These AL Central opponents both had disappointing 2022 campaigns, but 2023 is a new year to make magic happen. The Twins spent most of 2022 in first place, but a 28-40 record after the All-Star break resulted in a third-place finish at 78-84. In Kansas City, a 65-97 record guided the Royals to last in the division, as they introduced a lot of new faces to the show. Minnesota won the season series last year, 12-7, but that's in the past now. What's important is the present, and with a 4:10 first pitch at Kauffman Stadium, both clubs will have a fresh opportunity to make 2023 a memorable one.
Even Twins fans may find it difficult to keep up with the new additions to this team. The lineup has added Christian Vasquez as the starting catcher, Michael A. Taylor to help keep star outfielder Byron Buxton healthy, and gold glove outfielder Joey Gallo is slotted to start at first base with his prodigious power. AL Batting Champion Luis Arraez is gone, but Byron Buxton, Carlos Correa, and Max Kepler are all returning.
Their Opening Day starter is a new face too, Pablo Lopez who came over from the Marlins in the Arraez trade. Lopez tossed a career-high 180.0 innings last season and had the best ground ball rate of his career, 46.1%. His WAR and WHIP last season were also the best of his career.
Minnesota lost their last two Opening Day games, both with different starting pitchers. Pablo Lopez, who has never started on Opening Day until this game, will look to snap that streak. He figures to ha ve more run support than he would've in Miami.
Minnesota finished 10th in OBP last season, and while they were only 17th in runs, getting on base is half of the battle. With so many new pieces in their lineup, along with returning stars, there's potential to return to their 2019 level of run production. Injuries are something they'll need to contend with though, especially with Buxton's injury history and Correa's supposedly terrible ankle that was the talk of the offseason.
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