With the regular season starting up on Thursday, we wanted to take a look around the AL Central and select teams that could present a challenge to the Tigers. The most natural way to start this is looking within the division. We will look at the projected Opening Day lineup, depth chart, how they ranked, and how the Tigers faired against them in 2025. 

Let's start with the Twins, who had an interesting offseason after trading 10 players from their 26-man roster. Names like Carlos Correra, Jhoan Duran were the main headliners. The Tigers were somewhat benefactors of this, getting starter Chris Paddack at the deadline,but the results were less than stellar. He posted an ERA of 6.32 in 12 games in a Tigers uniform. 

The Tigers went 8-5 against the Twins last season, just the second time in this decade that they finished .500 or better against Minnesota (2023: 8-5) On the free agent side, they were quiet, only signing Genesis Cabrera and Christian Vazquez as they are  rebuilding and see what their farm system can produce for the next few years to come.

Outside of Byron Buxton, who produced a WAR of 4.9 with a 35 home run season and OPS + of 136, Minnesota's offense batted  .238/.310/.397 with a WRC+ of 97 in 2025. Just struggled to get any regular production. Seems strange to think this was an offense that not too long ago was mashing the ball out of the ballpark around a record pace. 

Here is according to MLB.com, what the Twins Opening Day lineup will look like. 

Lineup 1. Luke Keaschall, 2B2. Byron Buxton, CF3. Matt Wallner, RF4. Ryan Jeffers, C5. Josh Bell, 1B6. Royce Lewis, 3B7. Trevor Larnach, DH8. Austin Martin, LF9. Brooks Lee, SS

Rotation 1. Joe Ryan, RHP2. Bailey Ober, RHP3. Taj Bradley, RHP4. Simeon Woods Richardson, RHP5. Mick Abel, RHP

While the 2026 Twins roster on paper may not strike fear into AL Central opponents, the reason for cautious optimism in Minnesota lies below the surface. The Twins have one of baseball's highest-rated farm systems, particularly after their trade deadline sell-off last season, and they will be depending on that next wave of prospects because of ownership cuts to their big-league payroll.

The headliner is outfielder Walker Jenkins, a potential five-tool player who should advance to the big leagues early in 2026. The fifth overall pick in the 2023 draft is a 6'3" outfielder with a beautiful left-handed swing, and he has consistently put up strong offensive numbers as he's risen through Minnesota's minor league ranks.

Beyond Jenkins, outfielder Emmanuel Rodriguez followed an injury-shortened season with an exciting winter ball campaign, and shortstop Kaelen Culpepper has raked at every level. Look for at least two of them to have a positive effect on the 2026 Twins, and maybe all three.

Minnesota is clearly in a transition year. They've traded away their stars, kept their books clean, and are betting on the kids. For the Tigers, this version of the Twins is probably the least threatening it's been in a few years — the lineup outside of Buxton lacks proven run-producers, and a rotation anchored by Ryan and Ober is solid but hardly imposing. Detroit went 8-5 against them in 2025 for good reason.

That said, don't sleep on Minnesota entirely. If Jenkins, Rodriguez, or Culpepper arrive midseason and click, this lineup could look very different by August. The Twins are building something. It just may not be ready to fully challenge the Tigers quite yet in 2026.