It's opening day! In case you're not a weekend reader (which is common), please be sure to check out the two posts I made over the weekend discussing the hitters and pitchers on the Twins opening day roster. This year I want to start previewing each series, so here's the preview of the opening series at home against the Baltimore Orioles.

Monday, April 2nd - 6:05 PM

Pitchers: Erik Bedard, LHP vs. Johan Santana, LHP

The Twins got the best of Bedard late last September when they knocked him from the game in the fifth on their way to victory. Bedard is a good pitcher though and this is a new season. Bedard went 4-1 in April last year. Opening day always provides good pitching matchups and this will be no exception.

Tuesday, April 3rd - 7:10 PM

Pitchers: Daniel Cabrera, RHP vs. Boof Bonser, RHP

Cabrera finished last season with a 1 hitter against the Yankees and you can bet he wants to carry that momentum into the 2007 season. The Orioles are hoping for improved consistency from Cabrera who looked great at times last season. Cabrera walks far too many batters.

Wednesday, April 4th - 7:10 PM

Pitchers: Jaret Wright, RHP vs. Ramon Ortiz, RHP

Jaret Wright has looked great at times through his career (mainly in the postseason with the Indians and in 2004 with the Atlanta Braves). He's a new addition to the Orioles and they're hoping that reuniting him with his pitching coach, Leo Mazzone, from the Braves will result in the same kind of numbers he posted that year. With Ramon Ortiz pitching for the Twins this will be a matchup of two guys trying to salvage their careers.

The Bats

• Ramon Hernandez, C - One of the better hitting catchers in baseball
• Kevin Millar, 1B - Not much of a bat for a first baseman
• Brian Roberts, 2B - Speed is his thing
• Melvin Mora, 3B - His production dropped off a bit last year with just 16 HR compared to 27 the previous two years
• Miguel Tejada, SS - The former MVP can still hit the ball and he never takes a day off
• Nick Markakis, LF - Markakis had a big rookie year for the O's in 2006
• Corey Patterson, CF - He had a bit of a comeback year in 2006 after leaving Chicago. He's got speed mixed with 15-20 HR capability.
• Jay Gibbons, RF - He wasn't a regular all of last season.
• Aubrey Huff, DH - He's no superstar, but he ads a bit of pop to the Oriole linup and can play first and third.

Oriole Blogs

• Camden Chat
• Oriole Magic
• Oriole Post
• Roch Around the Clock