Minnesota Twins vs. Tampa Bay Rays Picks and Prediction for Sunday, April 26, 2026

It’s the conclusion of a weekend series on the diamond between a pair of American League teams in the Sunshine State as the Minnesota Twins finish off a three-game set with the Tampa Bay Rays Sunday afternoon and we have you covered with our Twins vs. Rays prediction. In the opening game of the series Friday night, Tampa Bay rolled to a 6-2 victory to draw first blood in the set. Will the Twins take the series finale or will the Rays earn the win on getaway day? This article was posted prior to the conclusion of the middle game of the set at Tropicana Field Saturday afternoon. Don’t go down on strikes! Increase your bankroll with our MLB Betting Picks! Read more about this Twins vs. Rays prediction!

Minnesota Looking for Momentum

Minnesota dropped their third straight and seventh in the last eight games as they were downed in the opening game of this set Friday night. The Twins entered Saturday 12-14 and stood third in the AL Central, 2.5 games behind the Guardians for the top spot. Minnesota finished with nine hits in the game with Brooks Lee (run, RBI) leading the way with three. Lee (his fourth) and Royce Lewis (his third) each went deep in the loss. Taj Bradley (3-1) took the loss as he gave up six runs on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts over 6.1 innings of work.

Simeon Woods Richardson is on the bump as he makes his sixth start of the season for the Twins in this contest. He is 0-3 with a 5.96 ERA, a 1.558 WHIP, 10 walks and 13 strikeouts over 25.2 innings of work this season. Woods Richardson didn’t factor in the decision in his last start, which came against the Mets at home Tuesday. He threw five innings, allowing three runs on four hits with three walks and two strikeouts, in a game the Twins went on to win 5-3. In his last three starts, Woods Richardson is 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA, a 1.93 WHIP, seven walks and seven strikeouts over 14 innings of work. Woods Richardson makes his fourth career start against the Rays in this contest. He has no record with a 3.31 ERA, a 1.286 WHIP, six walks and 12 strikeouts over 16.1 innings of work against them. Woods Richardson didn’t factor in the decision in his lone career start at Tropicana Field, which came with the Twins September 2, 2024. He threw 3.2 innings, allowing three runs on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts in a 5-4 Minnesota victory.

Rays Shooting to Gain Ground in AL East

Tampa Bay won their second straight as they used the long ball to down the Twins in the opening game of this set Friday. The Rays entered Saturday 14-11 on the year and stood second in the AL East, 2.5 games behind the Yankees for the top spot. Against Minnesota, Tampa Bay logged seven hits as Junior Caminero (two runs, three RBI) and Jonathan Aranda (two runs, two RBI) each recorded a pair. Caminero (his seventh and eighth) and Aranda (his fifth and sixth) each went deep twice in the win. The power game backed Drew Rasmussen (2-0), who threw six innings, allowing one run on five hits with one walk and six strikeouts, before departing. Bryan Baker worked a 1-2-3 ninth, striking out one, for his fifth save.

Jesse Scholtens gets the call for his fourth appearance, second start, of the season for the Rays in this contest. He is 1-1 with a 2.93 ERA, a 0.978 WHIP, three walks and 13 strikeouts over 15.1 innings of work on the year. Scholtens took the loss in his last outing, which was a start against the Reds Monday night. He threw 5.2 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits with no walks and six strikeouts in a 6-1 Rays defeat. Scholtens makes his fourth appearance, second start, against the Twins here. He is 0-3 with a 9.64 ERA, a 3.00 WHIP, four walks and five strikeouts over 4.2 innings of work against them. Scholtens is 0-1 with a 4.35 ERA, a 1.161 WHIP, one walk and 10 strikeouts over 10.1 innings in two career appearances, one start, at Tropicana Field.

Twins vs. Rays Pick

Moneyline Pick for Twins vs. Rays

• Rays -132 (4 units)

Tampa Bay entered Saturday with nine wins in their last 13 games while the Twins have dropped seven of their previous eight. The Rays flexed their muscle with four long balls in the opener and Woods Richardson has struggled in the first month of the year. Minnesota is trending in the wrong direction but is fortunate to not be buried in the AL Central. Scholtens gets a chance to prove he belongs on a big league roster and facing a struggling Minnesota squad works in his favor. Take Tampa Bay in this one as they earn the win on getaway day.

Over/Under Pick for Twins vs. Rays

• Over 8.5 (4 units)

Minnesota entered Saturday with the over posting a 16-10 mark in their opening 26 games of the year. The Twins are tied for 7th by averaging 4.96 runs per game, a number that slides down to 4.77 runs per game on the road. Minnesota has an average total of 9.65 runs per game on the season and that bumps slightly to 9.85 runs per game away from Target Field. Tampa Bay has seen the over post a 17-8 mark on the season entering Saturday. The Rays are 10th with 4.88 runs per game, a number that slides to 4.40 runs per game at home. Tampa Bay allows 4.14 runs per game, giving them an average total of 10.08 runs per game. That number drops to 9.50 runs per game at home on the year. With a couple of mediocre pitchers, take the over here.