Full Breakdown
Dodgers Use Opener Strategy to Edge Twins 2-1 at Target Field
6/24/2026, 12:58:40 AM
Dodgers Edge Twins 2-1 with Opener-First Strategy
On June 22, 2026, the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Minnesota Twins 2–1 at Target Field. Shohei Ohtani’s leadoff homer and Freddie Freeman’s sixth-inning blast supplied the runs, while Eric Lauer threw six scoreless innings after Will Klein’s opening frame.
Season Stakes for Dodgers and Twins
The Dodgers entered with a 49-29 record and a nine-game NL West lead, after a two-game skid. The Twins, fresh from a 7-2 stretch, led the AL with a 4.91 runs-per-game average.
Key Figures & Groups
Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers designated hitter, delivered the opening blast; Eric Lauer, left-handed starter, anchored the bullpen; Will Klein, right-hander, served as opener; Freddie Freeman, first baseman, supplied the go-ahead run; Twins’ center fielder Byron Buxton, league-leading home-run hitter, homered in the first.
Hybrid Starter-Opener Plan and Roster Adjustments
Los Angeles used a hybrid opener plan, sending right-hander Will Klein to start before left-hander Eric Lauer took over. The club also reinstated right-hander Brock Stewart from the injured list and optioned right-hander Chayce McDermott.
Key Numbers from the Contest
Ohtani’s leadoff shot clocked 112.8 mph, his sixth leadoff homer of the season and seventh in June. Lauer logged six innings, three walks, two strikeouts and no runs, maintaining a 3.22 ERA in 22.1 innings with the Dodgers. Freeman’s 13th homer traveled 423 ft; Buxton’s 25th tied the AL lead. Lauer has allowed a home run in each of his four starts for Los Angeles, five total.
Lauer’s Response to Opener Role
Lauer told reporters he does not favor the opener role but remains a team player, emphasizing no hard feelings and willingness to execute the strategy when asked.
Starter Reluctance to Opener Usage
Earlier in the season Lauer publicly expressed reluctance to pitch behind an opener in Toronto, reflecting a broader unease among starters toward the unconventional deployment.
Direct Quote from Eric Lauer
> “A lot of that was kind of taken out of context,” Lauer said. “There was no ill will there. There was no hurt feelings. It’s a very simple question, I thought, ‘How do you feel about an opener?’ I think if you ask most starters in the league, they would probably have the same response, that they don’t like it. But it doesn’t mean that I’m not willing to do it. It doesn’t mean that I’m not a team player.” — Eric Lauer, Dodgers pitcher
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on Tuesday’s Twins starter: one report lists left-hander Kendry Rojas, while another cites right-hander Joe Ryan, creating uncertainty about the next pitching matchup.
Implications for Dodgers’ Title Push
The win preserved Los Angeles’ nine-game NL West cushion, validated the opener-first approach, highlighted Ohtani’s power, and underscored Lauer’s depth as a reliable rotation piece.
Upcoming Matchups in the Series
Tuesday’s series continues with Dodgers left-hander Justin Wrobleski facing the Twins’ next starter, while the Twins will counter with either Kendry Rojas or Joe Ryan, pending clarification.
