Dodgers open series vs. Twins, hope to shake off ugly loss

The Los Angeles Dodgers will try to bounce back from a lopsided loss when they open a three-game series with the Minnesota Twins on Monday night in Minneapolis.

Los Angeles is coming off an 8-1, three-error defeat to the Chicago Cubs on Sunday. The game was interrupted by rain, and sloppy conditions made it difficult for pitchers and fielders alike.

The result left the Dodgers to deal with their first series loss of the season. Manager Dave Roberts said he and his players are eager to focus on a fresh series in Minnesota.

"You never like three errors in a ballgame," Roberts said. "I think it's been considerably better than it was a month ago, and I think it's only going to get better. (Sunday) was just one of those days, like I said, we would like to wash."

The Dodgers will meet a Twins team that is still searching for its first win at home.

Minnesota lost back-to-back meetings with Cleveland on Thursday and Saturday in its first two home games of the season. The Twins were scheduled to play the Guardians in the series finale on Sunday afternoon, but the game was postponed because of rain.

Twins right-hander Bailey Ober (0-1, 54.00 ERA) received an extra day of rest because of the rainout. Ober is looking to move past a disastrous season debut in which he allowed eight runs on nine hits in 1 1/3 innings against the Kansas City Royals on March 31.

In his only previous start against the Dodgers, Ober gained the win after giving up just one run and six hits in six innings on May 16, 2023.

Los Angeles left-hander James Paxton (1-0, 0.00 ERA) is also set to make his second start of the season on Monday. The 35-year-old earned a victory in his Dodgers debut last Monday, when he allowed no runs on four hits in five innings against the San Francisco Giants.

Paxton has started against the Twins seven times in his career. He is 4-1 with a 2.61 ERA in those outings, and he has walked 11 and struck out 46 in 38 innings.

Shohei Ohtani will look to stay hot at the plate for the Dodgers. Ohtani doubled in Mookie Betts on Sunday to account for Los Angeles' only run, and he hit a triple in the sixth.

Ohtani is hitting .320 (16-for-50) with five doubles, a triple, two homers and seven RBIs in his first 12 games with the Dodgers. He has stolen one base and scored 10 runs.

Twins third baseman Kyle Farmer said he and his teammates are looking forward to taking on such a talented team. Farmer was asked whether the series against the Dodgers would provide an early season measuring stick for how competitive Minnesota can be against top teams.

"Right now, every game is a measuring stick for us," Farmer said. "I mean, we need to start hitting more. But yeah, they are the pick of the league to win the World Series, so it'll be fun to play someone being the underdog."