The Minnesota Twins finished 23rd in baseball in runs scored last season, and their performance on Thursday lined up with that ranking. They lost 2-1 in their Opening Day matchup with the Baltimore Orioles, with their only run coming on second baseman Luke Keaschall's sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth inning.

The Twins and Orioles each had five hits, but the Twins went just 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position while the Orioles went 1-for-4. Baltimore center fielder Colton Cowser hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh before second baseman Blaze Alexander hit an RBI single in the same frame.

Minnesota had the same issue last season, as it finished 29th with a .671 OPS with runners in scoring position. If the club doesn't improve in that area, it won't reach the playoffs anytime soon.

Center fielder Byron Buxton is Minnesota's only above-average position player, and that reality showed itself on Thursday. The two-time All-Star's eighth-inning triple was the team's only extra-base hit, which set up Keaschall's sacrifice fly. 

For the Twins to improve offensively, they need more players to step up alongside Buxton. Keaschall, third baseman Royce Lewis, outfielder Austin Martin, and outfielder Matt Wallner all have the potential to become the Robin to Buxton's Batman, but they have to produce.

Keaschall has shown encouraging signs, as he slashed .302/.382/.446 over 49 games after getting his first big-league call-up last season. The 23-year-old also slashed .377/.411/.717 over 18 games in spring training this year. He came into last season ranked as the No. 61 prospect on MLB Pipeline and No. 3 in Minnesota's organization.

Meanwhile, Lewis has yet to live up to his draft status. The Twins took the 26-year-old No. 1 overall in 2017, but he's played just 259 games since 2022 due to injury. Time is running out for him to become an upper-echelon player.

Martin is another unproven player with potential. The 27-year-old logged a .740 OPS over 50 games last season, but he also has just two career homers over 144 contests. He needs to improve his power-hitting to reach the next level.

Finally, Wallner has an .829 OPS over 274 career games and slashed .339/.439/.604 across 18 sprig training contests this year. If the 28-year-old logs around an .800 OPS over a full season in 2026, the offense will at least be more dynamic. 

Up next for the Twins is a road rematch with the Orioles on Saturday at 4:05 p.m. ET.