Twins vs Pirates Preview: Brisk Friday Night Showdown

The Twins are sending Taj Bradley to the mound on Friday night, and this young pitcher has been sharp all season. Bradley boasts a 2.2 ERA with nine strikeouts and a 1.46 WHIP—numbers that show he's really locating his pitches well. Minnesota needs Bradley to deliver strong innings because the team is riding a two-game losing streak. The Twins sit at 27-30 overall, struggling to find consistent wins. Bradley's job is simple: keep the Pirates' bats quiet and give Minnesota a chance to climb back into this series.

Jared Jones takes the mound for the Pirates, the home team looking to protect PNC Park from Minnesota's visitors. The Pirates sit at 29-28, right in the middle of their season battle. Pittsburgh has dropped two straight games just like the Twins, so both teams desperately need a win. The Pirates' pitching staff leans on superstar Paul Skenes when he pitches, but Jones carries his own weight in the rotation. This matchup puts two teams searching for answers directly against each other on Friday night.

The Twins need to shake off their struggles and find their winning ways at PNC Park. Minnesota's pitching staff relies on steady starters and reliable depth rather than one dominant ace. That's where Bradley becomes critical for this game. The Pirates come in banged up with several players managing injuries and discomfort. If the Twins can get strong pitching and limit Pittsburgh's scoring chances, they might finally snap that two-game losing streak and grab some valuable road momentum heading into June.