Twins vs Marlins predictions
When the Minnesota Twins hit the field at loanDepot park, it’s hard not to have your sights set on Byron Buxton. The guy has been swinging a hot bat lately, and there’s every reason to believe he’ll be leading the charge again—don’t be surprised to see him launch another big fly and knock in a few runs. Carlos Correa and Willi Castro look primed to provide some table-setting at the top, chipping in hits and taking their walks. And, of course, all eyes will be on Joe Ryan as he toes the rubber; Ryan’s been solid on the mound this season, and you can expect him to rack up the strikeouts while steering clear of too much damage. If he finds his rhythm early, Minnesota could set the tone right from the jump.
Shifting the focus to the Miami Marlins, there’s genuine potential for offensive fireworks with Kyle Stowers in the middle of the lineup. He’s shown some real pop and could easily drive a couple of balls to the gaps or even over the wall. Xavier Edwards, meanwhile, has been the unsung hero, hitting for average and constantly making things happen on the bases—look for him to stay aggressive and maybe swipe a bag. On the bump, Edward Cabrera’s off-speed stuff is downright nasty when it’s on, so if he keeps the walks in check and uses that fastball-slider mix effectively, we might see him rack up a handful of strikeouts while holding the Twins to limited run production.
At the end of the day, this matchup feels tighter than the records suggest. The Twins might enter with a slight edge, thanks to their power potential and Joe Ryan’s stability, but the Marlins are right at home and always seem to find an extra gear in front of the Miami faithful. If Edwards and Stowers get rolling and Cabrera finds his groove, the Marlins have what it takes to edge out a victory in a close, hard-fought opener. Don’t count out a little South Florida magic turning this into an exciting series right from the get-go.
