Series Preview: Twins at Guardians

TL;DR

The Twins (16-22) face the Guardians (20-19) in a three-game series. Key matchups include Joe Ryan for the Twins, who recently dealt with elbow soreness.

Key points

Twins have a 16-22 record
Guardians hold a 20-19 record
Joe Ryan's elbow soreness is a concern for the Twins
Guardians' starting pitchers include Messick, Bibee, and Williams
Twins' bullpen ERA is 5.81

Cleveland GuardiansMinnesota TwinsJoe RyanParker Messick

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - MAY 06: José Ramírez #11 of the Cleveland Guardians watches from the dug out against the Kansas City Royals in the ninth inning at Kauffman Stadium on May 06, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images It is time for the Guardians and Twins to play again. The Twins are 16-22, 13th in wRC+ at 99, 12th in baserunning runs above average at 0.7, 22nd in Defense at -8.4, 15th in starting pitcher ERA at 4.12 (4.08 FIP), and 29th in bullpen ERA at 5.81 (4.71 FIP). The Guardians are 20-19, 17th in wRC+ at 97, 25th in baserunning runs above average at -1.1, 13th in Defense at -4.7, ninth in starting pitcher ERA at 3.94 (4.33 FIP), and 16th in bullpen ERA at 4.12 (4.12 FIP). **Matchups**: Game One: Parker Messick, LHP 2.20 ERA (3.07 FIP) vs. Connor Prielipp, 3.86 ERA (4.14 FIP) Game Two: Tanner Bibee, RHP 4.58 ERA (4.51 FIP) vs. Joe Ryan, RHP, 3.72 ERA (3.04 FIP) Game Three: Gavin Williams, RHP 3.28 ERA (4.15 ERA) vs. Taj Bradley, RHP, 2.87 ERA (3.52 FIP) As luck would have it, the Guardians will face the best of the Twins’ starters this weekend. All eyes will be on Joe Ryan after he left his last start with elbow soreness. It will be key to get the Twins’ starters out of the game as soon as possible and take advantage of their poor bullpen. Let’s get Bibee and Williams back on track and take a series.

Q&A

What are the current standings of the Twins and Guardians?

The Twins are 16-22, while the Guardians hold a record of 20-19.

Who are the starting pitchers for the Twins vs Guardians series?

The matchups include Parker Messick, Tanner Bibee, and Gavin Williams for the Guardians against Connor Prielipp, Joe Ryan, and Taj Bradley for the Twins.

What is Joe Ryan's injury status ahead of the series?

Joe Ryan recently left his last start with elbow soreness, making his performance a key focus for the Twins.