Sunday Leadoff is back, and it's bringing a compelling AL showdown to your screen. On May 3, 2026, the defending American League champion Toronto Blue Jays take on the host Minnesota Twins at Target Field for the final game of their four-game series. It's a matchup of two teams trending in opposite directions—but both fighting to find their footing early this season.
The Blue Jays come into Sunday riding some momentum. After a sluggish 7-13 start, Toronto has clawed back to 16-17, thanks in part to a 4-2 homestand against the Guardians and Red Sox. They've already taken two of the first three games in this series, and they're looking for a little payback after the Twins took two of three from them back in April 10-12 in Toronto.
On the other side, the Twins are in a rough patch. Minnesota dropped 11 of 13 games heading into this weekend, getting swept by the Rays and Reds, and losing series to the Mariners and Mets. They enter Sunday at 14-20, a far cry from the 11-7 start that had fans hopeful. The Twins have won the AL Central three times in the last eight seasons, but after finishing fourth the past two years, they're trending that way again—despite a hot streak from infielder Brooks Lee. Lee has been on fire, hitting .292/.361/.554 over his last 72 plate appearances before this series, a massive improvement from his .162 start.
Sunday's pitching matchup features two right-handers: Trey Yesavage for the Blue Jays and Joe Ryan for the Twins. Yesavage will look to keep Toronto's momentum alive, while Ryan aims to stop Minnesota's slide. The Blue Jays still sit six games back of the red-hot Yankees, who hold the best record in the AL.
The broadcast brings a strong crew to the booth. Matt Vasgersian handles play-by-play, joined by analysts Dexter Fowler—a former All-Star with the Cubs and MLB Leadoff regular—and Justin Morneau, a Twins TV analyst and the 2006 AL MVP. Expect sharp insight and a little hometown flavor from Morneau as he breaks down the action.
This game is part of a bigger season-long schedule: 27 prime-time MLB games across NBC, Peacock, and NBCSN in 2026, plus one out-of-market game streamed daily on Peacock. Whether you're a Jays fan hoping for a series win or a Twins believer waiting for a turnaround, Sunday Leadoff is the place to be.