

Meanwhile, the struggling Braves are returning home to face the Twins after a rough 2-4 road trip, concluding in Toronto. Atlanta is currently recovering from a dreadful start to the season, where they lost eight of their first nine games. In their last game, the Braves struck out a record 19 times during a 3-1 defeat against the Blue Jays.

Chris Sale, scheduled to start on Saturday, has a solid history against the Twins, holding a 12-6 record with a 3.72 ERA against them in 31 appearances. Last season, he performed well at home, remaining undefeated at Truist Park.

In injury news, RF Ronald Acuña Jr. is making progress from his torn ACL and may soon start a rehab assignment, potentially returning to action by early May. Additionally, DH Marcell Ozuna is day-to-day with hip inflammation and might be ready for Friday’s lineup.

This showdown presents an opportunity for both teams to shift momentum as they attempt to recover from disappointing starts to the 2025 season.