First Pitch: 6:40 PM ET
Television: AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, Bally Sports North, MLB.TV
Series: Game 1 of 3
The Pirates return home looking to climb above .500, while the Twins try to stabilize after an inconsistent May. This matchup features a compelling pitching duel between Minnesota’s Taj Bradley, a high‑octane right‑hander with swing‑and‑miss stuff, and Pittsburgh’s Jared Jones, one of the NL’s most electric young arms.
WEATHER & BALLPARK CONDITIONS
Temperature: 69–72°F at first pitch
Sky: Partly cloudy
Humidity: 60–65%
Wind: 8–12 mph blowing out to left‑center
Chance of Rain: 10–15%
Projected Park Factor: Neutral to slightly hitter‑friendly, especially for right‑handed power
Conditions favor gap hitters and fly‑ball power.
INJURY REPORT
Minnesota Twins
Carlos Correa — PROBABLE (foot soreness)
Royce Lewis — OUT (quad strain)
Max Kepler — ACTIVE
Byron Buxton — QUESTIONABLE (knee management)
Jhoan Duran — ACTIVE
Pittsburgh Pirates
Oneil Cruz — ACTIVE
Ke’Bryan Hayes — PROBABLE (back tightness)
Henry Davis — OUT (thumb fracture)
David Bednar — ACTIVE
Marco Gonzales — OUT (forearm strain)
TEAM RECORDS & RECENT FORM
Minnesota Twins (27–30)
Last 10: 4–6
Road Record: 12–15
Run Differential: –14
Trend: Pitching inconsistent; offense streaky and reliant on HRs
The Twins have struggled to string together wins, especially with Lewis out and Buxton limited.
Pittsburgh Pirates (29–28)
Last 10: 6–4
Home Record: 15–12
Run Differential: +9
Trend: Pitching stabilizing; lineup improving with Cruz heating up
Pittsburgh has been one of MLB’s most improved teams in May.
SERIES HISTORY
2025 Season Series: Twins won 2–1
Last 10 Meetings: Twins lead 6–4
At PNC Park: Twins have won 3 of last 5
Average Runs/Game (last 5 matchups): 8.6
These teams tend to play competitive, mid‑scoring games.
STARTING PITCHING MATCHUP
MIN — TAJ BRADLEY (RHP)
2026 Stats: 3.77 ERA | 1.24 WHIP | 10.4 K/9
Last 3 Starts: 3.21 ERA, 1.18 WHIP
Pitch Mix: Four‑seam, cutter, curveball, changeup
Strengths: Swing‑and‑miss fastball; elite strikeout upside
Weakness: Occasional command lapses; HR‑prone when behind in counts
Matchup Outlook: Bradley’s fastball/curve combo plays well vs. Pittsburgh’s aggressive hitters, but he must avoid middle‑middle mistakes to Cruz and Suwinski.
PIT — JARED JONES (RHP)
2026 Stats: 3.42 ERA | 1.17 WHIP | 10.8 K/9
Last 3 Starts: 2.89 ERA, 1.05 WHIP
Pitch Mix: Four‑seam, slider, curve, changeup
Strengths: Elite velocity; wipeout slider; excellent vs. righties
Weakness: Can be inefficient; pitch count climbs quickly
Matchup Outlook: Jones’ slider is a nightmare for Minnesota’s right‑handed bats. If he commands the fastball, he can dominate.
KEY PLAYER MATCHUPS
Carlos Correa (MIN) vs. Jared Jones
Correa handles high velocity well
Jones’ slider is a problem for him historically
Edge: Jones
Oneil Cruz (PIT) vs. Taj Bradley
Cruz crushes high fastballs
Bradley’s heater plays into Cruz’s power zone
Edge: Cruz
Max Kepler (MIN) vs. PIT Bullpen
Pirates’ middle relief struggles vs. left‑handed hitters
Kepler heating up in late May
Edge: Kepler
Bryan Reynolds (PIT) vs. MIN Pitching
Reynolds excels vs. cutters and changeups
Bradley’s cutter can be hittable
Edge: Reynolds
BETTING TRENDS
Minnesota Twins
3–7 in last 10 road games
Under is 4–1 in last 5
2–5 in last 7 vs. NL Central
Pittsburgh Pirates
5–2 in last 7 home games
Under is 6–3 in last 9
4–1 in last 5 starts by Jones
Head‑to‑Head
Twins 6–4 last 10
Unders hit in 3 of last 4 meetings
Game Odds
Minnesota Twins 8
Pittsburgh Pirates – 133
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Thursday, May 28, 2026
